Returning locals not tourists pose greater threat
(CNS): Returning residents, and not tourists, will present the biggest risk to the rest of the community when it comes to the spread of COVID-19, now that vaccinated travellers are no longer required to quarantine on arrival. Health Minister Sabrina Turner said it won’t be tourists visiting elderly relatives, moving from bar to bar, delivering packages or showing off the things they bought during shopping trips to Miami, but local people, who pose the greater threat of transmitting the virus.
Cayman will see the first tourists since the March 2020 lockdown on Saturday, but the majority of the 750 people flying in are returning residents, with just a few dozen visitors among them.
Speaking at Thursday’s COVID-19 government press briefing, Turner urged residents to refrain from socialising or visiting grandparents and other vulnerable family members when they first arrive home, and although they are free from having to isolate, she asked them to act as if they are not.
“The behaviour and actions of our very own people in comparison to the guests that are returning to our shores” post a greater risk, she said, adding that the threat of community spread of the virus from travelling Caymanians outweighs that of tourists.
“Those tourists are not going to be the ones going to granny and auntie who are bedridden; they are not the ones going from one watering hole to the next,” she said, as she urged people to follow the hygiene protocols, wear masks and avoid visiting the vulnerable for several days to lower the risk of spreading the virus.
“The risk is raised with our very own people that are now going to go away and come back,” she said, and appealed “to my people to conduct themselves as though they were still in isolation”.
Premier Wayne Panton said he did not think the return of visitors would make a significant impact to the COVID-19 rates in Cayman right now, even with as many as 20,000 additional guests, though he accepted that with any increase in the number of positive cases there was a greater risk of people getting sick, and that reducing community transmission was critical.
“Given what we expect it terms of the relatively slow growth of our tourism numbers, the risk isn’t going to increase significantly,” he said.
Following the publication of the protocols for tourism stakeholders on Thursday, the private sector and hotels are expected to play a significant role in lowering the risk of visitors spreading the virus, including managing guests who become positive during their stay and need to go into quarantine.
According to the protocols for managing COVID in tourist accommodation, any guest who tests positive for COVID-19 must go into immediate isolation.
“There are specific requirements that all guests are expected to observe whilst they are in isolation. Tourism accommodations are to assist in ensuring that guests in isolation are able to abide by these requirements. This is done through the services provided, the physical layout of facilities and the systems and protocols that the facility implement to monitor and manage persons in quarantine,” the document states.
“Tourism Accommodation providers should design their service delivery systems and operations to accommodate guests who may require extended stays due to isolation. This includes the ability to provide for the specific needs of guests who are in isolation. Systems should also be designed in a way that enable the safe operations and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 amongst guests and staff.”
Government is requesting tourism business to implement workplace testing for staff, who will be the ones managing the safety, security and welfare of positive tourists.
See full press briefing on CIGTV below:
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I had family members return from overseas last week all negative. A Jamaican airport employee told them they would have to be quarantined for 10 days. They advised the employee it was seven days. An argument ensued because the JA employee insisted it was 10, not 7. Finally, a Caymanian supervisor was called and agreed it was 7 days and apologized to my family. My question is this? Why do we have people working at our airport who are not trained and do not know the law? Furthermore, the same Jamaican employee was yelling at passengers instead of professionally informing them on the protocols. My family thought they had arrived in Kingston instead of Cayman. Cayman you need to do better!!!! Very embarrassing!!!
Nothing here, just a little of that ‘Signature Caymankind’
Because the nationality of the individual is the issue, right.
It’s Cayman, so YES!
interesting reading re: mortality rates in the UK vaccinated v unvaccinated. I am sure some of you still wont believe it
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-10228457/DOMINIC-LAWSON-no-cause-Schadenfreude-anti-vax-Germany-paying-deadly-price.html
A startlingly clear demonstration was revealed in figures released by the Office for National Statistics covering the period from January to September 2021: they showed that, adjusted for age, the mortality rate for the unvaccinated with Covid-19 was 849.7 per 100,000, compared with 26.2 per 100,000 for those who were ‘fully vaccinated’.
How can people thumbs down facts?
Because they can’t understand. They are doing their best… And this is why we have Ministers repeatedly elected who should be behind bars… The general (always exceptions) electorate is incredibly unable to elect responsible officials… simply a fact. And it would help if ethical, moral leaders would step up and run???
Truly, our country’s mess is our own doing.
You are spot one for two points: (1) The medical facts; and (2) that many won’t believe the truth. But what facts won’t be able to convince many of… Covid will have the last say.
Yes, and we are pretty much living as normal now, while continental Europe goes back into lockdown.
This is a brilliant article from an NHS respiratory consultant that everyone should read
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/21/icu-is-full-of-the-unvaccinated-my-patience-with-them-is-wearing-thin
What is so brilliant about the article?
It’s an informative read, thanks for posting
The biggest threat is unvaccinated non returning locals, not vaccinated negative per tested returning locals!
I have been trying to get my kids on a flight back here from the states for Christmas. The prices are insane. From Houston to Cayman was 2800 per passenger! Even trying getting them to a gateway city on multiple carriers was over $1000, and they would have to overnight in Miami. We are in no way open, and no tourists are going to buy what we are selling. This whole thing is a sick joke.
So go to them and quit bitching
Cayman Kind!
Government doesn’t set airline ticket prices. Call the airline and complain to them.
Supply and demand
Don’t think the government can tell the airlines how much to charge..not sure why you blaming them. If I want to fly somewhere, I have a choice, pay the airfare or stay home. Government is easy to blame but had they not opened the country you would have had far less choices of airlines in getting here..Stop bitching, life could be worse.
@3.30pm – Cayman Airways doesn’t offer a direct flight from Houston to Cayman (at least not as of this morning) so how are flight prices of USA airlines the fault of CIG?
@3:30pm – What are you talking about? Travelocity right now is showing a return from HOU to MIA for USD$135.48 on Spirit Airlines, leaving HOU in the morning which would allow for same day connection from MIA to GCM. Dates selected were 7th December, – 5 January, 2022.
When it is Sabrina’s turn during press confrences I struggle to watch as no useful information is presented other than how she wants us to act and feel.
What a bag of hot air.
Exactly the same as with Seymour last year, hours of rambling but nothing relevant
The gene pool isn’t very deep when it comes to public health. More like a wading pool.
But at least John John was entertaining
But yet we elected these clowns.
Who is she shouting at LOL
The other paper deafly rejoices with a facepalm photo of 13 unmasked visitors huddling for photo-op, on CIAA property, with raised rum punches in hand, presumably handed-out by someone with authority to do so. So, 700+ inbound visitors, effectively socially de-masked indoors, casually projecting droplets while sipping their drinks inside a secure government inbound health screening control center. Talk about a health regulations messaging failure.
Get used to it.
A rum point takes less than a minute to drink, a photo op probably another minute. Close contact for covid is 15 minutes within 3 ft. Of each other.
Wasn’t there, but ya’ll probably making a big deal our of this one picture for nothing as I am sure after the quick drink and photo op they were all instructed to mask up when going to get bags, complete documents, etc.
More people have died of Covid in 2021 than in 2020. Why are we pretending the pandemic is over?
The photo I saw matching your description was outside, not inside the airport where masks are mandatory.
Somebody needs to tell the virus that it is not permitted to infect people ignoring public health rules outside airports.
Lol I was thinking the same thing.
Covid is well aware of the rules and I am sure paying close attention to those that are breaking them.
I would like to say I am surprised, but I am not in the least at this blatant violation of the rules sponsored by the obviously biased media source supported by the Reopen Cayman coalition. It was a reprehensible act of defiance of the rules and a clear signal of official approval for everyone to violate the rules now because it’s all about “living your best life”.
Just reading about the Covid outbreak at the Pines.
It is so unfortunate and outrageous that 6 out of 10 persons who tested positive so far, were unvaccinated.
No limited visitor or LFT policy will save them now. Pure incompetence and negligence to allow older persons in a care home to be unvaccinated.
Not everyone can take the vaccine and you do not know if they have medical reasons why they were not vaccinated. So spare us your holier than thou, self righteous vaccinated act. Even if they were vaccinated, if a positive went there, they could have still spread it. The fact that 4 of them were vaccinated speaks to the fact that they were just as capable of catching it.
“The fact that 4 of them were vaccinated speaks to the fact that they were just as capable of catching it”
Except that’s simply not borne out by the facts is it?
11:36, The 4 had underlying conditions such as obesity, diabetes and asthma.
How is it not? They are vaccinated and caught the virus? Hence, they are just as capable of catching it. Fact.
Just as capable implies equal chance – simply not true. You can get hurt in a car crash even if you are wearing a safety belt. Not wearing one makes it way more likely. Saying you may be hurt so why bother wearing the belt makes as much sense as not getting vaccinated because you may still catch covid.
If your ignorant then no. The vaccine “helps” but does not “cure”. Anyone can catch full blown Covid from anyone vaccinated (or not) but positive. There is less chance of catching or spreading but so please take it if you can for your benefit and others but blaming Covid on the unvaccinated is pure hatred born of ignorance.
The vast majority of current Covid cases are with the unvaccinated – fact! So I do believe your ‘pure hatred’ assertion is incorrect. While vaccinated folks can/do spread covid, it is much smaller than the unvaccinated. But you knew this before typing your nonsense. Sheesh, stupidity is rampant here.
You can’t forcibly vaccinate people just because they are old. I am sure they were given the opportunity to get vaccinated and declined to do so.
9.56am The Pines staff is tested regularly and they’ve been limiting visitors for over a year. However they cannot vaccinate Residents without their families permission. So this is not their fault.
There are a lot of elderly in the pines with serious conditions. Some of them cannot be vaccinated.
Doesn’t anybody care about the Grampies and uncies ?
Does anybody care about mental state of children?
Protecting bedridden “Grampies and uncies”, (how many? few?) is the easiest thing to do in the Cayman Islands!
Enough guilt tripping!
What is wrong with the kids? Many are living their best lives, going to school, going to camps, birthday parties etc? What’s wrong with them??
its a joke dude
Clearly everyone knows that Caymanians are not to be held accountable for their actions. That is why there is no Caymanians in jail for breaking quarantine with the resulting local surge. Why are you telling them now that they are responsible? The blame must always go to expats or Dart. Never Caymanians! How did you get voted in?
Why does the Kimpton have aggressive valets touching door handles, entering and exiting used air wake of interior cabin spaces, and then cross-contaminating with their bare hands from key to key, vehicle to vehicle, handshake to handshake? Are they allowed to operate as though they reside on another planet with different health rules? I feel sorry for the dangerous work conditions imposed on these staff.
You freaking lost your minds. Please continue hiding in your closet double masked.
This is not norovirus! Outdoor coronavirus transmission is practically zero. Virus spreading through door handles is non-existent. Nobody coughs, sneezes or wipes their snot on door handles.
You are a total fool if you think just because you are outdoors you cannot catch it. It lessens your chances, yes, however it does not mean that you cannot catch the virus.
In an open letter to the German government and state premiers, five leading members of the Association for Aerosol Research (GAeF) write that “The transmission of SARS-CoV-2 viruses takes place indoors almost without exception. Transmission outdoors is extremely rare and never leads to cluster infections as can be observed indoors.”
Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.dw.com/en/fact-check-the-risk-of-catching-coronavirus-outdoors/a-56792936
You will catch it. From a friend, family, someone passing by while breathing, maybe a stray animal. Most likely you won’t even know you have it so you may infect those around you. Part of life right now on earth for all of us Bobo. Get busy living or hide from those who are busy living. But Blaming people for touching door nobs? Call the mental health hotline and hope they answer.
If you are not vaccinated then that’s your risk. Live your life accordingly. If I’m vaccinated and want to lick door handles, let me live mine. The Kimpton handles taste like hand lotion BTW.
It is also well known that the virus can in fact be on door handles, where have you been?
This was the thinking from the first half of 2020. Numerous studies have now shown that the risk of transmission via this method is negligible.
Well known to whom precisely? Because I believe in the big wide world outside of the Cayman Islands it is accepted that contracting Covid by means of touch is extremely unlikely. If 15 minutes is the exposure period needed to be infected by airborne droplets in a confined space, then touching a door knob isn’t going to expose you to enough of the virus to cause infection.
Male Caymanians aren’t the best at washing their hands before leaving the restrooms, so you are more likely to be infected with a dozen other infections before Covid.
Here’s a tip, don’t lick your hands.
How do you know – servers can and do spit in your food and drink too, not aiming at Kimpton but well known fact in the industry – easy to do what you say nobody does.
stay home, cook your own food, disinfect your doors knobs 5 times a day of every time someone touches it.
@7:59 – Wow. Calm down…”aggressive valets” “used air wake of interior cabin spaces” are you talking about a plane?
Just stay at home nice and safe, why are you at the Kimpton anyway if you’re so freaked out?
Dominican Republic opened last year in August and had the best tourist season in there history. They never got red listed, how did they do it.
they don’t go crazy testing. They are healthier mentally.
“Their”
That’s all you got out of the comment?
Cool story. Citations? Or just hot air?
They did get red-listed by the U.K.!
The Compost has a video and still images of tourists and locals completely ignoring social distancing and mask rules at the airport on Saturday. No excuse for the locals. Min. Turner please note that the maskless tourists who don’t believe Covid exists may not go directly to someone’s granny’s house, but they will get in taxis driven by people who may be someone’s granny and they will mix with locals in bars and restaurants no doubt continuing to ignore social distancing and mask rules.
Of course, because everyone knows the first thing tourists want to do while they are here is visit our world famous old folks homes…
Twilight Zone stuff. Irresponsible and appears to be wholly supported
It is wrong and divisive for Ms. Turner to blame one group or another. It is the irresponsible behaviour that creates the risk and that is not the exclusive domain of locals, ex-pats or tourists. Yesterday at and after the airport many of those returning, expats and locals alike, were met by large groups of people not wearing masks, not social distancing, hugging each other and carrying on as if this pandemic does not exist. The only way to stop that is by having appropriate regulations that are actually enforced. Otherwise this community spread will accelerate and go on for months if not years given that we can all be infected over and over every 6 months or so.
The obsession with the length of quarantine is remarkable, considering that it hasn’t stopped community spread in any country that applied it.
The fact is that Covid was always going to get in, no matter what restrictions Cayman experimented with, the real problem were certain individuals and communities failing to get vaccinated when urged to do so earlier in the year.
Covid infection isn’t really the problem, serious illness and death as a result of vaccine avoidance is, as almost every country in the world is finding out.
So instead of looking for scapegoats to blame the inevitable on, get vaccinated and stop embarrassing yourselves by running around like headless chickens. Thousands will be infected even with the jab, (as they are with many other common diseases and viruses) yet nobody is talking about locking down because of flu or the common cold, nobody says stop eating and drinking because of liver sclerosis, or diabetes even though they will probably injure and kill more Caymanians than Covid. All of these conditions are avoidable, or preventable if you take proper care of yourself, so stop blaming everyone else and stiffen your spines, get vaccinated and live your lives.
Love that! To the point.
Excellent post and so true. Infection isn’t the problem as the overwhelming majority won’t even know they are infected in the first place. Those that do get sick will only have mild to moderate symptoms no worse than flu. Sadly there are those whose co-morbidities will deny them the vaccine or will make the vaccine less effective. But the majority of people will survive and will be able to live a normal life, but it is all dependent on having the vaccine and eventual booster.
The length of monitored quarantine worked perfectly for 18 months. It was decreased to a short and unreasonable period, and then we lost all that we’d collectively sacrificed to gain. That is what happened. We can’t get that back again. It is lost.
You sound scared. There is a difference between speaking passionately and projecting hysteria. Don’t be afraid. We will get through this one way or another. We had a great opportunity to ease into the process, and we pissed that away. You don’t need to justify your position. Just live your life and quit the superior attitude. Not one of us knows how this will all shake out. Be safe. Live.
Can you say breaches? AND lots of them!
You can’t keep the economy closed down to carry on with a failed quarantine policy. It doesn’t work long term, as the world is finding out.
Too many Caymanians refuse to abide by their own laws, it is they who put the population at risk and refused to quarantine properly. But even if they had, Covid is now a fact of everyday living, the only protection against serious illness and death is the vaccine. If you don’t want it, fine, but stop whining about everyone else infecting you and putting you at risk.
The only people putting the unvaccinated at risk are themselves.
@4:57am – Excellent comment!
Not only “returning” locals Ms. Turner. Locals (in interaction with others) caused this outbreak and many locals continue to be careless & stupid and spread it. Also, many locals may not be able to afford being isolated if they test positive, so they hide symptoms or their associates who may be asymptomatic still mingle around.
So let’s be straight Madam MP, at this time many locals are the biggest threat in the continuing spread. But for reasons only known to Trump and people who follow him, pandemic responses now have a political slant (Caymanian civil servants exempt from vaccine mandate; Govt WP holders exempt from vaccine mandates), so please don’t encourage only “returning locals”. Speak to all returning “RESIDENTS”, VISITORS (not only the TOURISTS who have just started arriving), EVERYONE! It’s a pandemic not a political picnic.
Also, this language has given us different words to usually correctly convey what we want to say. Please…..
Trump who?
do you really think many down here care that much about American politics?
It would appear to me that the greater threat is this government and very poor handling of this outbreak. Five percent of the population being infected is just unacceptable, but all I hear is that it is not their fault. The common denominator is that THEY reduced the quarantine period when the science that they claim to follow said otherwise. Yes, the vaccine protects you but doesn’t make you invincible.
They way she speaks sounds like she doesn’t even know what a face mask is for. Don’t ever make anyone hear you say “my own people”, you are a minority of the elected simpleton’s who cant even do a press briefing without reading. You and Kenneth Bryan are huge embarrassment’s.
She sure knows how to focus on the unimportant stuff. Returning locals are far less likely to be infected than the locals who haven’t gone anywhere, but PACT has done absolutely nothing to stop them from spreading Covid.
Exactly!
Returning locals have had to be vaccinated to fly and have a negative PCR test. That is why they are less likely to be infected than the locals who haven’t gone anywhere. The locals who haven’t gone anywhere most have not had a PCR test within 72 hours and there are a number who are not vaccinated.
The decisions that have been made by the PACT administration have been the greatest threat to the public. Trying to again shift the blame to “locals” is despicable at best.
Despicable, but true. So you can’t handle the truth? You would rather be lied to? This is why so much of CIG is in shambles – the electorate wants, craves to be lied to.
We all openly wonder if Sabrina’s jagged manner and words are the product of PACT consensus, or whether is she another off-the-cuff freelancers like a few of their other gov’t members? Her tone and messaging when she speaks often erodes public sentiment at a time when there isn’t much to spare. Like the PPM with Seymour, PACT need to keep their ministers in their lane, and on message, unplug their mic, or reshuffle them elsewhere.
What will happen if tourists test positive on any of these tests?
Are they to be escorted immediately to a government quarantine facility?
Are people to be given tickets to pay 250 to 1,000 $ for NOT Wearing face masks and/or NOT being 6 ft apart in enclosed A/C buildings, like in stores etc ? Asking for friends.
Good question!
I am sorry to say but that was the cheesiest greeting at Owen Roberts Airport today. It looks like it was put together as the arrival…..
The best part was the umasked revelers enjoying their rum punches. Unbelievable!
What happens when locals test positive?
Nothing. Its their choice to even tell the friends they are with that they caught it from. Deal with it or hide. You are more likely to get rear ended by a local. 70 accidents a day.
Opening to tourists many of us resident in Cayman fully get.
What we don’t get is the continued attempt by PACT to blame everyone except itself for the gross mismanagement of every and anything that it is allowed to control.
Pure unadulterated negligence. Sickening.
Get a life.
And somebody can’t spell.
Looks like somebody can’t read either.
NO…they stay in their hotel room.
Are you escorted to a government facility if you test positive….NO!
Where do you get off asking this?
Basically. Inbounds have to attest they have “locked-up abroad” COVID insurance (good luck), or agree to having self means to cover costs. COVID positive can easily last for 21 days x nightly high season 2yr hiatus clawback bunk rate, plus meals, medical costs (if any), and security. Nobody ever thinks it will happen to them.
I just paid $100. X 4 for the members of my family to have medical insurance although our health insurance would cover us. I wanted to make sure we would meet the government standards. This is not an inexpensive trip and every time we log on, it is getting more expensive with each add on to the phase 4 protocol. So, don’t be so snarky that tourists are not following the rules and regulations.
Sabrina please stop listening to foolishness from your fool fool advisor First the Governor blamed Northsiders next drug canoes next people playing dominoes now govt blaming locals returning from overseas who do not have to quarantine because the precious elite are not making enough to support their lifestyle so we have to open our borders to people who are vaccinated but can carry the virus here. Sabina please address the weekly flights from the UK which has absolutely no restrictions for those hoping onto flights and coming here. Thank You I won’t hold my breath though because neither you nor the premier have the way with all to even talk about it or bring up
.
I appreciate that you want the spread to be the fault of others, but perhaps you want to think about why the community spread started before the borders open sea? Still so sure those drug canoes and dominoes sessions aren’t the problem? Sabrina Turner may not be the sharpest knife in the box but there seems to be a lot more substance behind the assumption that a community spread starting before the borders were open is down t Caymanians breaking the rules than incoming tourists Han your version.
The spread began right after they changed the quarantine time to 10 days. Coincidence?
No restrictions on the UK flights? Where did you get that gem from? Same person who told you the risk is from vaccinated tourists bringing in a virus when we already have 3500 infected and 200 new cases every day?
3.32pm Kingston flights have been going and coming full all thru the supposed lockdown. They are a much bigger threat in more ways than one.
How many days of being open to tourists did it take before the ‘rona ripped through The Pines?
It just opened to tourists today. What are you talking about?
I’m certain they left the plane and went to the Pines. An incredibly stupid comment.
Yes the went there knowing they had the Rona and wanted deliberately to infect people. Is there a vaccine/cure for stupidity? 5-12 if there is you need to get it quick. You probably think we should have kept 14 day quarantine for ever as well 🙄
That story was probably held to not rain on today’s foolish parade at the airport
The story is sad, but it has nothing to do with the reopening or tourists. The cases at the pines is due to unvaccinated staff/ patients and/ or local visitors who had covid and come in without mask, social distancing, most likely unvaccinated and spread it. Put the blame where it belongs- once again, on the community.
You do know a vaxxed person can both get COVID and spread it, right?
So?
10.35pm Pines locked down over a year ago. No unmasked visitors or close interaction with residents. They cannot vaccinate residents without family permission. They’ve done all they can.
How ironic it is that there was a festive celebration performance at the airport on the same day we discover that the nursing home is stricken with Covid cases. Quite the contrast in imaging, but one that will be interesting to revisit as the pandemic rages while we party like it’s 1999
Risk of virus transmission outdoors is ZERO. They were all wearing face masks.
You clearly did not see the pictures that the compass posted and others who had friends/family arriving. No face masks or social distancing in sight.
Zero
What tourists are visiting The Pines?
Really stellar of CIG to publish the Protocols for Tourism two days before the Great Opening. It took CIG months to come up with it, and yet restaurants, hotels and other public places are expected to create the procedures to be in compliance in two days.
Ridiculous and short-sighted. I am hoping for the best from all of us, myself included. Maybe we can all make up for the lack of insight and planning.
Agreed
Expect foolish things from fools and you won’t be so disappointed.
Thanks for posting that BZ, I almost did something similar but stopped at, ‘no surely, they would have consulted with the hospitality industry first and they would have had lead knowledge to it.’ If you’re correct then yes, absolutely reprehensible if they didn’t and heads should roll really. 🤠
No difference? Both residents and tourists coming need to be vaccinated and have a negative pcr?
How does the risk of being infected or transmission differ if you are local or a visitor?
You elect leaders who have no respect for you and don’t even try to hide that. If they never heard of tact and diplomacy, perhaps someone should be hired to write their speeches.
Ole’ idiot. You get what you vote for is all I gotta say.
Alden would have us in a police state today if he was in charge. That being said, Wayne should calm down and just open. All these testing protocols are the dumbest thing. Just a non opening disguised as one.
Testing based on the honesty of people who are not self reporting their positive results from the home lateral tests!
You know nothing of what a true police state is. Pipe down.
Spain re-opened to tourists this summer and proved that they don’t pose a risk. Spend as much time as possible outside, wear a mask when indoors and test the unvaccinated prior to arrival – this has been shown to work. The result is that Spain’s tourism industry is recovering apace and it has lower infection rates than other European countries which have more indoor mixing due to the weather.
Be intelligent, Cayman, be like Spain.
Spain vaccine rate is among the highest in the world. We are also required to wear facemask and still have 20 deaths per day from covid (at least).
Don’t follow Spain, be smart like the Spaniards and get vaccinated, but look for better examples on reopening.
You just a Liar! recent news says Spain has had spike due to the amount of UK tourist arriving now so much so that Spain has started Vaccinating them in those areas ! Stopping spreading deliberate lies you lying fool !
Yes. Exactly like the ones who come here and want us to follow the UK and US and leave out the facts that Covid is rapidly spreading there once again
The photos online from restaurants, bars, etc, etc filled with unasked revelers are both absurd and unsurprising. Covid deniers and believers who think they are invincible as infections spread.
Sabrina sounds scared! As if locals are to blame for the lack of enforcement of the rules and fines for breaking quarantine.
Seems like Cayman IS the trial. If we cant open, with some type of quality of life, then no one can.
She is right on returning locals.
Saw it today. Friends and family gathering in groups across the island. Not a mask in sight, and it’s not just locals. Expats are acting exactly the same
How come NOT ONE LOCAL was ever charged for breaking quarantine? only skylar, one white american girl
Her bf was charged too or did you conveniently forget that? He is local. However, I do agree that far more cases should have gone to court, and more convictions should have taken place.
Can you believe this rhetoric?
What a bunch of bovine scatology!
Wow, no government is saying to us, it is all our own fault ?
This is getting really disgusting.
Who reduced the quarantine time to only 5 days ?
Clearly this is a well thought through plan.
Just to benefit a few.
Will you stop with the 5days. CNS should ban this comment. The fact is community spread started prior to moving from 7 to 5 days.
Seven days was not even enough. Really, 14 days was just the bare minimum. Any quarantine less than 14 days where we were still realising WEEKLY positive travelers was destined to spread into the community.
I’m not against the current government, but that was a terrible call. You can’t just ease back the quarantine time and hope it resonates as a progression toward opening. It was a progression toward disaster.
It started w/ home quarantine breaches. Doesn’t matter 5,7,10 day- local quarantine breaches.
It is called community spread for a reason. You can stop blaming travelers ( which were actually local people who traveled and then quarantined, for the most part, in the community.) Call it what it is. Covid is out and about and the vaccinated, negative PCR tested beach going tourists are not going to impact your numbers.
Quarantine (for the vaccinated) went from 10 to 5 days. It was then increased to 7 days following the advent of community spread.
However, it doesn’t matter how many days the quarantine is for those that breach it, and it was clear there was a growing discontent in relation to quarantine for some time that was ignored by the government.
Actually it didn’t if you look at the timeline.
She’s not wrong, but the abandonment of the previously proven 14 day quarantine for all travelers with wristbands and phones and PCR tests is reckless.
did that work? I seem to recall that community spread happened when people socialized at home while in quarantine. i also heard stories of quarantine hotel parties, but can’t confirm that. Bottom line, we held off the virus for a long time, but there will always be some people who will be selfish or arrogant and break the rules. Its here. very few tourists will choose to come here when they can go elsewhere without all the hoops to jump through, so don’t fear the tourist, it is the returning residents that pose the risk as the article says.
Health Minister Sabrina Turner said it won’t be tourists visiting elderly relatives, moving from bar to bar, delivering packages or showing off the things they bought during shopping trips to Miami, but local people, who pose the greater threat of transmitting the virus.
That’s great Sabrina, an astute observation, – remind me again who’s f%^*ing idea it was to reduce the quarantine time along with the botched protocols with reopening ? It’s one thing to try responding once the horse has bolted, but to blame the horse for going the wrong direction because the wrong gate was left open is something else. 🐎
Bravo
#DROPSMIC… LMFAO.. But wait, doesn’t she have a medical degree of sorts? I really couldn’t have said it any better… This is perfect.. LMFAO
Thanks for letting us know that tourists do not move and have now mastered self projection from their hotel rooms.
Bredrens? Seriously? Granny is my bredren?
So why drop the quarantine time if you know this?! Damn educated fools
Because we ‘demanded’ it
No “We” didn’t. The government acquiesced to considerable pressure from ‘above’.
Then if this is the case, then why on earth, are you charging tourists, who you are trying to entice to come to your island, to enjoy your island, $25CI per LFT and making them test on day 2, 5 and 10?
It is known that tourists will not be meeting up with granny and auntie, hitting watering hole after watering hole, but it will just ruin their holiday to squeeze a few extra bucks off them and then they will never return. The added price of testing and medical insurance on already high airfare and hotel slung at the tourist last minute plus sitting in a clinic instead of on a beach will not create lasting memories for them to spread to family and friends. Who would want to do all that when traveling on an island escape? Especially when government has already admitted that it isn’t the tourists that are going to cause community spread.
Money grab. Watch other tourist taxes rise as well – accommodation tax, timeshare tax …
rip-off island strikes again! quickly, how can we take money from the few returning tourists….
Should just be testing only the unvaccinated tourists. Leave the vaccinated tourists alone except their before PCR test and vaccination card and their departure PCR test. Why bother them with the in between LFT tests. Let them enjoy the beach, enjoy the island and go back home and brag about their wonderful vacation.
3:04 pm, should NOT be any unvaccineated tourists period. Only vaccinated should be allowed to come.
Unvaccinated tourists are not allowed to enter at this point in time.
Why exactly would you advocate this? You do know jabbed and non-jabbed contract and pass on Covid, right? You don’t know this but you should before making a foolhardy ignorant comment.
Charge the tourist an extra $50 and leave ‘‘em alone if all you are after if the money.
Health insurance requirement is a prudent move, the others not so much and I don’t want tourists back.
Then please stop traveling to the UK and the US.
They want our money and we are stupid enough to travel there 😂
We aren’t traveling.
It’s also a requirement for returning residents? Or is it just tourists?
LOL! ‘Government “admitted” that it isn’t the tourists that are going to cause community spread.’ Pretty funny! As though they or you have a single clue as to what the impact of potential viral spreaders might have upon our community.
I think any visitor that comes here during these tumultuous times are taking a huge chance. I would not advise any of my kin to do so. None of us, including the government, have any real data as to what will happen or the repercussions of various decisions. We will ALL just have to wait and see, because that is the ONLY course of action still left to us.
I would not choose to travel in such a miasma of undetermined outcome.
Sabrina has some gall to speak about “her people” this way.
It’s her and the PACT of fools who want to open the island up during the freaking HOLIDAY SEASON, when people socialize THE MOST.
It’s her and The PACT of fools who are too scared if Dart to enforce and mandate masks, vaccinations and curfew/lockdown.
She and her PACT OF FOOLS have to GO. This island seems to be really lenient with this shambles of a motley crew of idiots “running” the show.
We haven’t even made it through one entire year with these morons and we still have over 3 more to go??
God this woman is stomach churning.
The biggest threat Sabrina’s “people” pose to the island is being stupid enough to vote her and this PACT OF FLIPPING FOOLS.
I’m boosted and will still be social distancing to avoid catching everyone’s STUPID-22.
Merry effing Christmas, Cayman!
Seek help quickly.
We asked and asked to open up so now still griping!
Who is this “we” you speak of?
Well, the educated Cayman electorate can take credit for her election.
Finally glad to see the Govt’s view that the reurning residents are more dangerous in local spread rather than tourists.
The returning residents should take all standard precautions of masking , social distancing ,sanitizing etc. Pl refrain visiting elderly for ten days.
Any fever and cold or cough to be considered as Covid until proved otherwise. Pl do not engage in crowds, that applies to all.
If we are worried about returning residents are threat then the other countries from where our visitors are coming will also feel the same.
Report a positive lateral flow test? Nah, we are smarter than that.
This woman gives me a migraine every time I hear her speak, everyone traveling from overseas whether it be tourist or local poses the same threat as those already on island because right now the community transmission is spreading like wild fire.
You would think that after reading their scripts at the press briefing that she could at least come up with something more sensible to say, smfh.
No they don’t – how many tourists will be mixing with elderly and vulnerable residents?
Sitting on the beach and eating al fresco pose no risk to anyone.
This. The Reopen cabal doesn’t want that truth to be told
What a big dummy you are, I guess you’re the expert here but one things for certain is that even though tourist might just be here and sit on a bench at al fresco if positive with the virus they are still contributing to community spread, and FYI my grandparents love eating at al fresco so your assessment is totally wrong, just remember that this virus wasn’t made here.
Eating al fresco means – outdoors in the “open air”
Yes we have a restaurant called Al Fresco but that is not what the poster meant.
Before calling someone else a dummy you might want to look in the mirror.
Realistically the incoming tourists are not a major concern, because currently we have over 5% of Grand Cayman positive for Covid-19. The tested and vaccinated tourists have a hell of a lot more to fear from us than we do from them.
There are three National Sports in Cayman:
1. Drink Driving
2. Blaming Outsiders For Our Problems
3. Shopping In Miami
Now that the borders are open maybe we can lighten up on # 1 & 2 and get back to enjoying #3.
Coming in vaccinated and negative PCR- not even close to everyone else on the island!
Everyone else should be LFT 2x a week- more of a danger than the tourists!
Tourists just going to comply and then go home and report how not only how expensive the island is, but what a useless waste of time and money the testing was.
So a family member that has never been to the island before is no longer considered a tourist? Of course tourists will be going bar to bar and seeing the vulnerable that was an absolutely stupid statement on her part.
Oh would you drop the elderly bs. There are many who come to our shores that have tons of friends and family here. Of course they will be visiting! They don’t just sit on the eat eating from that garbage Resturant. They use out local tour guides, bar hop, go to our restaurants, go to local attractions, shop (with what limited shopping me have), etc etc. they are just as much a hazard as any local. We ALL have to be sensible, period.
How many bedridden grannies and aunties in Cayman? PROTECT THEM!
Let others live their normal lives!
There are thousands of active cases, and hundreds of additional positives every day. Visitors have nothing to do with this.
What part of “community spread is already rampant and uncontrollable” does Turner not understand?
Community spread so let’s test the incoming tourists.
You can’t make this up.
Given her performances at the CIG press conferences, where it is clear that she can barely read, this is unsurprising.
It almost makes one nostalgic for donkeys and full moons. Almost.
The ignorance of that statement from Sabrina, and any others who would buy that BS…..!