Panton: Lockdown not a consideration
(CNS): Premier Wayne Panton has confirmed that there will be no countrywide lockdown following news that a student at George Town Primary with no travel history or contact with a positive traveller has tested positive for COVID-19. Speaking to the country Tuesday morning via social media, Panton said an extra wall of protection is now required with stricter public health measures, such as mask mandates and surveillance testing, but “based on the information we have at this time we are not considering a lockdown”.
Panton said he was aware of the concerns after two unrelated community cases across Grand Cayman, and said that government would keep people updated with the latest results. But he urged people to get vaccinated as this presents the best protection from serious illness or death if infected.
Protecting children was government’s priority, he stressed. “We have had no shortage of reminders over the past week that the global pandemic is far from over, even here in the Cayman Islands. No doubt complacency has slowly crept in among us, and as we changed our behaviors, including our compliance with the regulations, there should be no surprise that we have seen the tide quickly shift.”
He added, “Positive COVID-19 cases emerging from within the community is a worrying trend.” Urging everyone to get vaccinated, the premier said, “The science is clear and unequivocal; vaccines help to prevent people from dying and getting seriously ill… Get vaccinated to protect yourself and those you love.”
However, an additional wall of protection was now needed to protect the most vulnerable, he said. “This morning the Cabinet will meet to finalise additional public health measures in light of the development of two separate incidents of community transmission, including mask mandates, increased surveillance testing, consideration of quarantine periods and revisiting the rules around who can visit Cayman.”
Government has still not revealed why the child, who is the fourth person in the community to contract the virus with no travel contacts, was tested or the health status of the child, but the premier wished the youngster a speedy recovery.
Read the full statement in the CNS Library or watch on CIGTV below:
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Category: Health, Medical Health, Policy, Politics
The government that you are a part of is horribly inept. This ‘pause’ allows you an opportunity to strengthen our COVID protocols, but there is absolutely no mention of the fact that you have had many months to sort that.
No reason can be given for the delay, nor can any necessary trigger be cited for a reopening beyond the fact that our people are scared of COVID.
Irrational fear should not be allowed to become national policy.
You’re allowing this country to dangerously balance on the edge of all tourism related businesses closing, and I do not believe that you understand the consequences of that.
Whether we open tomorrow, January 1st, 2023 or 2025 COVID will still be an issue. The rest of the world has learned to live with COVID and our failure to do the same will be our demise.
This is your chance to lead our islands to prosperity, but fearing COVID and hiding ourselves away will cause irreparable damage.
Hopefully our people will hold you accountable for that.
Lockdown not a consideration? yeah, right. like we should trust anything you say at this point, because policy changes every time the wind blows or you see a few angry posts on social media.
In other words, Lockdown soon come.
Wait for it.
YUP, just 2 more locally transmitted found from random testing and we’ll all be in a 2 week lockdown to try to stem the virus. I’m OK with that if we can walk around mask free again…
Can the news conference panel stop using the word “asymptomatic” so that the simpletons don’t think that every positive person is on deaths door. Maybe say “have no symptoms”.
A less than inspirational performance by the Hon Premier. More “deer in the headlights” than a man in charge. At least Alden and his crew talked facts and spared us from sugar coating and being talked down to. Wayne appears to be well out of his depth with no supporting cast. With the PPM news briefings, everyone was watching. With PACT briefings, all I can hear is they are too painful to watch. Wait for the summary.
2 Governments have had over 1 year now to start developing other streams of revenue for Cayman’s public & private coffers.
When will that begin, instead of “waiting on tourism to return”??
Blah, blah,blah… Cayman, as usual, is months behind the latest developments when it comes to covid.
If most of you money grabbers and wingnuts would leave if we locked it down, I would be in full favour of another 10- week lockdown because the ends would justify the means.
Dart ain’t goin like this. They pushed for the 5 day quarantine and now PACT pushing the reopening back so hotels can’t reopen. Bring back the bio buttons…
They were never here to begin with.
So what…..zzzzzzz
I personally would like to thank the Premier, the Hon. Wayne Panton and his Team from the bottom of my heart on how they are handling the Covid-19 pandemic in the Cayman Islands. After listening to today’s press briefing I think they are doing the right thing with keeping our borders closed until next year. All you have to do is read tonight’s Bermuda report from the Royal Gazette. They had one more death, and 412 new cases, with 28 people in hospital and five in intensive care.– a new high since the pandemic began.
Kudos to Mr. Panton, Minister of Health, Sabrina Turner for all that they are doing to keep Cayman and it’s residents safe. The Delta variant is spreading very quickly throughout the Bermuda community, and this surge is overwhelming every segment of their healthcare system.”. We do not want this to happen here. Undoubtedly, the Covid-19 vaccine remains the best protection against the coronavirus. I encourage anyone who wants to get vaccinated to do so quickly. It’s safe, effective and in the best interests of everyone. This virus is not a joke. Why would anybody in their right mind, allow themselves to catch this potentially deadly virus.
So sad that people rather end up in hospital than getting the vaccine.
The truth is the vaccines save lives.
I am doing a bit of research, do you know of the doctors or scientists that have determine what Bermuda has is the Delta variant? PCR testing does not tell which variant. So, I just want to know how they come with their NUMBERS? 🙂 please provide us a SOURCE LINK on the internet if you can find one. 🙏🏽Thank you and God bless
What are you saying? You test for the COVID virus, then they perform the genomic sequencing which tells you what variant a positive case is. So they know for example the recent positives in Cayman are Delta. You can’t do specific PCR tests that say which variant it is immediately – you test for the virus, then establish what variant of the COVID virus that viral load is.
If this clown thinks I am going to stick my 5 year old with this vaccine he has another thing coming.
What is a 7 day quarantine? Is there science backing for that? Is there logic for that?
Apparently you missed the logic
And nine others apparently
22 others at this point.
No 5 year old in all of the world that did not have major underlying health issues has got ill from covid. Relax and listen to science. You and your 5 yr old are more at risk crossing the road than you are from taking the vaccine
How can you possibly make such a broad – obviously incorrect and misleading statement? …”in all of the world…” Simply a bald faced lie. Shame on you to hide ignorance while encouraging science.
So why should I quarantine or wear a mask to protect your child?
Oh an I assume your child has not been vaccinated against measles, chicken pox, whooping cough, or polio??
Don’t think you should. Government says you should. Kids are safe from COVID.
Cool, but try not to advertise your lack of appreciation for a global pandemic being fought with a scientifically proven vaccine.
So said the genius who may need others to pay for his/her hospital bills.
We all pay taxes genius.
“think” coming not “thing” lol
It was chaos this morning at the Hospital Covid testing facility with no social distancing and mixing of people including waves from GTPS. A sure fire incubator of transmission.
7 day quarantine being implemented. Most who travel to GC have a 7 day holiday. Travel to a beautiful island. Stay in an expensive hotel for 7 days staring at the walls, order food service 3 x a day, have no outside contact, and then fly home. Yeah, that sounds like what everyone wants in a holiday. NEVER!
OR
Travel to a beautiful island that is open with relatively low covid numbers. (There are many- the world is a big place). Show that you are vaccinated/ PCR test is negative. Stay 7 nights. May have to wear a mask occasionally in places you can’t social distance. Enjoy the beach, the restaurants, the local vibe. Spend money in the economy. Travel home. Tell all your family and friends. Rebook the same location for next trip and bring some friends along.
I agree. An example of how it is done would be Anguilla. I read an article about their admittedly stringent criteria, but they’ve managed to have tourism and remain COVID-free.
Anguilla has a population of 15,100 and have had 318 cases – 6 in the past two days. That translates into 20,971 per 100,000 versus Cayman’s 11,178 per 100,000.
Anguilla is open.
We have 0 interest in you or your travelling friends and family.
We care about our own people first.
you care about you and you only.
Happy to spend their dollars tho. Oh, except you can’t do that if they don’t come. You do remember that but when PACT said it was unsustainable to keep on paying stipend and running government revenues without tourism ( although Wayne does seem to have forgotten they said that).
Live in Fear
Cayman is sunk
Or get the vaccine and live in peace.
Covid-19 is not going away. All new measures do is delay the inevitable. At what point does society decide to accept it and move on?
The US/UK are both dealing with much higher levels but no one cares anymore. They accept that a small risk of death is the cost of we pay every time we step out the front door. To believe otherwise is delusional.
The only alternative is to indefinitely sequester ourselves away from family, friends and the activities which give meaning to our lives. These COVID measures put tremendous strain on our social fabric, economic well-being, and the and cognitive development of our children. To deny this is selfish and shortsighted.
Like most things in life, it’s complicated and a judgement call. Each persons acceptance of the risk is different and our leadership is walking the fine line of getting on with it, learning to live in the new reality, and minimizing the risks where possible through some social protection mrasures. Do your part and go along with it.
New reality?
Well go live in the UK or US then.
Please do. We are open. You may need to wear a mask occasionally, but you will enjoy most activities w/ out fear of lockdown etc.
And you can leave again freely when you wish …
And please refrain from returning if you like.
Why do you say that
We all come from other places even Caymanians LONG TIME Caymanians
It’s about going somewhere else we want to be here but we can’t if we keep overreacting
It’s a flu and a bad one we can’t close the world
Bye Bye! Have fun.
As an unvax, I 100% agree with you. PURE FOOLISHNESS !
Oh god help you, maybe the truth will set you free, but I highly doubt it.
As an American with dead relatives, I can tell you ppl care.
I think we all have dead relatives, American. What’s your point?
C19 is unique among common respiratory pathogens in that is has a very high R0 and–at least for the time being–is more able to cause serious illness and death. Therefore, if C19 does become endemic, the new normal to deal with limiting an intolerable amount of deaths from C19 could well entail a combination of masking, quarantine, vax, social measures and travel limitations. It is much too soon to tell what its course will be or what combination of measures can ultimately get it under control.. However, we can learn much from places like Bermuda where a hard wave is hitting again, and from places where Covid is well controlled.
I put the blame on Travel Cayman, they do a piss poor ass job of proper monitoring for returning travelers and residents. I see lots of those people breaking the protocols and when reported they do absolutely not one damn thing. So what do you expect? Come on Travel Cayman, you need to take ownership for this domestic transmission. Charge the law breakers to the fullest extent.
Hear hear!!! What is the update on punishing to 20 cases in court this week?
Seriously- we ARE our own problem….
Parents told to “stay home” from GTPS today and seen out having lunch? Report them please.
Arrrgh. Why the rule breaking???
Lol. I really don’t think the canoes are registering with Travel Cayman!
No need for lockdown. Or for a 3 hour press conference every time we get a case, vaccines protect you. Along with quarantine and masks etc, let’s learn to live with Covid like the rest of the world.
6:14 That include the dying part!
So many people are convinced they have truth and facts on their sides. There is so much misunderstanding on all sides of this coronavirus/covid19 issue (many won’t even realize there’s a difference between coronavirus and covid19 – FYI, covid19 is a specific strain of coronavirus, there are many coronaviruses).
*CNS: COVID-19 is the disease caused by a particular coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2.
It is not hard to find facts in all of this, but most of us cannot be bothered or have either become jaded, or have given in to believing at face value whatever we are told or read in media, government, friends, family, local Doctors, Dr Oz, etc, etc.
For example, there’s a consistent theme among posters here that 99% of those that die are vaccinated. This is not even close to true, and its not my job to give you the real numbers, i just ask you to look at Public Health England, or the CDC, or Health Scotland, or Israel or anywhere. You will be astonished to find just how many people that are ‘fully vaccinated’ are dying.
*CNS: I think you meant ‘unvaccinated’ in the first sentence and then tried to disprove that. Here’s the latest from Public Health England: “Between 2 January and 2 July 2021, there were 640 deaths involving COVID-19 in people who had received both vaccine doses, which is 1.2% of all deaths involving COVID-19 in that period (51,281 deaths).”
Two doses makes you fully vaccinated – nope, not even close anymore. It never did. They are onto their 4th does now in Israel. The waning of efficacy has caused alarm all around the world. Anyone here who has been ‘fully vaccinated’ since May or when we rolled them out – you’re either now or very soon to be as wide open as a non-vaccinated person.
*CNS: The booster shots are mainly directed at the elderly and vulnerable and Israel has one of the most active vaccine programmes in the world. Yes, we might all need a booster eventually (as with most vaccines) but what’s the big deal about that? This is from Israel (see here): “As of August 21, the Health Ministry recorded 215.9 severe COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people among the unvaccinated over the age of 60, compared to 21 per 100,000 people among those who had received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. This makes unvaccinated older people more than 10 times as likely to experience a severe case than their immunized counterparts.”
Vaccines will stop covid19. Nope. Its impossible, we can’t even get to herd immunity because it jumps around so fast and spreads to animals also that unless we on the same day at same moment ‘vaccinate’ all 8Billion of us and all the worlds animals, it is impossible to get rid of covid19 unless covid19 gets rid of itself.
We got rid of Polio! (No, we have not yet) and Smallpox! We can get rid of Covid19. No, you can’t. Covid19 is a very simple, non-complex virus that jumps so fast and mutates at such enormous speed we cannot keep up with it. Polio/Smallpox are extremely complex and move so slow, we can herd immunity them away because we can take our time vaccinating folks as the poli/smallpox spread so slowly compared to respiratory devils like covid19.
CNS: It’s maybe not impossible. You might find this interesting. What Will It Take to Eradicate COVID-19?
Children, the children!! No, the children are fine (unless, like adults) they are massively obese or have underlying issues. Even then, they have a better chance than frail adults in the same position.
Masks, they’ll solve everything. Nope, not even an N95 will protect you very long as you’re not going to be keeping it over your eyes. As for cloths and paper masks – are you truly that foolish you think these work? Have you ever farted thru your underwear jeans? Well, a fart has a larger droplet than covid19.
*CNS: Masks are a good way of slowing the spread. They will not solve everything on their own but in conjunction with everything else. They don’t protect the wearer, they protect everyone else from the wearer. Mayo Clinic: How well do face masks protect against coronavirus?
We’re all going to die! No, actually for all intents and purposes none of us are. The statistics are out there, they are undeniable. And with each passing day, more truth is coming out about ow covid ‘deaths’ have been counted. (man with broken leg admitted to hospital, tests positive for covid, he’s a hospitalized covid patient! Woman jumps off building and dies, tests positive for covid…you get the picture).
*CNS: No, these are a lot of silly stories spread by anti-vax sites. Public health experts and virologists are using real data.
People, what did you think would happen? We’ve been cocooned for 19 months – all we’re doing is kicking the bottle down the road. We have to let covid run thru, we’ll be fine. Yes, some may perish but you’ll find most of them will be already massively unhealthy. Life must continue for most of us. We cannot hide anymore.
CNS: The callousness of this paragraph is breathtaking. Imagine that you had a relative, a child even, with a pre-existing condition or a compromised immune system. You’re basically saying they should be collateral damage.
Get vaccinated or not, it really doesn’t matter.
*CNS: At this point, this statement is the epitome of ignorance. There’s no excuse for it now. Get vaccinated.
XXXX (CNS: Sorry, I couldn’t cope with any more.)
Good luck, god speed.
*CNS: God sent you the scientists who have developed the vaccine.
CNS, thank you for your patience.
Yes, the science is clear and unequivocal that covid has a 14 day incubation period, but you reduced it to 5 despite the science.
Don’t count your eggs while they’re incubating
Kiss high season good bye if quarantine stays.
Hotels and businesses won’t make another closed high season.
Open the border!
Get vaccinated!
Oh shut up. If the Ritz can afford to re-model after one season, they can go two.
Tell that to their staff and businesses like ours that employ Caymanians and which serve the Ritz
9:13pm Ritz barely hires locals, and when they do, it’s merely to meet an immigration quota. I don’t necessarily agree with the decisions of this new government but I find that it is majority expats complaining about reopening or not. If you miss your family back home, want a break from being on the island or just tired of our fickle government all together, then just leave and return to your home countries (which seem to have life going on despite covid). Leave us here in our bubble.
2:00pm….you are way off base!
I’ve seen MANY MANY multi-generational Caymanians complaining on social media. Lots of them have very valid reasons too!
Also, news flash the illusion of us having a Covid-free bubble has finally popped! Lots of us been saying Covid was already here and it wouldn’t take borders opening to bring it.
Covid has been there all along. Nobody believed the Covid free status except maybe those on island especially when reading the cayman island Covid counter that was registering numbers. Currently 772.
You mean Dart can afford.
Maybe Dart can go 2 seasons, but what about all the places that Dart still doesn’t own? The restaurants, hotels, b&b’s , dive ops owned by Caymanians that are getting ready to sink?
No border opening, no Civil Service salary increases.
7 day quarantine- no thanks. Book elsewhere
No unvaccinated = no young children = no families = book elsewhere
No high season year 2!
Might as well stay in bubble and tell the world tourism is done!
I bet you only eat at fast food restaurants
No CS jollies, Eric can’t earn more air mileage. Wah wah wah
Different rules for some.
More than half of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 develop ‘rogue antibodies’ that attack their own body tissues, a new study finds
Stanford University researchers found similarities between the blood samples of about 200 Covid patients and patients with autoimmune conditions, like lupus
About 20% of patients whose blood was taken multiple times developed these ‘rogue antibodies’ within their first week at the hospital
‘If you get sick enough from COVID-19 to end up in the hospital, you may not be out of the woods even after you recover,’ one of the researchers said
Further study will further determine the links between these antibodies and severe Covid symptoms as well as possible links to long Covid
Copied from the the daily mail.
Share the link or it didn’t happen
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9990105/Study-finds-HALF-patients-hospitalized-COVID-19-develop-autoantibodies.html
In other words, you want to see us still in lockdown. FEAR does nothing good for the economy and people’s livelihood. I bet all like you is supporting vaccine passports, and Joe Biden’s approval for employers to fire unvaccinated folk.
Am only sharing the information, take it easy.
Wingnuts don’t like information. They like alternative facts.
Sharing garbage is not helpful to the Lemmings jumping off the cliff of ignorance.
Joe Biden is not an honest person.
Please don’t lower the debate with quotes from the Daily Fail.
Daily Obituaries
Just stop this!
The Daily Mail is a racist rag, that couldn’t report accurate findings on a 30cm ruler.
The Daily Fail. That says it all really. Gutter rag.
and if you read further you’ll find it’s overwhelming in the unvaccinated because of the full blown immune response. The study states getting vaccinated decreases your chances of long COVID (rogue). Multiple links but here is one:
https://news.yale.edu/2021/05/19/rogue-antibodies-wreak-havoc-severe-covid-19-cases
What does Yale know? YouTube says something completely different and I know which one I trust.
How utterly sad that some will believe this garbage. Shame on you!
The Daily Mail- that right wing rag…you should have stated that at the beginning…I would not have wasted my time reading this….
What did the National Enquirer say?😱
Bermuda headline update today — see link below. As of Friday, 28 COVID in hospital and rising, cases rapidly rising. Current case rate is 4th highest in world over last 14 days, with a 344% increase in cases in last 14 days.
(Bermuda, same population and vax rate as Cayman. No quarantine for vaxxed travelers, just testing).
“Bermuda Hospital Board on ‘Disaster Alert Level 3’ amid fears of ‘immediate and present risk to services’ over Covid”
https://www.royalgazette.com/health/news/article/20210914/bhb-on-alert-level-3-amid-fears-of-immediate-and-present-risk-to-services-over-covid/
And some idiots in Cayman think that we should copy Bermuda and end quarantine – No thank you
They where letting unvaccinated people in for 10 months.
How many are in hospital that are vaccinated?
I guess 0.5% are!
Palm Beach Post today – new COVID cases and hospitalizations in Palm Beach county and statewide are down. Vast majority of hospitalizations are unvaccinated patients. In other words we need to get on with life.
Damn. I was looking forward to a few days in the house day drinking and going unwashed.
HA! We all remember those days. April, May 2020, a lot of day drinking, especially on Friday afternoons, knowing that Saturday wasnt my “letter day” and was staying in and Sunday was a full curfew for everyone.
A lot less social pressure in those days and you could just turn Zoom off when you got bored speaking to people.
Ah, memories. Those days of interior construction, while binging Orange is the New Black.
Actually, now that you mention it, my wife and I quite enjoyed lockdown. Sure, we drank more than usual, but we also … enjoyed each other more than usual. We think back on it with a smile. Of course, the kids are grown and abroad so that made it easier. But, while inconvenient and stressful when we went shopping, it was a time we look back with a smile and an almost nostalgic remembrance. I am happy we got to experience it together, though we know it was very hard on our single and childless friends.
No need to turn Zoom off, I just walked out of screen shot un-announced 🙂
I bet there are lineups at the Camana Bay vaccine clinic today? You could have had the ORIA clinic to yourself about a month ago.
Hopefully!
Gonna have ORIA to yourself for another year.Long time till next high season.
I write as I hear there are now 6 positives linked to the school. I would suggest we are seeing the iceberg above the water with a huge number of unidentified cases now in the community unseen and not identified yet. ‘So what’ is the cry. We need to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible – people… forget all the conspiracy theories because listening to those could end up killing you. The time to act is now. GET VACCINATED!!!! Secondly, as much as I hear of Caymankind, I see very little evidence of it. Constant bitching will not protect people. Wearing masks, washing your hands regularly, cutting social contact to essential only and social distancing will. We get through this together people. We don’t panic, we don’t give air to conspiracy and we do care for one another. Let’s actually see some Caymankind in action.
Right, because you sound like such a welcoming, warm voice of non judgemental reasoning softly shouting,”Get the Vaccine.” You want to see Caymankind in action? Start with yourself.
And you are a voice against reason – YOU will get folks killed!
6? Source? “I hear”?
Source is Facebook of course!
Be patient, the news is coming…
Are you sure, the news will favor you.
Great comment!! Please, if you are able to, get vaccinated. It’s could be the difference between life and death.
You people dont get tired of trying to encourage the anti-vax no go and get it? Let be already, what ever happens to them is on them
Also on our healthcare system as well… their poor decisions affect us all.
People’s decision to drink and eat unhealthily does too. What’s your point!?
Close to 80% vaccination rate. Do you really think that the full 20% of unvaxxed will clog the hospitals? False News! We weren’t overrun when we didn’t have the vaccine so what’s different? Most who test positive are asymptomatic. Stop fear mongering.
I agree with everything you said, but please remember to get vaccinated is a personal CHOICE, which SHOULD ALWAYS BE RESPECT. We are not citizens under a communinst regime 👍🏼
The reason the virus is back among us is almost certainly the consequence of the reduction of the quarantine period from 14 to 5 days for the vaccinated. It is both illogical and unsupported by the science. The incubation period for the COVID19 virus is 14 days, not 5. Indeed, there have been a number of instances here where the incubation period has been 16 or 17 days. Almost certainly, the virus has been reintroduced into the community by vaccinated travelers were carrying the virus but who tested negative on day 6 and were released from quarantine. They took the undetected virus home with them and the community spread began.
How about people not obeying the quarantine rules?
The quarantine for Cayman Vaccinated was 5 days from June … it more likely the “quarantine without monitoring” which has been the issue
Wasn’t it always part of the government’s calculated approach to risk that covid would arrive in the community at this stage when the numbers were still small enough for the hospital system to cope with and when there was still enough time for the vaccine hold-outs to panic, get vaccinated, and get at least some protection before the virus spread more widely? Of course, what seems to be mass panic about an entirely predictable and predicted set of circumstances will likely set the opening plan back. This was always going to happen. If not now, then when? (And yes, I have children. Yes, one of them is too young to be vaccinated. And no, while I believe covid is something to take seriously, I’m not particularly worried because they are in good health and probably have a higher chance of being struck by lightning or killed on Cayman’s roads than they do of becoming seriously ill).
Yes, the original plan was always to “flatten the curve”. Seems that idea was forgotten a long time ago.
The only thing Government can calculate with any degree of accuracy are salary and benefits increases for themselves………
Spot on
Plus complete negligence by KX in allowing a positive person to fly on a jet filled with people !
3:55 I’d bet it was one of those hard workers doing a spectacular job reviewing documents. At least the customs officer in Cayman wasn’t asleep behind the wheel and noticed the test result.
3.55pm When will we get the result of CAL”s (Mr Whorms’) investigation into how on earth this happened. He can’t worm his way out of this one.
1:45 The average incubation is 5 days. Guess they figured that testing at the average was good enough.
It’s because some couldn’t wait to see the person in quarantine so they just stopped by to say hi. The school child had zero link to a traveler so some adult visited another adult in quarantine and gave it to the child. Quarantined people are not walking the streets, but you’d better believe the people who visit them sure are.
What about the 10 days quarantine – we had that for 6 months with no cases in the community. We’ve also had the 5 days for 3 months prior to this with no community cases. It’s therefore most likely a quarantine breach that has now introduced it.
Thank God for good sense! No need for lockdowns now or in the future. They made sense last year when we were all vulnerable but now we are at more than 3/4 of our population with at least one vaccine. That means the vast majority of our people don’t need to fear getting seriously ill if they catch Covid.
“…now we are at more than 3/4 of our population with at least one vaccine. That means the vast majority of our people don’t need to fear getting seriously ill if they catch Covid.”
With each passing day this idea becomes less and less true. It is well established the the protection offered by the vaccine wanes with time. In the USA, a trio of reports published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (the CDC’s scientific digest also reinforce the idea that vaccines alone will be unable to lift the nation out of the pandemic. In light of that, the first among the vaccinated in these islands need to beware of their ever-increasing susceptibility to breakthrough infection.
Professor Tim Spector, lead scientist involved with the UK’s ZOE COVID Study, says:
“A reasonable worst-case scenario could see protection below 50 percent for the elderly and healthcare workers by winter. With high levels of infection in the UK,driven by loosened social restrictions and a highly transmissible variant, this scenario could mean increased hospitalisations and deaths”.
(NOTE: Healthcare workers and the elderly are two groups that were given first priority in receiving vaccinations in the UK and here.)
Now is not the time to complacent. We must maintain a ever-increasing level of vigilance and awareness.
Nothing is ever under consideration until it is under consideration. Things are moving fast and the promises of today are meaningless tomorrow.
I guess we will see the governments ” Real ” plan in the coming days.
If the government changes the October 15th removal of Isolation for verified travellers because of this, then we where never really opening and all our tourism sector will now have the answer. Cayman will be closed for years to come. If this is the case that sector will be gone for the future as people travel to other jurisdictions.
International local business will be next to leave as there is only so long we can not travel and as the rest of the world is opening we are closing our selves off even more.
I think most people realize what we are dealing with and changing the October 15th date does not mean that it is gone forever.
But, my elderly family members who I haven’t seen in over two years may be by the time I can get down. MY job does not afford me enough time to take off. I get 7 days in the winter and 7 days in the summer. (Essential worker). With the quarantine still in place, I can not get down. I don’t want to hear bs that just go. I will lose my job and I am a single parent. Been vaccinated since March so I would be able to travel.
Please either cancel the Census or make it available on-line!
Because we would hate to know what the actual population is… smh
Yes please do. With all this community transmission NO ONE IS COMING INTO MY HOME FOR CENSUS! Other jurisdictions have electronic census, why are we so backward and still requiring face-to-face contact with paper forms?
Sorry not participating in census unless it’s electronic.
GIC needs to confirm that all census workers are vaccinated
That doesn’t matter as they are protected themselves, but can still catch and transmit as we just saw with the first community cases in over a year. Repeat the above 10 times.
Hopefully it’s just another false positive PCR reading.
I am sorry folks but the vaccine does not stop transmission or death. Several positives have been vaccinated individuals.
Actually, vaccination DOES prevent death. In all countries there are practically ZERO deaths for fully vaccinated individuals.
*Practically Zero*
You can’t be this stupid… If there are zero deaths from COVID for fully vaccinated individuals then “practically” does not need to be in that sentence. It casts doubt on your assertion.
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/coronavirus/100-fully-vaccinated-people-have-died-from-covid-in-mass/2463080/
CNS: The commenter clearly meant that the chances of dying if you are double vaxxed is extremely small. No one has said this figure is zero. In England, according to official figures, “Between 2 January and 2 July 2021, there were 640 deaths involving COVID-19 in people who had received both vaccine doses, which is 1.2% of all deaths involving COVID-19 in that period (51,281 deaths).”
In the link you provided it says: The deaths represent a tiny fraction — about 0.002% — of all fully vaccinated individuals in the state, according to state health officials. “Breakthrough cases in Massachusetts are incredibly low, and those hospitalized or who have died are even lower,” department officials said in a written statement.
@12:39 vaccine does not prevent death? Your comment reflective of so many that are ignorant on this island.
How does his boss Mac feel about that? He got plenty lockdown experience. Not as much as he should have of course.
Mac Attack is feeling gooooooood. He got his wig back, he can play the puppet-master, and his electorate has the IQ of a squished worm. And our future is in his hands – very worrisome.
Statistically these kids have got more chance of being killed in a car wreck by someone who doesn’t know how to use the correct lane or signal properly at the ALT roundabout than they have of dying from covid.
Let that sink in. There’s a higher probability that they will die on the way to the testing centre than there is of dying from the virus they’re being tested for.
Pastor Alfredo
Exactly. Why does everyone think that testing positive = death or being automatically hooked up to a ventilator. This is madness.
Your neighbours need to step up and help you. CNS Im going to give you my email, if you can find out who this person is. I will help them. I just hope others extend the hand of friendship in their community to people who are isolated.
Sounds like more of a threat than an offer to help.
Oh oh spaghetti Os!
2 deaths / 729 total cases = a .0027 mortality rate in cayman or a 99.73% chance of survival.
Come on sheeple…
lets not bring stats and facts into this!!!….pact don’t do facts.
Just how is the government going to protect me now? I have an autoimmune disease. My body overreacts to infections etc. Although I am vaccinated I am terrified that if I catch covid, I will become seriously ill and perhaps even die.
Now covid is here I cannot leave the house any longer. Living here covid free was heaven for me, and now I have nothing to look forward to except endless isolation and anxiety.
It costs $50 to get my groceries delivered every week and waving to the delivery guy will be my only human contact. I am feeling utter despair now.
I am so pissed at everyone telling me we just have to live with covid now. I am not living, I am just surviving now. We gave up something so precious.
Looks like your issue, not mine.
What a p!g to say something like that to a human being.
If you had parents, they are a bigger failure than even you are…….
I feel for you, but there must be millions of people all over the world dealing with it. You really need to stop feeling sorry for yourself and get a plan.
Wow, such great encouragement to the person who cannot leave home now and feels upset about that. Given that he/she is at great risk of serious illness or death from covid, what plan exactly do you think would be appropriate to make? Other than staying at home alone permanently and avoiding all contact with other people? Stop feeling sorry for yourself? Jesus, people are so selfish and callous now.
Cayman is revealing the ugly lack of compassion in a vocal minority of it’s population. Looking more and more like what is festering in the USA – a vocal, ignorant minority holding hostage the rest of the country.
You’re going to have to find a solution as we can’t live a life in limbo forever.
Sorry to hear it – that is really distressing. Perhaps look into alternative treatments such as Ivermectin (for humans) or monoclonal antibody treatment, which appears to be quite effective against Covid.
Stop spreading fake spew like that……
THIS is a perfect example of misinformation! Ivermectin IS NOT a recommended treatment for Covid.
A lockdown would only serve to cripple us now.
We need to be more diligent with quarantine breaches. We have not heard of anyone going to court since Skylar and Vanjae. It is time that the Police Commissioner and Travel Cayman stop giving these people a pass and start arresting them. No more of this friend friend and caymankind foolishness. Ignorance of the law is no excuse..period!
Has the woman on the flight from Kingston been arrested yet? This is were the courts need to lead by example again. With precedent already set, she should serve even more time because she willingly and knowingly knew what she was doing and any costs to the country should be reimbursed by her.
No one entering this country anymore should be allowed without being vaccinated and having a PCR test within 72 hours of getting on the flight, plain and simple. (those medically unable excepted)
If unvaccinated Caymanians are returning on these flights then charge them for 14 days quarantine and the PCR tests. Many have chosen to use these flights for vacations and that was what it was never intended to be.
All work permit holders should be given 60 days to get vaccinated or leave. I know this sounds draconic but there are people within our borders that couldn’t give a rats behind if they caught and spread covid. I think you will find that not a lot are unvaccinated but there are still those that are holy rollers or anti-vaxxers that just won’t do it.
We are never going to eradicate covid from here but right now, it is about using every tool in our tool box to keep it at bay for our children and adults alike.
@ 12:22 – I was at the vaccination clinic at Camana Bay this morning, and there was a long line of people waiting to be vaccinated, many of them foreigners, so it appears that work permit holders are taking the vaccine, which is encouraging to see!!
While I am with you … if you notice the panic vaccinations last week were predominantly CAYMANIANS … 243 one day in WB 200 Caymanians its not the WPH who are unvaccinated.
I agree. That woman getting on the plane is no better than the ones who knowingly break quarantine . Plus- who goes to the airport with a positive test result expecting to get on a flight unless they have some expectation that everything is going to be ok and she will get on !? Some major investigation needed by KX and staff properly disciplined .
This self quarantine nonsense is also just being abused .
Finally, a sane and rational decision.
simple solution that will ensure huge vaccine uptake and protect the most vunerable:
introduce restrictions (like most other countries) for those who are unvaccinated.
Very wise decision! We have a high level of vaccination, so wide spread of disease resulting in serious illness is unlikely.
I pray that all people on these islands compare the known consequences of being infected with Covid versus any potential complications with taking the vaccine. Even if you believe the vaccine can cause long-term side effects, it is a fact that coronavirus can cause long-term health problems and killed millions of people worldwide. Even if you believe the CIA or Bill Gates wants to implant microchips in you, it is a fact that everyone will know your location if you are buried in the cemetery.
I respect everyone’s right to do what they want with their body, but please reconsider your beliefs versus the known facts in making this decision.
People worried about microchips in a vaccine (sounds like something from a James Bond film) yet are quite happy to carry a mobile phone around with said microchip already in there. Beggars belief how uninformed people can be.
He has no option. The people will not tolerate it.
People won’t tolerate masks and social distancing indefinitely either. What’s their timeline for this?
Supposedly there’s another press briefing at 5pm (excuse me while I snore.
Hopefully another falsle positive.
Why would anyone consider a lockdown anyway, since nearly the whole country is vaccinated?
Do you really believe that almost all of our population is vaccinated?
We had persons arriving during the first vaccination period, and got vaccinated, then left.
We have allot of illegals, and who is to say our population is 71k. It could very well be 80k, 90k or even 100k.
These population figures are guestimates that the Government is using.
I for one do hope that it is more accurate and not a guestimate.
Good! Lockdown should be erased from our lexicon.
No reporter should ever suggest it or bring it up as a possibility again.
The widespread soci economic damage that another Lockdown will have, especially on those disadvantaged is not tolerable.
Get vaccinated and wear N95 masks and celebrate life!
Draconian measures to appease a handful of persons who have chosen not to get vaccinated should never be considered.
How is this appeasing the unvaccinated? Everyone has to wear masks? They haven’t been given anything different.
Plus complete negligence by KX in allowing a positive person to fly on a jet filled with people !
I give that headline until the end of the month.