Bars, clubs to close by midnight in face of Omicron
(CNS): The government will be rolling out new regulations forcing bar, club and restaurant owners to close by midnight every evening until New Year’s Eve as a way of preventing a potential new and explosive wave of COVID-19 infections related to the Omicron variant.
During Thursday’s press briefing, Medical Officer of Health Dr Samuel Williams-Rodriguez confirmed that the first case of Omicron, which was identified in a traveller yesterday, had come from the United States and was picked up after a positive lateral flow test on day two after the individual’s arrival.
This means the person and their family were out and about in the community for two days before isolating. There are also now another ten suspected cases in travellers, which raises concerns of a dangerous holiday spike in the virus.
Premier Wayne Panton suggested that, if possible, people should should stay home from work over the coming days, as he announced a number of new regulations that are expected to be rolled out after a Cabinet meeting tomorrow, including the early closing for bars and a reduction on social gathering numbers to cut super-spreader events.
He said mandatory testing would be required for all front line workers and there would also be a requirement that anyone visiting the prison or a care home or other institution must produce a certified negative test that is less than 24 hours old or be tested at the location before entry.
“Unfortunately COVID continues to be a cause for concern for us and vigilance is required with the omicron variant currently raising the alarm across the globe,” Panton said, as he urged people to re-think their socializing plans for Christmas. “There is no definitive playbook for COVID-19… This challenge will be with us for some time to come.”
He said scientists were learning more about Omicron every day but it is expected to outpace Delta shortly and we cannot be complacent. Even if the virus is less severe, it spreads more easily and appears to evade protection from vaccines and previous infection, so there will be more hospitalizations and deaths.
“As a country we must and will continue to take the measures necessary in response to all variants, including Omicron, to protect our health system,” the premier added, before he announcing the new measures that were coming.
Despite the heightened concern, government is not introducing any new mandatory quarantine requirements for travellers from countries such as the UK, where the Omicron variant is fuelling further record-breaking infections, as “that would kill tourism”.
There are also plans to remove the southern African countries placed on a red list earlier this month, given that this strain of COVID-19 is now in at least 77 countries around the world and it makes no sense to single them out.
While government officials appear very concerned about the virus, with both the premier and Health Minister Sabrina Turner urging people to stay home and scale back the partying and socializing over Christmas to small close family gatherings, Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan confirmed that government still plans to allow a cruise ship to dock in Cayman on 28 December.
The testing regimes are being tightened and anyone found to have Omicron, regardless of their vaccination status, are now required to isolate for 14 days. The health minister also urged people to report positive lateral flow tests, even if they have no symptoms. She said people must seek a PCR test if a home kit shows they are positive for COVID in order to find out whether or not they have the Omicron variant.
Officials pressed home the vaccination message, urging everyone to get their shots and for those who have already had two shots, to get a booster dose. Dr Williams-Rodriguez confirmed that “fully vaccinated” for travellers means two doses, but a booster shot is still needed to protect people from this new variant.
Panton also confirmed that since 8 September, 105 people have been treated in hospital for COVID-19 in Cayman. Most of them had other health problems and 80% were not full vaccinated.
Urging people to get their shots, he said that healthcare providers here were beginning to burn out and the country needed to keep infections down to prevent stress on the system.
See the press briefing on CIGTV below:
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Category: Business, Health, Medical Health, Politics, Tourism
Wait until the polls close in 2025 elections. PACT and PPM in trouble then. Jon Jon can’t save them then.
Officer : [in the midst of the MIG battle] Both Catapults are broken, sir.
Stinger : How long will it take?
Officer : It’ll take ten minutes.
Stinger : Bullshit ten minutes! This thing will be over in two minutes! Get on it!
It is fantastic news that Omicron is taking New Year’s Eve off. Maybe it is driving one of those purple ribbon buses as a community service?
The National Guard is being deployed in Ohio to keep their hospitals going with the onset of Omicron –
“In the wake of Covid-19 upticks, the Ohio governor deployed more than 1,000 members of the state’s National Guard to hospitals to help assuage staffing issues plaguing Ohio hospitals, many of which have paused elective surgeries.”
Omicron is now affecting London hospitals –
“Omicron is having a significant impact on staff at a large hospital trust in England with hundreds off work due to illness, leading to the cancellation of non-essential services to tackle a surge in admissions driven by the variant.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ trust (GSTT) in London is preparing to redeploy staff to work in its A&E and intensive care units to cover for the growing number of staff who are off work sick.
It has seen the number of hospitalised patients with Covid it is treating jump by a third over the last week and is bracing itself for worse to come in the days ahead.”
A significant new study on Omicron was released by Imperial College today. If you don’t want to have actual facts don’t read the following –
“The risk of reinfection from Omicron is more than five times higher than Delta and shows no sign of being milder than the previous coronavirus variant, according to a study by Imperial College London. The results, based on data from the UK Health Security Agency and Britain’s National Health Service, analysed people who tested positive for Covid-19 in a PCR test in England between 29 November and 11 December.”
Well in that case we are losing the war and we are all going to die. So we may as well live and enjoy our last days on earth
The profit before people got their wish and about to have an even worse holiday season than last year with cancellations left right and center. Da wha yuh get!
Thanks, Reopen Cayman!!!
Day drinking it is then! Thanks PACT!
There’s worse things you can catch around here after midnight in all honesty.
I’ll bow to your obvious knowledge.
Our leaders are idiots. The Irish Cabinet gets what is going on.
“Ireland announces 8pm curfew for hospitality venues and 50% capacity limit on events
Ireland has announced an 8pm curfew for hospitality venues and a 50% limit on capacity for events in a bid to slow the spread of Omicron.
The new measures will come into force on Sunday (19 December) and remain in place until 30 January.
Announcing the measures, the taoiseach, Micheál Martin, said Covid is “exploding throughout Europe.” “
Bring back Alden!
He couldn’t even make good on his promise to retire to the tomato patch.
Everybody is off work now anyway, we’ll just drink all day instead. Less PoPo on the rod in daylight hours too so no need to call a cab.
5.42pm – absolutely right – what the hell difference does one hour make in reducing the risk of Covid/Omicom transmission when a bar has been open for over twelve hours, people coming and going, with possibly the odd one carrying the infection.
#1 Omicron is closer to Cold than to COVID
#2 Cold goes away on its own, there are treatments for COVID that work perfectly.
My sister and her husband fully have recovered- he (68) was sick for about 5 days, while she(62) was sick for nearly 3 weeks.
Don’t think they had omicron! First reported to WHO Nov 22nd. Unless she was the 1st?
Were they vaccinated? Booster shots? Pfizer or other?
Yesterday the CDC published a fact sheet on Omicron to counter the “Omicron is nothing to worry about” BS. For anyone interested it is here:
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/slides-2021-12-16/06-COVID-Scobie-508.pdf
So it seems that some are not interested in facts that get in the way of ignoring Omicron.
I hope that they don’t implement restrictions on gatherings and limit numbers in restaurants. This time of year is when our hospitality industry normally makes most of its money. Particularly restaurants with Christmas dinners etc. We have already brought them to their knees with previous lockdowns/restrictions. We cant do this again. It will be the height of folly if we do. Do you want our economy to recover Wayne? Implementing insane restrictions for this Omicron variant (which thus far has shown to be extremely mild) will be the final nail in the coffin for many businesses.
“Money, money, money. . .must be funny. It’s a rich man’s world”
Trust there will be no midnight Mass and churches closing early too.
Trust you won’t be celebrating Christmas then? Or is it only that you want to pick on people that go to church that suits your agenda?
Everyone who is eligible to get the Booster shot should get one for their own benefit, the benefit of their loved ones, as well as the benefit of the entire community.
Better to get a mild case and be able to deal with it at home instead of having to be hospitalized and putting even more strain on the system.
Talk about a guilt trip. Pathetic
If you are so concerned, close every fast food, booze and tobacco store.
Get vaccinated AND close those places.
Second line sets out a brilliant idea that is much better than what government is doing.
Too bad about the idiocy in the first line.
It’s not the government’s job to run your life
I know right – all those laws about murder and theft and driving drunk and public health should be abolished.
Signed – A fellow anarchist
Read the post. OP said “run” as in micromanage.
I expect that we will have fire, ambulance and police services out of action to some extent within 2 – 3 weeks due to of the government’s inadequate and ill-advised response to Omicron. It is happening already in London that is about 2 weeks ahead of us in terms of the Omicron wave.
“Fire crews in London are facing “unprecedented” staff shortages due to Omicron, leaving almost a third of fire engines out of action, according to the UK’s Fire Brigades Union (FBU).”
That’s because people who are not in any way ill or infectious are required to quarantine
Never got the memo saying that it only spreads after midnight.
Asinine.
Exactly. Now COVID can tell time!?!? 🤔
Dummy. It’s right there in this article.
That’s your memo.
But the good news is that it will stop on NYE, so there’s that.
So, I’m guessing that it’s only in bars and nightclubs that the virus spreads, and after midnight it’s more potent? Not the supermarket, restaurants, movies, churches, airports.
Very interesting logic PACT!!!
Watch out for The Midnight Virus.
Why haven’t we published some sort of paper in a scientific journal. I think the discovery of Omicron’s working hours needs to be shared with the world!
We still won’t know who has it. This time everyone can get it. Doesn’t matter how we feel about our own personal survival chances, the objective is not to pass it to others and shutter the economy. Let’s mask up properly, and keep a respectful 6 feet from non-household, please. Tailgating 6 inches from the person ahead in line, doesn’t make the line go any faster.
Seems like Covid is being used as an excuse to exercise control over people. Instead of policing after midnight , if at all, just lock em all down. Oddly enough its the busy holiday season.
So dumb it’s terrifying.
Our Omicron wave has already passed, it just wasn’t quite detectable yet at the time. Prove me wrong.
Having only 2 doses of the vaccine still allows people to spread Omicron. We need to make sure that the cruise passengers arriving have had a booster and are LFT tested on landing. Holland America says that it is OK with destinations requiring passengers to have a booster in order to disembark. Why are we not requiring that. From their website
https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/worry-free-promise/travel-well/frequently-asked-questions/faq-for-cruises-from-usa.html
“COVID-19 vaccine boosters are strongly recommended by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for everyone ages 16 years older. We are also actively administering boosters to our crew. At this time, booster doses are not required to embark. Guests who have received the full series of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or World Health Organization (WHO) authorized COVID-19 vaccine or a combination of authorized vaccines and have received the last dose at least 14 days prior to the day of embarkation are considered fully vaccinated. However, certain destinations may require boosters depending on which vaccination guests received and the time that has passed since completion of the initial vaccination/series. Please ensure you are familiar with the requirements for the destinations you plan to visit.”
So they are cancelling the Christmas market on Saturday due to omicron, and fireworks can be viewed from your car, yet the cruise ship is fine, partying in a bar is safe from covid up until midnight.
Entering Cayman by air requires a test 24 hours before arrival, but if you come by floating cesspool you are good to take your test up to 96 hours in advance of entering Cayman. Did we forget about the incubation period, and how it seems like every ship that has resumed cruises ends up with an outbreak?
Let’s continue to make it way too much hassle for the overnight tourists that actually spend money, and focus on the ships. BTW the port says the ship is arriving at full capacity with 2650 passengers. Kenny said maximum 1600 (60% capacity)
Kenneth is not someone who can be believed. We have seen this over and over. He is a showman first and his first concern is always how he looks and whether he is being respected. Everything else is a distant second.
What a mess.
Good thing that variant sequencing machine works so well. If the CIG had got the cheaper model then no one would know that at midnight the virus turns “on”. This is starting to sound like either a werewolf or vampire is lurking about.
Next, hanging garlic on your door will be the recommendation from PACT.
C’mon Mr. Premier..you can do better than this.
Does Health City Cayman Islands intend to apologize to the community for their irresponsible full-page advertisement in the Compass today, encouraging people to hug each other? Omicron has probably arrived but hey, let’s ALL hug each other. UN-BE-LIEVABLE! AND, will the Compass apologize for publishing an advertisement that promotes the absolute antithesis of what we should all be doing over Xmas to help prevent the spread of Covid?
Stop being a grinch!
Rather be a live grinch than a dead santa.
Why did we get vaccinated if we still have to hide every time their is some covid talk???? This is bonkers and the bars and nightclubs should not comply with this!
But yet cruise ships will be coming. I guess all the tourist will stay onboard and sightsee from the decks. Wayne old buddy you done next go round, and you dragging Kenneth with you.
The vaccines help to prevent serious illness and to reduce the chance of infection. But there is always some chance of getting infected (think about flu vaccine). Besides, the virus has changed over the past couple of years so there are always going to be new issues that crop up.
Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
show proof
What would we have done without your comment???
Thanks Cap’n Obvious.
So Omicron only goes out after midnight then? Asking for a friend.
Allowing travellers infected with Omicron to mix with our people for 2 – 3 days before testing is negligent if not criminal. One person with Omicron could infect dozens. We have lateral flow testing. Implement it now for all arrivals by air or by sea.
Lateral Flow Test are implemented for incoming passengers on days 2, 5, and 10. Have you not been keeping up with news or the regulations?
Arrival day is counted as Day 0. So in fact travelers are around for nearly 3 days potentially spreading disease. Insane!
Bars close at 12am because ….? Omicron only spreads after midnight ? I think they mixing up Santa with the virus
Clowns
If the good ship Omicron that is arriving on 28 January dumps 50 infected people on our shores, our health care system will likely collapse within 3 – 4 weeks.
Government needs to insist on our people doing rapid testing on all cruise passengers that come ashore and if even 5 test positive they need to shut down the landing.
I think you mean 28 December.
? 28 Dec I think
Omicron is capable of doubling the number of infections every 2 days. We have potentially 7 Omicron doubling cycles between now and 1 January. To put things in perspective, if today we have only 5 cases in the community then by 1 January we could have 640 cases, and over 10,000 cases by 15 January. If we have 10 undetected cases in the community today we could have 20,000 cases by 15 January. If one percent of those require hospital care our health care system will collapse.
That would not be good for anyone, including those in the tourism sector that are demanding the free flow of Omicron across our borders. Government needs to be proactive to prevent a tsunami of Omicron.
U.K. gov has already walked that BS statement back. Because it’s fake news
Rubbish. Please provide a link indicating that the UK government has disavowed anything like the OP. They have not.
Don’t you look an absolute fool?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10323043/Covid-cases-NOT-doubling-two-days.html
Acting CMO relayed yesterday that it takes 4-5 days to sequence, so you can infer that the confirmed Omicron and family were from a 2 day community-interacting discovery almost a week ago.
Is the government using Covid as an excuse to exercise control over the us? I can get just as much covid up to midnight as I can at 2a.m. This is kinda stupid i have to say.
Saying this 6 months ago would have labelled you a conspiracy theorist. But there’s always a slight delay between consipracy and observed reality.. its about 4-8 months.
When we said watch out for the new strain that will emerge to justify more sanctions, then another booster, we were ridiculed and mocked. Yet, here we are.
I am afraid that what was announced yesterday is far too little and too late to do anything more than window dressing. This is what Scotland is reporting this morning.
“Omicron has replaced Delta as the dominant Covid strain in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed at a lunchtime briefing. Last Friday the highly transmissible new variant represented 15.5% of cases, whereas today it was 51.4%.
“The tsunami I warned about last week is starting to hit us”, she said.”
Mr Bryan, if you do not cancel this cruise ship stop, you will never be able to deny that you are choosing the potential benefit of a few tourism dollars (one cruise ship is not even a drop in the bucket) over the risk of increasing the number of cases of the new variant into our community. I have always kept my mind open with regards to decisions made by government, but I cannot fathom why you would not reverse this decision considering the new circumstances. I don’t know one single person who thinks it’s a good idea, and you would lose the respect of anyone who has been rooting for you to prove your “haters” wrong by doing a good job. Come on, Kenneth, this is a no brainer…..
Breaking News.
Omicron only contagious after 23:59 so party like crazy until then, you’ll be safe.
The CIG are idiots. One and all.
Does Omnicron only spread after midnight?
Not sure I understand the point of these measures.
I’ve heard Omicron is only contagious after midnight so this is a very good move by government. Also if we are forced to walk on our hands and wear a diaper we are protected on Wednesdays.
That’s only on Mondays comrade.
Sorry but to let a cruise ship in port and let 1600 passengers off makes no sense at this time. Asking for serious consequences. Stay safe everyone.
Yes, the poor punters will pick up the bug here and won’t be allowed of the ship when their vacation is done.
Half-cocked measures made up on the fly without considering the data. Although a civil duty, the data on the new variant confirms vaccinations on their own are not enough in order to try to prevent what could be a a national disaster. More draconian measures are needed, just over the Xmas period, a good time for people to isolate a little and enjoy their families. And for goodness sake Panton, turn the cruise ship away.
How does this make any sense? If they close at midnight, you’ve already had waayyy over the guideline’s 15 minutes time to be exposed and infected..
Not sure about Omnicron, but it may cut down on knifings and shootings. Mind you, since those kill more people in Cayman than Corona….
The new regulations will not prevent a potential new and explosive wave of COVID-19 infections related to the Omicron variant and it would be good to find out which medical or scientific expect advised that they would.
The government and the Premier are sending mixed messages through their communications and actions and are making it next to impossible for individuals and businesses to adequately protect themselves and to conduct business in a safe and secure manner.
We are all aware (and it has been proven) that the honor system does not work so the Premier and the government should stick to the things that he is willing to put into law and enforce. Making suggestions that everyone already knows will not be followed is not meaningful or productive at this stage.
At the end of the day we all need to recognize that the government has placed their economic interests and the economic interests of local and international business entities first and that we as individuals are largely on our own despite the governments self serving statement that they will “continue to take the measures necessary in response to all variants”.
bing back dr lee!