CS has ‘good idea’ of what to expect when borders open
(CNS): Although there are around 3,000 people in the Cayman Islands currently infected with SARS-CoV-2, the government is still planning to move to Phase 4 of the border reopening plan on Saturday, when most fully vaccinated visitors and residents returning to Cayman will no longer need to quarantine on arrival from overseas.
Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said that the civil service now has a good idea of what to expect as it has been using statistics and data to model various scenarios. He said the Programme Board will deliver a safe reopening that will not lead to a future lockdown or border shutdown.
In a video message talking about how the government plans to steer its way towards the return of tourists, Manderson, who is currently acting as governor as Governor Martyn Roper is in the UK, did not give specific solutions to the issues that will need to be addressed, such as how positive travellers due to depart will be managed or how they will prevent the hospitals from being overwhelmed.
Manderson said he was confident the Programme Board has given the government the very best advice possible on how to reopen safely. It has been demonstrating that all the relevant entities, from the health Services Authority to hotels, are ready to manage the return of guests and that it has considered what will happen in any eventuality.
“No one agency can do it themselves,” he said, adding that quality statistics from agencies shared across the board has led to successful modelling. He said the Department of Tourism was able to give solid statistics about visitor expectations, and with help from Public Health England, civil servants were able to model the potential infection levels, hospitalisations and death rates once the border opens.
“We now have a good idea, though modelling is never perfect, but we have a really good idea as to what we can expect now and when we reopen,” he said, adding that he was very confident about the advice the civil service has given the government. He said the private sector has also been working with government and, given the high vaccination rate, Cayman can open safely and not have to shut down again.
See the DG explain the work of the Programme Board on CIGTV below:
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Category: Politics
Local death from covid will reach 10-20 per week because if these reckless government!!!!
Remember it was said that all Civil so call servanta workers are doing a good job, working hard. I wonder if doing their shopping on their Government working hours, is working hard. Maybe it is thought they doing two jobs at one time, Shopping and eating, so they working hard.
So, LTF test prices were being lowered for the community to about $7. So not to rip everyone off, but the price for tourists will be $25CI. Interesting. Guess it is ok to rip off the tourists?
Hmmm imagine if everyone in the USA or the UK could vote no matter their citizenship?
These islands belong to Caymanians, old and new and those are the ones that should and can vote. Don’t like it, leave..
yeah right…cayman democracy…where 50% of the population can’t vote and have no representation…..zzzzz
50% have the safety net of going back to where they started, thus don’t need to consider the long term impact of their decisions.
I’m ok with the progression towards voting and having a say in how our country operates but I don’t think it should happen overnight. It’s fair to be asked to demonstrate a knowledge of the history and issues and a contribution towards our society.
Prove that you bring something to the table and aren’t here to simply reap rewards for yourself.
Forgive me, but how does your comment pertain to the article? Or are you simply rambling. I agree with you, but it has nothing to do with the content of the article.
Do we know when government will remove the need for a PCR test before flying back into Cayman Islands for the vaccinated?
I love the confidence here, but lol are you not watching what’s going on in Europe? Some of the most vaccinated countries in the world are struggling. Why does Cayman think it’ll get away with it?? I wouldn’t be worried about travel, I’d be more worried that the 💩💩 is gonna hit the fan. The Premier is arrogant too when he says he’s not bothered. Very brave thing to say 😂
I think we all know that we can expect hysterical overreaction from the doom-mongers who want everyone to cower from a disease that is no more dangerous no than flu if one choose the vaccine.
Another death, bobo
Which is nothing to do with the border reopening
It has everything to do with the border reopening. If we were not reopening we would have locked down again and stamped out the virus (which came in through leaky border controls).
Why would we lock down with an 80 per cent vaccination rate? What a silly idea.
To create and maintain a safe bubble. Most would thrive, and everyone would stay alive.
Bubble has burst , come up with another plan.
It’s not spreading from travellers, it’s spreading in the community. The Travellers are being quarantined and tested..
How does locking down stop community transmission? If we would all do the right thing and isolate at home when we know we are positive we could knock this out in no time but most people don’t want to obey the rules anymore so we have to suffer the consequences.
Umm, No.
Not one country has “stamped out ”
the Coronavirus, Cayman wont either.
Locking down the island will also not “Stamp Out”
the virus. The opposite has actually happened.
Get vaccinated (…Simple).
Not from covid bobo. Vaccinated deaths from covid remain at zero. Zip. Nada.
Oye, aquellos que hacen mucho ruido sobre el uso de la palabra “apartheid” en el artículo de noticias sobre la segregación de personas no vacunadas, aquí va:
Apartheid: se aplica también a la segregación por motivos distintos a la raza. Por ejemplo:
“Apartheid de género”
Se ha asociado con la segregación racial en Sudáfrica, pero ese es solo un uso de la palabra.
Llámalo como quieras, pero los antivaxers son responsables de la extensión de la comunidad extendida y deberían estar dispuestos a pagar a su decisión.
This is the Cayman Islands and our language is English. Please post accordingly.
Agreed
Last time I was in a supermarket in Cayman all the staff were speaking Spanish!
Every one of the negative comments bitching about the gowernment just shows your political leanings. Because no matter what, this government is WAY better than what we had the last 2 terms.
We are in a much better position with this lot than the last. No two ways about it.
Majority can’t even vote.
If all residents could vote you’d see a much better, efficient, healthy life
PPM (with McLaughlin as Premier for 8 years) was the worst leadership the Cayman Islands has had inflicted upon us.
PACT is far better than PPM, but PACT can’t seem to gel together as a team.
I would rather endure the PACT than one more term of PPM.
Next election, it is hoped, will have an alternative choice to what is now in Parliament.
Thank god we are removing this ridiculous quarantine. I can’t wait to get out of here for. A few weeks on the BA flight over Christmas, see family and take a brake from the fear and ridiculous attitudes of some people here. Long overdue. Just wish they would get rid of the unnecessary pcr test needed before flying back from London, pain to get one and you don’t need one to fly out of cayman, and we will be triple jabbed by then.
Enjoy your ‘brake’.
Brake it down!
You’re right. The PCR is a horrible inconvenience to you, especially since all it might do is save a few lives.
You are ‘tripple-jabbed’ and therefore immune from everything. I hope you have your cape pressed before you leave for home.
I also hope that nothing changes to inconvenience you and your getaway. God forbid you should actually give a shit about local lives.
Just in time for Boris to lock it down for Christmas. Well done.
2:15 pm, please stay in London, the way you speak its like you don’t really like here, so why come back, STAY IN LONDIN, we thank you for not coming back.
Why is the government being so cowardly and only putting it videos?
They need to have a press conference where they will ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS
so sick of these cowards!
Oh please no. Not more of those ridiculous 3 hour press conferences please.
True statement, I should amend my post to a proper informative press conference without Kenny…
These clowns can’t even post the weekend test results by close of business on Monday.
Actually almost 1pm on Tuesday and they are still working on it.
How are we supposed to trust Franz’s secret plan?
Close of business? You know it was a public holiday right?
The ‘rona doesn’t take vacation days.
Yes
Sorry I guess you are right.
Now why can’t they update the website by 5pm on Tuesday? Did we get a double holiday.
You may not have noticed but they can’t get it done on a normal Monday now either.
Did all the essential workers take yesterday off and how hard is it to add up the count from prior days and update the website?
They have no idea. It’s all a total shambles as we become the worst country in the world for community transmission… joke.
And the elephant in the room that no one wants to address, is the documented waning of the efficacy of the vaccines in countries such as America, where a massive amount of tourists come from, as well as the waining of the efficacy of the vaccines here. It’s setting up to be a disaster here
And you suggest we do what instead ….?
That is why we have boosters! Not exactly a hardship to get a booster
I’m triple vaxxed. Probably better or just as well protected as you. I will not be hanging out in large groups either. I will be wearing a KN95 mask and social distancing. How will you protect me as a visitor?
Not the governments fault, that is the unvaccinated public and people not following the rules fault.
It’s well documented that the efficacy of the vaccine is happening and it’s also well documented that the virus is mutating as all viruses do. Your US vs THEM agenda is filled with holes
Get your booster
First Austria Now Berlin !! lets do it
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10208873/Germany-follow-Austrias-lockdown-apartheid-Berlin-considers-rules-14m-unvaccinated-citizens.html
Let’s face it. When Austria and Germany do stuff together it is not always a good idea to tag along.
It’s not like Austria had much of a choice last time!
Stop trying to rewrite history. Austria broadly welcomed German forces (headed by an Austrian).
Um, the link you gleefully shared has the word APARTHEID in it, so did you actually check that before posting or do you wish an APARTHEID here in the Islands? Either way, your fandom of fascism is not cool
Apartheid has become a dirty word but it actually basically means any type of whole sale segregation for any reason.
Here it is referring to some of control of the unvaccinated segment of communities.
If those concerned don’t like the consequences of their decision then they could rethink their position. A lot of new information has become available since the early days of their decision.
This is a lot more fair than locking down everyone. Hopefully our hospitals don’t get to that point.
Apartheid for Christmas! Very much Cayman Kind!
Apartheid is also used for segregation in other contexts, such as gender, etc.
I agree that the antivaxers must be big enough to pay the price for their decision.
The ‘re-opening plan’ is all well and good, but as we have no airlines flying here until next year, outside of BA, Cayman Airways and Jetblue, what exactly do we need to plan for?
Very good
That can get you to London, Miami and New York if you’re vaccinated. That’s good enough for now – most of us are desperate for a break from here.
” Welcome to Miami “
Air Canada and Westjet are coming too.
Am I missing something?
Is it that the government knows what to expect but is not sharing the details of exactly what they expect?
I can tell you what to expect: Two words. The first word starts with “s” and the second word is “show.”
Yep. Like the reference to modelling death rates. They are certainly not sharing those statistics- might think that working out how many people are going to die and then deeming that rate an acceptable price might appear a little callous.
“The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” Ronald Regan
Good quote.
And much of the ills of America today stem from Regan’s conduct as President.
All American presidents do harm to the global community
Check history , you see see what England did.
2:55 pm, like what he told the Russian president, “TEAR DOWN THAT WALL”. You are not the sharpest tool in the shed, but i do hope smart enough to have got your 3 vaccines.stay safe.
CIG is clueless and matters are way, way beyond it’s sad level of expertise. The circus is about to re-open.
Let’s hope he is correct.
But seeing as how the plans remain either a secret or there are no details to share… and the general track record of the CIG/CS on things. I am doubtful.
It is one thing when they bungle the roll out of various initiatives such as the CCTV or New License Plates. But this is something different. Hopefully there is a core group of competent and committed people that will see us through on this. Otherwise people will needlessly get sick and potentially die.
Successive generations of politicians have feathered their onw nest and allowed a useless bureaucracy to grow within the Civil Service and other areas that Government touches. The CS was not intended to function as an employer of last resort/social safety net, yet it does. If things continue along their current path we will need a large number of people to effectively work together for the good of the Islands in a manner they have likely never done before.
I hope and pray they are able to rise to this challenge.
Same here.
Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.
You can plan a pretty picnic but you can’t predict the weather.
Mike Tyson quote. Love it.
aye…mikey had a plan too until people started punching him back.
yep…from a convicted rapist….awesome.
WOW…Cayman can open safely and not shut down again. REALLY other places did this over 12 months ago and are way ahead of us.
OK I’ll bite – name the other places that opened safely over 12 months ago and never had to re-impose restrictions – I dare you!
And don’t forget to address the fact that the UK, “living with Covid” may have to consider locking down over Christmas because it turns out that “living with Covid” and reopening “safely” seems to involve a lot of dying.
Perhaps John Lee and Reopen Cayman could address that aspect? They seem awfully quiet. Did they not know?
The school I work at in the US opened last July 2020 and we have not shut down since. We have run summer school programs and then school year 2021-22 has been running smooth. It’s all in the mask wearing and social distancing plus all staff and now the older students are vaccinated.
12:11 None that i know of !
Turks and Caicos for one!
Dozens dead.
23 dead and counting, and half our population.
Panama
I went to Costa Rica this time last year when they opened.
The uk is doing great and they ended all restrictions including masks on July 19. We will be fine. Can’t wait to get back over Christmas and have some sense of normality for first time in almost 2.5 years if being unnecessarily locked in cayman,
Guess you have not seen the the recent ramblings of the madman that you call Prime Minister sweetie😂😂😂
i double dare um
You are sure right – way ahead of us in deaths related to COVID
Don’t want to be first in that race….
all those words and nothing that means anything.
This. The lack of transparency is quite troubling
Yes, they will expect the private sector to do it all for them. Nothing new.
Private sector (both Caymanian and non-Caymanian) has always outperformed public sector.
There are good people in the public sector, who work hard and are productive, that are appreciated and are commended for hard work and valuable contributions.
Even those in private sector, who do not agree on issues, have better ideas than public sector — in many cases this is the appears to be extant.
It should really be about private sector working with public sector for the greater good — this means putting differences aside (it’s acceptable in a democratic society to agree to disagree, especially respectfully and constructively), rolling up sleeves and getting to work.
One vital thing, which has lead to issues arising or getting out of control, has been either insufficient (or absence of) public consultation — especially where everyone’s views (both Caymanian and residents, and ALL stakeholders) views are considered and (after extensive public consultation and engagement of ALL stakeholders) an intelligible educated (and informed) decision be made by CIG.
Proper transparency, public consultation and/or engagement by CIG would go along way to setting people’s minds.
It would also, more than likely, reduce much litigation (judicial review, constitutional and other actions) if there were more transparency, public consultation and/or engagement with ALL stakeholders/people.
Yeah CIG has a good idea, but no actual plans in place.
We’re pretty much just accepting theirs going to be deaths and it’s a trade-off for profits.
All the eggs in one basket type of vaccine will save us ‘ideas’ are strongly being believed by the masses. True health is more than taking a jab, it’s extremely difficult and requires tremendous willpower.
We all know this hence Cayman has some of the healthiest people in the world. Everyone wants to drive 50mph on the roads but ask them to run around their car 5 times and they’re winded. Poor heart health and organ functions are going to cause major issues this coming Christmas.
This.
Enjoy the Christmas gift of misery that isn’t returnable
Thank you for confirming you have modeled the various scenarios. So what is the answer? How many of us are going to die so others can sunbathe?
No one has died from Covid in Cayman. Stop fear-mongering.
Run the numbers. Our 7 day average is around 200 new recorded infections. Bermuda’s never got above 150 in their September wave. More than 70 have died since then.
I’m talking about Cayman – the people who have died here in the past two years related to this virus have died WITH the virus, not FROM it. When you have late stage cancer, you die from late stage cancer, regardless if you have Covid or not.
And me laying on the beach is going to infect you how? Worry about you going out partying and playing dominoes, your children at school, and your trips to supermarket and church.
Really? Wake Up!
You do realise that out of the hundreds of new infections only 1 was a traveler??
The traveler are at way more risk of catching it here than we are from catching it from them!
You do realize that the fundamental reason we did not act to stamp out local spread is because the tourism industry had persuaded our government to reopen our borders. The deaths will be substantially attributable to tourism. It is our only industry that could not operate effectively in a bubble.
You do realise that tourism is NOT the only industry that could not survive in the BUBBLE you talk of…..You need to look out side your bubble and realise the need for travel for commerce. Cayman was on limited time staying closed and the rest of the business would has moved on.
I guess you are one of these people that believes food just appears in shops, and buildings just pop up.
I have clients that would no way sign deals via video until they meet face to face.
This. The Reopen Cayman is to blame
Reopen cayman is NOT to blame. The Jamaican canoe is NOT to blame. The government is NOT to blame. The blame is squarely with those who breached quarantine or those who gathered in large groups, did not wear masks and did not social distance which by the way the rest of the world has been following those simple, yet effective, covid protocols for 2 years.
So the police and robust law enforcers on whom we spend tens of millions to uphold and enforce our laws, and keep the public safe, who did nothing and stood by to watch, have no responsibility in any of this? Let’s face it. Any credibility went out the window with trainergate.
Are we still careful with numbers?
Put your faith in the hands of this man….😂😂😂😂
10.09am Don’t forget like all civil servants he is “world class”.
We all really hope so.
“Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said that the civil service now has a good idea of what to expect as it has been using statistics and data to model various scenarios.” The tell us, statistically of course what the model says by way of:
The anticipated rise in number of cases.
The anticipated number of hospital admissions week-upon-week.
The anticipated number of deaths: tourists and locals.
Does the island have enough PPE, O2, and staff to cope with the anticipated (statistical, of course) increase in hospital admissions — if any?
Give us some substance rather than political rhetoric.
Believe me you don’t want to know the numbers.
Nothing they can say fills me with any confidence after their shambolic handling of the recent outbreak which has spread like wildfire.
Their plan is to have no plan and see what happens.
They had the opportunity to impose restrictions that would lower the transmission rate and they chose not to. Vaccinated tourists who are tested before they get on the plane are of minimal risk when there are so many people here already with covid.
Why did you need someone to impose restrictions? Are you an adult? Haven’t you been paying attention? Simple covid protocols: wear a mask, social distance, stay out of large groups…..get vaccinated. It’s really quite simple and should not need a government to tell you to do these things by now.
for once the wishy-washy civil service non-plan does not bother me…
nov 20th will make zero impact to the widespread community transmission we have now. travellers coming here will be less likely to have the virus as compared to a random member of the community right now.
People don’t want to be locked down or held hostage for no legitimate reason. Still lacking are the following as we live with COVID, vs previously when we were trying to eliminate COVID:
1) No more exit tests! People are not contagious by day 10. A negative LFT = no longer contagious. People should be free to release themselves from isolation without having to wait and wait and WAIT for a negative PCR from public health. PCR is known to pick up on DORMANT virus for weeks to months after infection.
2) Kids under 12 should be able to travel without quarantine. Kids are much more likely to get COVID at school than travelling to the US or UK. Why is it okay that if they are a close contact of a positive (so, a kid in their class), kids can take an LFT daily for the next 10 days and, if negative, continue to go to school, to activities, etc., however, if they get off a plane they have to quarantine for 14 days? Makes zero sense.
They really need to get rid of those exit tests. It’s making people reluctant to get tested which is counterproductive.
They may be less likely to have adverse outcomes but they will spread it like wildfire for sure.
To many snout nosed brats running around sick as it is.
U all believe ?