Just 31 people get first COVID shot

| 15/07/2021 | 226 Comments
Cayman News Service
Minister Kenneth Bryan gets the COVID-19 vaccine (file photo)

(NS): According to the latest figures from public health officials, just 31 people stepped forward over the last day to get their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, deepening concerns that the Cayman community is not going to get to the targeted 80% national vaccination rate before 9 September, the date that government plans to drop quarantine requirements and begin the phased border reopening. So far 49,081 people have had a first dose, leaving the national rate at just 69% of the estimated population of 71,100 and around 65%, or 46,189 people, have had both shots.

There were no new reported cases of the coronavirus among those tested over the last day and there is just one active and asymptomatic case of the virus among those currently in quarantine and isolation.

Amendments to the COVID-19 regulations and a notice to extend the current inter-island travel and boating regulations for two months were gazetted yesterday. An amendment to Regulation 5 of the Prevention, Control and Suppression of Covid-19 (No.2) Regulations, 2021, relating to the wearing of masks, provides business owners and operators with the authority to require any person who visits their establishment to wear a mask and to refuse entry to any person who refuses to do so.

New Regulation 6A was added to prevent the removal or passing of items from a person at a place of quarantine or in isolation to anyone from the outside. Regulation 6A also expressly provides for the mandatory isolation, if necessary in the opinion of the medical officer of health, of any person from the outside who has handled an item from a known quarantine facility.

The new regulation does provide a special defence for a person charged with an offence of handling an item from a place of quarantine or self-isolation. This occurs where the person charged can prove that they did not know that the item was from a place of quarantine or self-isolation or had been handled by a person in a place of quarantine or self-isolation. Exception is also made for items that have been removed or passed from the place of quarantine or self-isolation for public health reasons, with the approval of the medical officer of health.

The amendments to the regulations, as well as the notice on inter-island travel and boating regulations, expire on 15 September, 2021.

The updated regulations can be found here.

The notice to on inter-island travel and boating can be found here.


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Category: Health, Medical Health

Comments (226)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    The amendment re use of masks in a business place and details there off r ok when we open borders and remove quarantine. For now it is not necessary as there is no virus circulating here.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Allow vaccinated in public places such as bars restaurents including closed spaces. Unvaccinated allowed in open restaurents etc similar to smokers. This when we open borders as even vaccinated can have virus among tourists or returning residents. In these lines to think all scenarios as people will cooperate if explained well publicly by health professionals rather just bringing rules

  3. Concerned says:

    People not wanting the vaccine please read this from the BBC. The border will open and you will catch it. You need to get vaccinated.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-57866661

    • Anonymous says:

      “About half of the patients on the ward today haven’t been vaccinated – I have stopped asking them why, as they are clearly embarrassed.”

      So, about half were vaccinated. We’re going to need that booster sooner than later.

      • Anon says:

        And your point is? Of course the booster will come. We know that!

      • Anonymous says:

        Have you read the article? The doctor who was interviewed said that the patients who had been vaccinated would be dead otherwise.

      • Anonymous says:

        A 70 year old is about 30 times more likely to be hospitalised with it than a 40 year old. The vaccine makes you about 20 time less likely to be hospitalised by it. In other words a vaccinated 70 year old is still more likely to be hospitalised with it than an unvaxed 40 year old. The wards are now full of unvaxed 40 year old and vaxed 70 year olds. This is to be expected even with a 95% effective vaccine. It’s relatively simple probabilities.

    • Anonymous says:

      Just to add to that, Sajid Javid (he’s the UK Health Secretary for those who don’t follow UK news) tested positive for COVID today. He is double vaccinated. It’s likely he has the Delta variant. He feels fine and I’d be very surprised if he ends up in hospital. The UK hospitalisations now are largely unvaccinated people, some in their 20s and 30s, often very active healthy individuals with no health problems. Read the original posters article above… COVID is here to stay, it WILL get into cayman when we open soon, and you will regret not being vaccinated. Even when CIG inevitably introduce stricter rules for unvaccinated, do you really want to take the chance on your weekly shop in a mask to fosters or kirks of not catching it?

      • MYOB i'm not hesitant i'm more informed says:

        Yes I really want to wear my mask while I continue to practice social distancing and good hygiene. Immunity is an organisms ability to resist infection. The vaccine is not working as intented if herd immunity is the goal.

        If the goal is to keep people out of the hospital then continuing to wear my mask and social distance should help just that without the need to volunteer for an experimental Mrna vaccine.

    • Anonymous says:

      You need to take your boosters and MYOFB.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Why the duck is wrong with people? Stop testing, live your life
    You’ll be amazed..you won’t die

  5. Anonymous says:

    Geez how stupid are this government and how long will this nonsense last. Just put on more regular flights,,, still ban tourists if you want,,, and make us quarantine for 5 days when we return if you want, but just let the double vaccinated travel on regular reasonably priced flights, and ban the unvaccinated from bars and restaurants when we open, don’t let them obviously work in jobs where they will be exposed to people coming in, and make them socially distance and wear masks. The government are just trying to prevent anyone from spending money off island whilst letting cayman airways charge over 800 bucks for the limited summer flights to Miami. Its nonsense. We have one of the highest vaccination rates in the world now… just offer everyone a booster in September and open up. Yes we will get cases but the vaccinated will most likely not be in hospital or die and the unvaccinated can be forced to have rules keeping them away from tourists and public places, so simple but unlike other countries we are doing nothing. Complete farce.

    • Anonymous says:

      Stop talking sense. PACT doesn’t want to hear it.

    • Anonymous says:

      If you are using “government” and referring to it as one whole group, then use the singular verb. But if you are referring to the members of the group, then use the plural verb.

    • Anonymous says:

      My body my choice?

      You keep taking the experimental vaccine, leave me alone. I’ll take my chances with a 0.004% chance of death

      • Anon says:

        That’s fine, as long as you accept you will face more stringent rules and not be allowed to live your life freely as a voluntarily unvaccinated individual. Your choice,

      • anon says:

        8.06am Just you wait until Delta hits you, will you still take your0.004% chance of death?.

      • Anonymous says:

        While every one’s body is theirs it cant belong to Govt when gets sick and provide all the care

  6. Anonymous says:

    Why isnt Sweden I’m the midst of a Delta variant crisis?

  7. Anonymous says:

    CNS will try to say this isn’t t accurate but the facts are simple:

    The vaccines are not working as initially told they would. They are likely causing increasing cases whilst diminishing severe illness and mostly because they give the vaccinated a false sense of security

    However the same people are dying now as before vaccines

    The only way forward is to stop testing and deal with hospitalizations…and they are not going to be much worse than a bad flu season.

    I8 months of data shows this.

    Bizarrely the CDC are stopping tracking the hospitalized if those vaccinated. I don’t want to suggest why they’ll only report those hospitalized without vaccines.

    These are strange days. The hardest part is to try to take it all in and accept that maybe none of us have all the answers despite maybe having the platform.

  8. Anonymous says:

    Most people not getting vaccinated are not rabid anti-vaxxers – they just do not see what is in it for them at the moment.

    The simplest way to motivate the non-rabid is to remove their toys – no access to bars/clubs/restaurants/other public sites without proof of vaccination. A simple amendment to the liquor licensing regs ought to do it.

    • Anonymous says:

      Then you would see true crime and violence in Cayman. Good on you.

    • Anonymous says:

      If you honestly think withholding access to alcohol from those of legal age is any answer here, you are just as delusional as the rabid anti-vaxxers you claim to denounce.

      You think crime and violence are bad in Cayman now, you have seen nothing yet.

    • Anonymous says:

      There’s more chance of getting murdered than dying from COVID.

      Maybe ban all criminals from public spaces?

    • Anonymous says:

      Little fascism anyone?

  9. Anonymous says:

    Claiming fear of the potential side effects yet y’all still ate these, didn’t you.

    https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/619261/olestra-fat-free-snack-controversy-1990s

  10. Anonymous says:

    FYI –

    “Covid cases are rising in all 50 US states as the Delta variant spreads coast to coast, news outlets reported on Friday , and with less than half the US population fully vaccinated, public health chiefs warned of an “extraordinary surge”.

    Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said at a White House briefing: “This is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated.”

    Walensky said the US was seeing an average of 26,000 new coronavirus cases a day – a seven-day average that is 70% higher than last week.

    Hospitalisations and deaths are also seeing increases – about 36% and 26%, respectively, with Walensky noting this was another “critical moment” in the outbreak.”

    • Anonymous says:

      I guess that all the dislikes are from people who think the CDC is wrong or from people people who don’t want our local community to know the consequences of removing the things that are currently protecting us.

      • Anonymous says:

        It is from people who are currently living in the US and don’t even talk about covid or vaccines anymore.

    • Hubert says:

      What is concerning for the Cayman Islands is that COVID cases are skyrocketing again in Florida. Florida has one of the lowest vaccination rates in America in large part due to a dumb ass Governor following the word of Trump.

      Wonder if we will ever get out of this mess?

      • Anonymous says:

        Love DeSantis! DeSantis 2024!

        Be concerned with your own dim witted “leaders”.

        Cayman is suffering from covidphobia, poisoned by The Dump and your Speaker is a convicted criminal.

        • Anonymous says:

          You love a guy who is actively going out of his way to encourage people not to get vaccinated?

          Perhaps you can explain when the Delta variant has taken a real ho,d in Florida now.

        • Anonymous says:

          Then move to Florida. He’s a twit burger

        • Anonymous says:

          6:14, I assume you have bought a “Don’t Fauci My Florida” tee shirt?
          An ideal gift to be buried in after COVID but supporting the DeSantis re-election campaign and encouraging people in Florida not to get vaccinated.

          Time to get a brain.

          • Anonymous says:

            6:14, What gets me is that Governor DeSantis and all of his family are fully vaccinated while discouraging people in Florida from getting vaccinated.

            Does this make sense? You really want to see this turkey as President in 2024?

      • Miami Dave says:

        If Florida does not get its act together soon we will not be opening this year.

        The Governor is certainly not helping matters and seems to be at war this week with Florida Doctors.

      • Anonymous says:

        Lets compare his education to yours, shall we?

      • VentureToSay says:

        I would venture to say those unvaccinated people in Florida have the same reasons as all of our unvaccinated people in Cayman. It has nothing to do with DeSantis or Trump. They believe the BS on social media, they think the vaccine will microchip them, they believe the long-term problems from the vaccine will be greater than their chances of getting covid, etc. DeSantis is not controlling the minds of those unvaccinated people any more than PACT is controlling the minds of our hold-outs. But DeSantis does not want or support a vaccine passport and that has nothing to do with discouraging people from getting vaccinated. And as I recall Trump was all about developing the vaccine. I’m not a Trumpster, not even a Trump supporter but the truth is he did support and encourage vaccine development.

        It doesn’t matter what you tell some of the unvaccinated, they ARE NOT getting vaccinated, it IS their choice and we can’t force them to get the jab. And of course, this means everyone terrified of the border reopening should calm down. We will never reach 80% and even if by some miracle we do CIG will never find a way to accept the US vaccination card as proof of vaccination. So we will remain as we are, covid free, in our bubble, and someday in the future, we will likely look back and wonder how the hell we ended up living on a sad and forgotten little island in the middle of the Caribbean.

        • Anonymous says:

          What surprises me is that both Trump and DeSantis both took the vaccine but are encouraging their supporters not to take it..WTF. This is like saying they are protected but in order to keep them relevant and “possibly” electable they would rather push the anti- vaccine campaign and watch their people die..Over 500k Americans died under Trump..How many more do they want to die?

          Are these people drinking some of that Kool Aid that Jim Jones was sharing around some years ago.

        • Anonymous says:

          6:14, What gets me is that Governor DeSantis and all of his family are fully vaccinated while discouraging people in Florida from getting vaccinated.

          Does this make sense? You really want to see this turkey as President in 2024?

        • Anonymous says:

          You are wrong VentureToSay, Trump and all of his family got vaccinated very quietly and not under the glare of lights. If Trump had wanted to provide real leadership on the vaccine issue, he would have done it in public and made a solid statement in support of vaccinations.

          When was the last time Trump made a statement urging his supporters to get a vaccine? All he talks about at his rally’s are how the election was stolen and how he won. SAD.

          The current situation in Florida with the growing COVID numbers and their stupid Governor is depressing. We are not getting out of our bubble for a long time.

    • Anonymous says:

      Covid cases are rising with those UNVACCINATED!

  11. Anonymous says:

    Needs a carrot and stick approach.

    Carrot:
    50 buck reward for getting vaccinated, 10 on first shot 40 on second.

    Stick:
    Vaccination is now free – after 15 August it will cost 1000 bucks.
    From 1st August no entry to unvaccinated people to bars, restaurants, clubs, shops, supermarkets, churches, cinemas, theatres, schools, workplaces etc..
    From 1st August no entry to the airport (either incoming or outbound) for unvaccinated people).

    Time to smoke out the antivaxxer morons and make them social and legal pariahs.

    • Anonymous says:

      I think it’s a good idea to tell everyone how much it’s gonna cost after a certain date but don’t reward stupidity by trying to give them money to come out.

    • Anonymous says:

      Have you noticed that only pro-vaxx zealots spewing insults?

      Not all Covid jabs are classic/traditional vaccines, some are immune boosters.

      COVID Vaccines platforms:

      Human adenovirus => Sputnik V, Johnson&Johnson, CanSino. Self-explanatory

      Chimpanzee adenovirus => AstraZeneca. Self-explanatory

      Dead COVID19=> Sinopharm, Sinovac. Self explanatory.

      Synthetic COVID S-protein => Novovax. It’s a protein subunit vaccine, which means that it uses a lab-made version of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

      mRNA => Pfizer, Moderna. mRNA vaccines teach our cells how to make a protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies.

      • Anonymous says:

        ‘spewing insults’ is a regrettable but understandable outcome, after a while it is completely exasperating dealing with idiots.

    • Stop worth the vitriol and hate says:

      Or we can be like the sensible people of Ontario, no vaccine passports as they do not want to encourage a split society. We should all be respectful of one another. Whether you do or don’t take the vaccine, it is your right. Make an informed decision for yourself, but for goodness sake. Stop belittling people and treating each other like crap. We are all human beings and during a time such as this, we should be kind to one another.

      • Anonymous says:

        On the contrary, let’s not be like Ontario. Canadians can make their own mistakes. Let’s indeed split society into 1) those who have taken an intelligent, risk considered decision to be vaccinated, and 2) Plague-ridden morons.

      • Anonymous says:

        But the problem is those who won’t get the jabs are holding us all hostage.. so you’re either take all the crap that’s coming your way or you get the jab. And if you have a problem with it you go to government because this is their policy.

      • Anonymous says:

        Ontario is led by a mini-Trump – only less educated

      • Anonymous says:

        Yes but businesses are operating normally and Ontarians can fly into Ontario without having to quarantine if they are vaccinated. They don’t feel like they are being held hostage by the unvaccinated. If there is a fourth wave because of the unvaccinated, Ford might follow Quebec and use vaccine passports rather than lockdown again.

    • Anonymous says:

      a bit extreme but the stick approach is becoming common place worldwide. if you are not vaccinated you will not have the same freedoms as everybody else.

      • Anonymous says:

        you wish

      • Anonymous says:

        Common place where? There are only two US states on board with that absolute nonsense. The majority is Canada…besides Quebec have sense and debunked the use of a vaccine passport and we all know that the Uk is just full of crap; but even then many places are not complying with that crap.

    • Anonymous says:

      Government isn’t interested in finding ways to encourage people to get vaccinated now. They are very content to keep all obstacles in place to coordinate with their wishes to not properly open until after the New Year.

      Additionally, this way they can hide behind the premise that the unvaccinated are what is keeping us from opening.

    • Anonymous says:

      No carrot needed, just a big shitty stick.

  12. Anonymous says:

    Why not entice with paying each person now going to take the vaccine CI$300.00 each at second shot OR formulate a lottery (quickly) for whatever dollar value (CI$250K++) for persons to be able to enter once their second dose is administrated? Or to win a piece of property?

    This must be cheaper than the multi millions lost weekly in the economy with no tourism OR keeping paying stipends with no end in sight on that one.

    To add, make urgently, that all persons going for a work permit renewal or coming to the Island to work under a permit mandatory vaccinations.

    • Anonymous says:

      The problem is not every country around the world has a supply that’s readily available for the vaccine so some people coming to the island can’t take it beforehand. I think we should be able to offer it to them since we’re just wasting ours.. Not to mention stop rewarding people for being the lame ducks of society. I know way too many people on the island who will not take the vaccine because they actually do not want the borders open, we’re not gonna convince them. 80% is never happening.

    • Anonymous says:

      You take an experimental drug if you wish.

      My health and body is worth more than $300 to me

  13. Anonymous says:

    Bermuda has nearly identical vaccination stats as Cayman (both very high, amongst the top in the world).

    From the start of June, Bermuda has about 50 flights a week from multiple carriers.

    Vaccinated residents/visitors get pre-flight test, test on arrival, day 4, 8 and 14. Unvaccinated 14-day quarantine.

    Minimal cases since beginning of June and almost no hospitalizations. Data in the link below.

    https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/bermuda/

    • Anonymous says:

      Selective Dangerous BS – Bermuda has had more than 1500 local transmission cases in the past 3 months which have result in dozens dead – 33 at last count. They are also living conditions that most of us do not want including masks social distancing the constant threat of school and other closures – no thank you.

      https://www.gov.bm/articles/covid-19-update-premier%E2%80%99s-remarks-13-july-2021

      • Anonymous says:

        They were previously allowing anyone to enter without quarantining regardless of vaccination status and at the time had a significantly lower vaccination rate themselves. They’ve now changed that.

      • Did you actually... says:

        read the link you posted? It doesn’t seem to say what you think it says.

        To quote: ” Since May 3rd, no vaccinated travellers who have tested positive have transmitted the virus to others. The only local transmission from imported cases has been from unvaccinated travellers.”

        There hasn’t been a death since May and they appear to be managing a small number of cases.

        https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/bermuda/

        Elimination of the virus is not possible in the near term so it would be best to attempt to manage the virus rather than continue to hide from it

        • Anonymous says:

          But we have eliminated transmission of the virus within our community for the past year. Best management of a killer virus ever.

          • Anonymous says:

            But for how long do you think that’s feasible?

            • Anonymous says:

              It’ll stay that way as long the greedy pigs here don’t get their way squealing on about unvaccinated holding the Island hostage.

          • Anonymous says:

            If you want to believe that……

          • Anonymous says:

            This can be done forever if we keep our borders closed and continue quarantine. Not practical as if we dont allow others wouldnt allow us.Covid will remain for few yrs in the horizon.

      • Anonymous says:

        I spoke with my colleagues in Bermuda this morning, and it is not the current state now. What you are saying occurred in April/May, with lower vaccination rates, no quarantine for unvaccinated. Look at the tables in the link below post June 1 when the new rules were put into place.

        https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/bermuda/

      • Anonymous says:

        33.

        How many over 80?
        How many massively over weight?
        How many suffering from terminal disease?

        Based on figures elsewhere it’ll be close to 98% with all three criteria. These are people who’d be dead any way.

        More importantly how many of them vaccinated?

  14. Anonymous says:

    It is clear that this initial milestone won’t be met by September 9th, so the CIG will have to scrap the multi-color plan it issued last week.

    With that said and no prospect of tourism any time soon, can we add at least add a few more Cayman Airways per week so residents can travel? Having 2 to 3 weekly long fully sold out inward and outward flights is utterly ridiculous.

    • Anonymous says:

      It would be nice if PACT would at least answer truthfully why they won’t add flights.

      • Anonymous says:

        Agree. Just a couple more a week is all I ask for residents. I would like to see my parents for the first time in two years but every outgoing and incoming flight has been sold out for weeks. I am a teacher and my window for travelling is running out…. 🙁

      • Anonymous says:

        Tourniquet!

    • Say it like it is. says:

      11.19am Their fares are also ridiculous.

  15. Anonymous says:

    One has got to assume that the PACT government are not all idiots and they very well know that the 80% target by September is an impossibility. So it begs the question, what are they not telling us?

  16. Anonymous says:

    The bogeyman in the room isn’t Covid. That’s been proven over the past 18 months. The bogeyman is the vaccine. This week in the UK nearly 300,000 cases recorded and its becoming more evident that most going into hospital with it are ‘double’ vax’d.

    XXXX (deleted as it’s all based on utter BS)

    CNS: UK gov – Vaccines highly effective against hospitalisation from Delta variant (with link to analysis by Public Health England.

    Or Public Health England COVID-19 vaccine surveillance report Week 27
    Effectiveness against hospitalisation: Several studies have estimated the effectiveness against hospitalisationin older adults, all of which indicate higher levels of protection against hospitalisation after a single dose than thatseen against symptomatic disease, around 75to 85% after 1dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Oxford-AstraZenecavaccine(3, 8, 9, 10). Data on VE against hospitalisation with 2 doses for all ages with the Alpha variant is shown in the week 26 Vaccine Surveillance Report.

    • Anonymous says:

      10:31 agreed, not to mention all of the potential listed side effects.

      1. Serious adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination are rare but may occur.
      2. Anaphylaxis after COVID-19 vaccination is rare and has occurred in approximately 2 to 5 people per million vaccinated in the United States.
      3. Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia. Women younger than 50 years old especially should be aware of the rare but increased risk of this adverse event.
      4. GBS is a rare disorder where the body’s immune system damages nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. Most people fully recover from GBS, but some have permanent nerve damage.
      5. Myocarditis and pericarditis after COVID-19 vaccination are rare. As of July 12, 2021, VAERS has received 1,047 reports of myocarditis or pericarditis among people ages 30 and younger who received a COVID-19 vaccine.
      6. Reports of death after COVID-19 vaccination are rare… However, recent reports indicate a plausible causal relationship between the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine and TTS, a rare and serious adverse event—blood clots with low platelets—which has caused deaths.

      https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/adverse-events.html

      However, sadly people are more than willing to put up with tyrannical measures and bullying when it suits their interests, even at the expense of others. Doesn’t matter to them, just want to get what they want.

      CNS: No, the sad thing is the brainwashing from the anti-vaxers on social and right wing media. You are just directly or indirectly parroting Fox News talking heads.
      Vaccine Side Effects vs. COVID-19 Damage? There’s No Comparison
      All the talk about bullying is just absurd. Public Health experts just want to save lives.
      Delta Variant Widens Gulf Between ‘Two Americas’: Vaccinated and Unvaccinated

    • Anonymous says:

      Thanks CNS for deleing the link its best not to Fuel the Anti Vaxers fire. What Cayman needs to do is have a real Vaccination card and require it for access to any venue other than the persons home if not vaccinated and wanting to goto a public place a Mask must be worn. It is not fair that someone who is vaccinated therefore having less chance of hospital needs to worry that they may spread Covid to a non vaccinated person, who may then require hospitalization. Also those who don’t take the vaccine are making it harder for people who need to visit hospitals in other countries for medical services not offered here like Chemo. Remember it could be a loved one suffering just because you refuse to take a simple vaccine…

    • Anonymous says:

      Thank you CNS

      Trolls, conspiracy theorists, silo dwellers, idiots and the easily misled are a lot for a society to deal with.

    • Anonymous says:

      “XXXX (deleted as it’s all based on utter BS)”

      CNS – you are a legend. I’ve seen so much BS recently about covid being caused by the vaccine, it makes me despair for the future of the human race.

    • Anonymous says:

      10:31 am 👍

  17. Anonymous says:

    The inability of the Minister of Health, the HSA and all others who ought to be involved in encouraging people to get vaccinated is appalling. Less than 100 days in and they have already run out of ideas.

    • Anonymous says:

      Sadly, they have no influence. It is now up to the Churches.

    • Anonymous says:

      They shouldn’t need creative ideas, it should be obvious to people that it’s the right thing to do. Sadly the low standards of education and the influence of the medieval-mindset churches on the island are to blame. Government should have separated church and state a long time ago.

    • Beaumont Zodecloun says:

      “encouraging”. What would you have them do? Round them all up? Give them a “stern talking to”?

      It remains a personal choice. One in which I fervently hope all people — vaccinated or not — do research and make an informed decision for themselves and their families.

      Many MANY people have medical issues that preclude them from getting any of the vaccines.

      We need to stick together as a people and not succumb to the temptation of being divided. This is too important to allow it to tear us all apart.

      This is living history being written. Will we look back and be happy with having persecuted people, or will we say we stood together and weathered the storm?

      • Anonymous says:

        “Many MANY people have medical issues that preclude them from getting any of the vaccines.”

        Complete rubbish. The combined vaccine rate in 12 to 30 year olds is 55%. In 50 years and above, it is close to 90%. So under 30s have substantially more medical issues than over 50s?

      • Anonymous says:

        The number of people who have actual medical conditions precluding vaccination is miniscule as a percentage of the population and not much different than it is in other countries. Gibraltar has ‘encouraged’ vaccination through an excellent public education campaign and has achieved more than 98% vaccine uptake for people 12 and over. The principal factors keeping our vaccination rate so much lower are disinformation, fear and ignorance.

      • Anonymous says:

        Completely agree that those with VALID medical reasons shouldn’t have to get the vaccine, but that’s maybe 1% of the population and I’m probably bring overly generous there. I bet you’re hiding behind that excuse and don’t actually have a valid concern.

      • anon says:

        Beaumont, So we have thousands with these medical issues, exactly what “issues” are they? that are more important than dying from Covid?.

    • Anonymous says:

      And you actually think the Minister of health herself is vaccinated? I’m sure she did it begrudgingly after signing up with pact. We’re dealing with uneducated ministers who can’t even finish a project nor speak to their constituents after getting elected. Minister positions should be held by qualified people… tell me what qualifications Sabrina or John John has as it relates to anything health.

  18. Anonymous says:

    Only 300 first doses given over the last seven days. At this vaccination rate per week, to give 7,800 more first doses to get to 56,880 (80% of 71,100) would require 26 more weeks.

    And the vaccination rate is falling per week is decreasing, not increasing.

    • Anonymous says:

      Where is this wonderful plan to get people vaccinated that Kenny and the new Minister of Health talked about?

  19. Anonymous says:

    Was this the same day they did a mobile clinic at the Government Building? tell us the percentage of vaccinated Civil Servants if you so “transparent”.

  20. Anonymous says:

    Go to the churches on Sunday and lock the doors behind you on the way in.

  21. Anonymous says:

    “New Regulation 6A was added to prevent the removal or passing of items from a person at a place of quarantine or in isolation to anyone from the outside. Regulation 6A also expressly provides for the mandatory isolation, if necessary in the opinion of the medical officer of health, of any person from the outside who has handled an item from a known quarantine facility.”
    SCIENTIFIC BASIS PLEASE!! This is not norovirus!!

    • CSF says:

      To put it mildly, this latest nonsense is not indicative of a “let’s find a way to reopen the country safely” mindset.

  22. Kalena says:

    Why doesn’t the Cayman Government gazette a law making a”false vaccine card” an offense with a $10,000 fine, 6 months in Prison and a banning for life from the island? Then you can OPEN the island.

  23. Anonymous says:

    That’s only 25 more than got shot last Thursday.

    • anon says:

      7.30am I agree we need to get more severe with the ant-vaxers, but if what you say is true I think that’s a bit over the top!.

  24. Anonymous says:

    Another reason to get vaccinated -from the BBC this morning

    “Younger adults admitted to hospital with Covid are almost as likely to suffer from complications as those over 50 years old, a study has found.

    Four in 10 of those between 19 and 49 developed problems with their kidneys, lungs or other organs while treated.

    The research looked at 73,197 adults of all ages across 302 UK hospitals in the first wave of Covid in 2020.

    “The message is that this is not just a disease of the elderly and frail,” said Prof Calum Semple, who led the work.

    “The data reinforces the fact that Covid is not flu and we are seeing even young adults coming into hospital suffering significant complications, some of which will require furthering monitoring and potentially further treatment in the future.”

    https://www.bbc.com/news/health-57840825

  25. Anonymous says:

    Items now have COVID 🤡

    Good job Cayman doesn’t import everything.

  26. Anonymous says:

    It would be more interesting and informative if we could be told WHY people are not coming forward for their jabs, and not just the lack of progress in the numbers.

    Knowing the WHY will help in deciding a plan of action to convince the non-jabbed to sign up. So what are the reasons ?

    1. Stupid is as stupid does.
    2. Conspiracy theory.
    3. Bill gates re-writing DNA.
    4. Crooks and other undocumented immigrants.

    Which are you ?

    • Anonymous says:

      The first thing that needs to happen is a public retraction of the fabricated 71k population.

    • Anonymous says:

      People who don’t exist can’t come forward.

    • Anonymous says:

      You realize it uncivilized people like you, that cause those who are hesitant to not to want to discuss their concerns or reasoning. Just stfu and mind your own business. You got your shots, great, stop bullying other people.

      • Anonymous says:

        You realize it’s numpties like you holding rational people hostage?

      • Anonymous says:

        The reason it’s people’s business is because CIG has based their whole opening plan on getting a certain percentage of people vaccinated. So your decision is affecting everyone.

    • Anonymous says:

      Which one am I? Neither. But I do have a family member who is on disability in her prime(30s) developing GBS after a flu shot.

      1. Serious adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination are rare but may occur.
      2. Anaphylaxis after COVID-19 vaccination is rare and has occurred in approximately 2 to 5 people per million vaccinated in the United States.
      3. Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia. Women younger than 50 years old especially should be aware of the rare but increased risk of this adverse event.
      4. GBS is a rare disorder where the body’s immune system damages nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. Most people fully recover from GBS, but some have permanent nerve damage.
      5. Myocarditis and pericarditis after COVID-19 vaccination are rare. As of July 12, 2021, VAERS has received 1,047 reports of myocarditis or pericarditis among people ages 30 and younger who received a COVID-19 vaccine.
      6. Reports of death after COVID-19 vaccination are rare… However, recent reports indicate a plausible causal relationship between the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine and TTS, a rare and serious adverse event—blood clots with low platelets—which has caused deaths.
      https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/adverse-events.html

      • Anonymous says:

        Meanwhile millions have died from Covid (more than 600,000 in the US alone) and millions more have been disabled with ‘long Covid’

        • Anonymous says:

          what those “happy” millions to the person who got injured by a vaccine or a loved one died from it? So MYOB.

      • Anonymous says:

        We have lived with covid for over a year. It is now very treatable. We call it a vaccine when it isn’t, it is a shot. We don’t say flu vaccine because like covid there are many variants and people respond differently. Covid will continue to mutate to survive. Some medical experts are even saying the ‘vaccine’ is one of the reasons it is mutating. So many people pushing and bullying to be injected with an experimental drug with long term effects unknown, but not much attention being paid to cheap drugs that have been used to treat covid with good results. A relative of mine who is diabetic, on dialysis and has other underlying conditions had covid and was treated with ivermectin and recovered quickly, yet the push is still for the experimental shot. No conspiracy theory, no anti-vax. The mainstream media publishes what they want you to hear, these days they have there own agenda and yes even CNS is guilty of this.

        • Anonymous says:

          9:33 I agree with you fully!

        • Anonymous says:

          What a giant steaming heap of bovine excrement

        • Anonymous says:

          100 thumbs up 👍

        • STX says:

          Me and my wife have the Delta variant at this very moment. Neither of us are vaccinated and I won’t be until it is approved or I can see what the long term consequences are of the drug. We are on ivermectin, and other family members have been treated successfully with it as well. I will however add – I am really starting to re-think my reluctance to the jab. I know many people who have been sick, many who have been vaccinated, and out of the vaccinated group – a few that have had some rough side effects. I am on Day 1, my wife at Day 5 – it took my oldest child about 10 days to recover. The CV is really deceptive – one person doesn’t know they have it, the next gets knocked on the ground, and some just die. All I have is a bad headache, fatigue (crushing), stuffy nose – my wife has all of those with a wicked fever that comes and goes. But, ivermectin and Advil are propping us up. My experience is similar to other friends – I certainly understand the concern but it seems way overhyped for the non-vulnerable.

          • Hubert says:

            STX, Are you aware that the company that produces Ivermectin does not recommend it for anything to do with COVID? Great for killing the parasites you have though. Very effective.

            You are going to be a great guinea pig. Tough on your intestines though.

            • STX says:

              Hubert, Are you aware that the company that produces the Pfizer COVID vaccine has complete immunity from law suits due to injury caused by the vaccine? Are you aware that the vaccine is emergency use only and not FDA approved?

              You are a great guinea pig!

              Ivermectin has been around for decades and it isn’t “tough” on your intestines – OMG will you insufferable busy bodies get a life.

        • Anonymous says:

          All vaccines are experimental and a lot of people will die and that is expected by the experts/scientists. However, far more will be saved and will live than would have without the vaccination. Why do you think TB has been virtually eradicated from the world? (Except in some South and Latin American countries – where it’s making a comeback because people are NOT being vaccinated). Why don’t you see people walking about with calipers on, or dying from Polio any more? Because they were vaccinated!!

          A prominent journalist in the States predicted the polio vaccination would kill thousands. It didn’t. Get vaccinated, all those who can.

    • Really... says:

      None of the above. But there is little point in trying to have a sensible conversation with someone so obviously bias.

  27. anonymous says:

    Why cant’t Cayman institute a policy similiar to France whereby only those showing Vaccination cards can get into restaurants and bars. This spurred a lot of fast activity in France to get people vaccinated to herd immunity levels

    • Anonymous says:

      Because we are not France and we are not about to infringe upon people’s basic human rights. No one had the right to dictate to someone else what they should or shouldn’t do to their body’s. Ya’ll entitlement is mind blowing

      • This might blow your mind, but says:

        We do it all the time to non-citizens and are going to make it mandatory for for Work Permit Holders so your “basic human rights” argument sort of doesn’t work here.

        • Anonymous says:

          Its always nice to see people that are fine with tyrannical measures when it suits their interests. The expense of others no longer matter until you get what you want.

          When its wielded against those who wanted it implemented in the first place, then they clutch pearls and can’t understand why THEY are being deprived of being able to do what they want to do.

        • Anonymous says:

          For it to be mandatory for work permit holders it also has to be mandatory for expatriate civil servants. Otherwise it will be unlawful.

      • Anonymous says:

        Then why is CIG essentially infringing on my right to travel to and from Cayman, by artificially restricting flights for residents to a couple sold-out flights a week, such that there have been absolutely no available open seats on any flight this summer??

      • anonymous says:

        You are kidding right. Whether the government makes this decision or individual businesses the country has a right to do what is necessary to protect its entire population. The government with consultation with the private sector should discuss whether any establishment is willing to allow those unvaccinated to enter their premises especially bars and restaurants. All public or government facilities should institute this policy immediately.

        • Anonymous says:

          Make them try it. You will also see how fast these “businesses” will be boycotted and have to shut down. If you think that tourists will come here vaccinated or not and feel like their rights are infringe upon, ya’ll have another thing coming. They aren’t even willing to abide by that in their home countries (as they shouldn’t) let alone on vacation.

      • Anonymous says:

        You sure we are not France? We do appear to have surrendered to the ‘rona.

    • Anonymous says:

      I agree that it would make sense but that would require Wayne to make an actual decision. He’s too scared to do that. It’s easier to just make up numbers and talk about other things.

    • 345dreams says:

      I was travelling through France (for work) recently, the signs for vaccination cards are displayed at some restaurants, but no one asked me to show one. It’s all just political games at this point.

      Believe it or not, the world is not on fire outside of the Cayman Islands! I would argue instead that you are being left even further behind, by cowering away and vocalising such scare messaging in your communities.

      • Anonymous says:

        Believe it or not, the world is not on fire outside of the Cayman Islands!

        Believe it or not, the world is not on fire outside of the Cayman Islands!

        Believe it or not, the world is not on fire outside of the Cayman Islands!

      • Anonymous says:

        So says the troll in Kazakstan

        • Anonymous says:

          I’m not 12:56 but am traveling the US and people are living life. Sorry for you those of us who will forever remain turtles.

  28. Anonymous says:

    We have to change our slogan from Caymankind to Cayman Frozen in March 2020.

    • Say it like it is. says:

      10.45pm In the 70’s the Dept of Tourism’s slogan was “The Islands Time Forgot” (and a good one too). In the 2020’s it will soon be replaced with “The Islands Tourists Forgot”

  29. Anonymous says:

    Cayman is really special boy. The only place in the world where covid is on surfaces. So if legal documents need to be signed for a court case, the medical officer needs to approve? Obeah is definitely being practiced in Cayman.

  30. Anonymous says:

    will keep saying this:
    this is the truth of the no-plan-pact lie…..there is no re-opening plan.
    they know 80 is impossible…their plan is to re-open next year when the rest of the world will declare covid pandemic over and will be viewed the risk same as seasonal flu.

  31. Anonymous says:

    so why aren’t government questioned about this???
    where is the media?
    where is the chamber and cita?

    • Anonymous says:

      To be fair, PACT is not being transparent at all despite their name. Panton rarely comments on the covid situation like other leaders around the world. They announced their reopening plan at a luncheon rather than a press briefing where they could be questioned by the media. The last press briefing was over a month ago and even then I doubt they’d have had it if the PPM wouldn’t have had one the day before. And I would think the reopening plan is a significant enough development to warrant a press briefing. I don’t think Panton wants to answer questions at all.

  32. Hostage says:

    Nothing changes until 80%. Just like the plan says. Yep. We are wait’n for 80%.

  33. Anonymous says:

    Open the border! The bogeyman is not going away anytime soon.

  34. Anonymous says:

    Dr Lee I suggest you go get vaccinated 10 times a day cos your strategy doesn’t work anymore. You fooled me to get the vaccine but I promise you when the 3 dose is coming I’ll send to your office and you go and explain Paton why I’m not taking it!

  35. Anonymous says:

    31 people. That’s somehow less busy than lonestar on a Tuesday.

    • Anonymous says:

      You might be onto something. Perhaps they should offer alcohol; it was deemed “essential” during lockdown, after all. Maybe the remaining holdouts just need some free “medicine” to go with their vaccine. Set up a station outside of Mango Tree, Fidel’s, Lone Star, PDs, Rackams, Welly’s and offer a free top-shelf shot with your vaccine shot.

  36. Anonymous says:

    To get to 80% of 71,100 we need 56,880 vaccinated. That is 7,800 more first doses.

    8 weeks until September 9, requires around 1,000 first doses per week or 200 per day (usually 5 days a week the clinics are open). And given that there needs to be 3 weeks between the first and second dose, these 7,800 first doses need to be administered in the next five weeks, which is 1,500 first doses per week for the next five weeks.

    And I personally expect the vaccine rate to decrease, not increase, as presumably most willing people have already come forward.

    (if we only do 250 first doses per week, it will take over 31 weeks to administer 7,800 first doses, or Feb 14, 2022.)

  37. Anonymous says:

    What happens the day that no one comes to the airport?

    • Anonymous says:

      The Earth won’t stop spinning.

    • Anonymous says:

      Pretty much the same thing that happens when just 31 come. A decision was made to set up vaccinations at the airport. That fills the one decision quota for the year.

    • Anonymous says:

      ….then we turn it back into an airport, and we add a few more Cayman Airways flights so residents can travel….

  38. Anon says:

    It’s getting boring now, let’s have one article a week. It’s clear the unvaccinated have no interest in ever traveling off cayman or any interest in the tourism industry, and are happy to not be allowed in bars and restaurants when we open up. I predict they are mainly construction workers and low income work permit holders working in retail.

    • Anonymous says:

      No, I’m actually a born and bred working as an accountant. I have interest in traveling abroad and also would love for the island to open back up so that those who rely on tourism can earn their living. Your issue, and the issue with the rest of those who seem to think like you, is that you cannot seem to comprehend there are valid reasons to not want to take the vaccine. You can only view situations in absolutes. In your mind there are only two types of people in this context, anti-vaxxers and ‘good’ people who claim to care about others. You are the caring person and everyone else who disagrees, well they must disagree because they don’t care. The world is complex and you need to widen your thinking.

      Its a common statement that if you don’t want the COVID vaccine, you are anti-tax. I assure you that the majority of those who refuse to take the covid vaccine are not anti-vax. I myself believe in the efficacy of vaccines, once proven. I refuse to be the guinea pig for a rushed vaccine in the attempt to see myself from a virus that has a less than 1% chance of death.

      But your comment is very typical of someone who views anyone that doesn’t come to your same conclusions as ‘beneath’ you. Of course those who don’t agree with you on the vaccine are low income, construction workers and/or work permit holders. Is it because those people are ‘uneducated’ unlike yourself?

      Typical self entitled thinking by someone who is more than likely ruled by fear or putting out this pseudo compassionate stance in an attempt to be liked by those around you.

      • Anonymous says:

        9:49 Best and most sensible comment. I agree with your sentiments!

      • Anonymous says:

        Well you’re a unicorn. I’ve chatted with many construction and low wage earners who won’t get vaxxed until they have to.

      • Say it like it is. says:

        So Mr.Accountant at 9.49am, you repeat the typical local claim that it’s the construction workers and work permit holders that are anti-vax. I have news for you, the majority are Caymanian, just like you and I speak from having spoken to many.Billions of Covid vaccines have been administered around the world with minimal side affects, so when exactly will you consider their efficacy proven?. It is people like you with your upper arm in the sand that are ruining our economy, it seems your education is entirely wasted by your own self entitled thinking.

        • Anonymous said it says:

          What exactly is your point, narcissistic social media scholar??

          Who is really Caymanian anyways?

          Anyone from abroad who wants it can basically get it. So you don’t even know who you are actually insulting, it could be anybody.

          Insulting people of a country that hosts your investments, interests, and/or physical presence is disgustingly disrespectful in any business setting. Any business course will tell you that alone scares away clients and blacklists you from future opportunities… and to top it all off that is discrimination against race, nationality, and educational attainment!!

          You better calculate your response to this carefully because you are already on eggshells in this crowd and somebody must know who you are in real life. Don’t start a game you cannot finish.

  39. Sad but true says:

    And despite the Premier’s promise of transparency, he still won’t reveal how many of his M/P’s/Ministers have still not been vaccinated.

    • Anonymous says:

      Not anyone’s business who does what with their bodies. We are not entitled to know anyone’s medical history.

      • anonymous says:

        I believe the public has a right to know if the policies instituted by government for the public are being followed by those making the rules. Do parents have the right o know if children entering school have their standard vaccinations? Does the public have the right to know that the expat community have provided their medical tests to government for work permits? The public assumes these rules are all being followed so no specific need to require individual requests. In the case of vaccines for COVID the public does have the right to know either explicitly or implicitly

      • Anonymous says:

        Thank you!

        Argument done!

        *drops mic*

      • Anonymous says:

        Well they seem pretty interested in what the LGBTQ crowd does in their private life so I think it’s OK… we need to know what’s going on.

      • Sad but true says:

        8.07am Dunderhead!, we are talking numbers NOT names!.

    • Anonymous says:

      @7:58

      If the Premier tells you, will you go and get your vaccine? I’ll arrange a meeting if you say yes?

      We all know the only one that hasn’t been vaccinated is Julie so you are doing nothing more than shit-stirring.

      All the others were vaccinated either before election or shown plain as day on social media taking their vaccines..Do you want to start another anti-vaxx conspiracy theory that they were injected with water?

  40. #noplanplancritic says:

    How’s the no plan plan going. I assume the no plan pact is breathing a sigh of relief seeing as their impossible criteria for opening will not be achieved and they will not have to move the goal posts to either a new population of 80,000 or a vaccinated level of 90% of it’s already bogus population estimate.
    In the computer software world what the pact is doing is called selling vapor ware (a software that only exists in the imagination of its developer)
    Pact get your sh!t together and give us a opening date let tourism and airlines get schedules set. Do a soft opening this summer August/September no quarantine for vaccinated residents and property owners then open up October for vaccinated tourists. The world is open let’s get going.

  41. Anonymous says:

    6406 students under the age of 12 were registered in schools and early childhood centers in 2019, if we are to believe the ESO report available on their website. It is safe to assume that number has since increased, at least by PACT assumptions. So let’s call it 6750, that’s being generous. It is also safe to assume there are at least another 1250 children under the age of 12 not registered in formal education.

    That makes 8000 persons, again being generous, who are not eligible to be vaccinated, yet by PACT logic are included in their vaccination percentage requirement (that’s right, it’s not a target according to their “plan”).

    It’s an impossible to reach requirement, there is no plan to reopen.

    • Anonymous says:

      The ineligible are included because the science requires them to be included. Get your head around the fact that these numbers are not some arbitrary invention of politicians trying to make your life difficult.

      • Anonymous says:

        You need to wrap your little head around the difference between Dr. Lee fearmongering science and real science.

        Also, the irony of Cayman all of a sudden relying on “the science” rivals that of the creation of gunpowder.

      • Anonymous says:

        These are very much the arbitrary invention of our politicians.

  42. Anonymous says:

    Many countries have proven that introducing restrictions on access to public places like bars, restaurants, cinemas, airline flights etc for those not vaccinated both increases the vaccine uptake and makes the population less susceptible to a Covid outbreak.

    Is that too complicated for our PACT government to understand or do they actually want to keep the vaccination rate below 80%?

    • Anonymous says:

      So what you are saying is that you want PACT to tell the holdouts who are potentially people who voted them in, that if they don’t get an experimental shot – with no insurance and/or remuneration options available to them should they have adverse reactions – that they will not be able to go into the bars and restaurants that they have gone into their whole lives? All so that some tourists that the *VAST MAJORITY* of Caymanians do not directly benefit from, can come back to the islands?

      There is almost certainly no way that could end poorly. /s

      Even as a fully-vaccinated immigrant (sorry, “expat” as some of us like to pretend we are above the immigrant status), I am aware that that is a ridiculous idea.

      This time should be used to upskill locals for the opening next year, so that less entitlement lands on these shores in future.

    • Anonymous says:

      When you lead a horse to water, you can’t make it drink — put you can put salt in the hay.

      • Anonymous says:

        Good luck traveling as an unvaccinated – you won’t get too far

        • Anonymous says:

          Lol that’s what you think. Every where I have any interest in gong has made it clear that they don’t require the vaccine and will not be having those ridiculous vaccine passports. Anywhere who does can suck it

  43. Anonymous says:

    What happened to the plan to counteract the disinformation put out by trolls and idiots that has confused so many?

    Who is accountable for the lack of innovation in getting the vaccination program back on track?

  44. Anonymous says:

    So Wayne – 80% vaccine uptake is coming and so is your Code of Conduct. Which one should we expect to arrive first?

  45. Anonymous says:

    Total lack of imagination on PACT’s part – apart from their belief that they could control the man in the wig.

  46. Anonymous says:

    Have to give credit where it is due – Kenny said that he had a plan to get vaccinations up to 80% and this is the proof of his plan’s success.

  47. Anonymous says:

    The government’s lack of creativity in getting people to take the vaccine is just as bad as the influence of the conspiracy theorists and the trolls on social media.

  48. Anonymous says:

    There is clearly an absence of thinking ability demonstrated by the failure to implement any new approaches to vaccination.

    Mobile vaccination clinics have proven very effective in many countries. Arrange with employers and property owners to visit large construction sites and supermarkets in each district.

    Do vaccinations on Saturdays so that if people have a sore arm the next day they don’t have to miss work.

    In parts of the US vaccination clinics are being set up in hair dressing salons.

    Why not have vaccination clinics in every district in school buildings that are now empty.

    If your public health people can’t be bothered to do whatever it takes to get vaccination numbers up then fire them and bring in somebody who can.

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