COVID quarantine cut by three days
(CNS): The isolation or quarantine period for people who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 and their close contacts has been reduced by three days, Public Health officials have said. Anyone currently in isolation who has now passed their new last day, which is Day 7 for the vaccinated and Day 10 for those who are not, is invited to a drive-through testing clinic today and tomorrow at the Truman Bodden Sports Centre.
Officials said the decision to cut quarantine time was to help manage the large number of people locked down as a result of a positive test.
“I welcome the introduction of these reduced isolation periods as announced by Public Health,” said Health Minister Sabrina Turner. “We understand the difficulties many families have faced because of the COVID-19 restrictions. Currently, we know that there is a large number of persons in isolation and quarantine and this new policy will allow many of them to rejoin the community sooner and safely.”
Government has failed to report how many people had tested positive on Monday or Tuesday but CNS understands that the last few days have seen some of the highest daily case numbers since the pandemic started for the Cayman Islands. Officials are expected to release a weekly report this evening, though it’s not clear how up-to-date the new reporting process is going to be.
The Omicron variant is believed to be less virulent, despite being the most contagious strain of COVID-19 to date, but the high numbers have not yet fuelled an unmanageable rise in hospital admissions. At the last count, which reflected the situation at the weekend, there were 15 patients in the hospital.
However, no update has been released since then, so that figure could have changed significantly in three days and it is possible that the number of patients in the hospital is higher.
The incubation period for the Omicron variant is thought to be around three to five days. This means that it can be passed on before people are aware that they have it, which is why this strain spreads so easily and makes it harder to control. People infected with other variants, however, can spread it from around two days before their first symptoms start to materialise and for around 10 days afterwards.
“The continuous evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic requires us to consistently assess how we manage the spread of the virus, while ensuring continuity for our economy,” said Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr Autilia Newton. “This change to the isolation and quarantine requirements is a step towards us improving the management of COVID-19 to best suit the needs of the Cayman community.”
New isolation requirements and exit testing arrangements are as follows:
- Starting from Day 0 of a positive test, vaccinated people will isolate for 6 days and become eligible for an exit PCR test on Day 7.
- The unvaccinated will isolate for 9 days and become eligible for an exit PCR test on Day 10.
- COVID-19 positives people and their unvaccinated (18+) household members currently in isolation/quarantine who are eligible for early release based on the new changes can attend a special drive-through testing clinic at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex parking lot (opposite John Gray High School walking track entry from Olympus Way) Wednesday 19 January and on Thursday 20 January. Facemasks and government photo ID showing date of birth are required.
| Time | Surname |
| 7-8am | A-D |
| 8-9am | E-K |
| 9-10am | L-R |
| 10-11am | S-Z |
Daily PCR testing clinics for COVID-positive individuals will continue 10am to noon on Friday, 21 January, at the following locations:
- Ed Bush Sports Complex
- Bodden Town Civic Centre
- South Sound Community Centre
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Category: Health, Medical Health
Follow the third world rules or go back to the real world. When the Golden ones(MLA’s like Juju) start to get it and survive then and only then will they react accordingly. Patience.
When is this government going to learn that an EXIT PCR test is WRONG!
People can show positive on PCR for 90 days!
Do people require a positive PCR test to begin quarantine or simply report a positive LFT?
You can start quarantine in without the test, but the HSA wants you to take one anyway – to make sure it’s not a false positive and so they can see if it’s Omnicron.
They overbought and are trying to use up the old stock.
@9:08pm..yes a PCR test is required after a positive LFT test.
Nope public health advised me that I did not need to get pcr tests for my under 4 to start quarantine
Nobody in their right mind would report a positive LFT.
There are hundreds of people on island currently testing positive on Lateral Flow Tests and going about their lives without reporting it.
Anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional
And…?
Before we throw caution to the wind, maybe we should examine what is happening in other counties with Covid now. A new stealth variant of the Omicron strain is appearing in Texas, Belgium, India, Hong Kong and also highly vaccinated Denmark. It’s called the BA.2 variant.
It is a little odd that Denmark is still growing in cases and hospital admissions when they started the same time as the UK and are more boosted as well.
Here is an interesting story on how quick one can transmit this variant from Hong Kong:
‘Stealth Omicron variant’ spread from 2 boys to kindergarten teacher at MTR station under 9 seconds
https://www.dimsumdaily.hk/stealth-omicron-variant-spread-from-2-boys-to-kindergarten-teacher-at-mtr-station-under-9-seconds/
Covid isn’t done with us yet.
The long term negative effects after Covid infections that are largely being neglected by global leaders is detailed in this American Medical Association report.
What doctors wish patients knew about long COVID:
https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-long-covid
Yes because if we have taken the measures to get triple vaxxed as well as followed all rules from lockdown to mask wearing we are also responsible enough to look after ourselves and end our quarantine when we have 2 neg LFT tests in a row.
Unna remember what Alden said, Pact make a mistake of cutting the time in quarantine ,that is why there was so much community spread.
‘Stealth Omicron variant’ spread from 2 boys to kindergarten teacher at MTR station under 9 seconds
https://www.dimsumdaily.hk/stealth-omicron-variant-spread-from-2-boys-to-kindergarten-teacher-at-mtr-station-under-9-seconds/
And from that same article:
” “Given that we have known the stealth omicron since we first identified omicron, it is likely that it is not behaving differently,” she said.
Ninety percent of new COVID cases in Texas were the omicron variant before the new year, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Dr. El Sahly says so far “stealth omicron” doesn’t appear to be acting any differently than the original omicron once it infects someone. “The disease that makes people have severe pneumonia, be in the hospital, requiring oxygen for days or in the intensive care unit, or death. The vaccines continue to perform remarkably well,” said Dr. Sahly.”‘
No, there is so much spread because the minority here believes they shouldn’t take the vaccine and won’t wear a mask while at the bar or church.
Surgical and cloth masks are essentially useless, only a P100 provides worthwhile protection, make sure you are wearing one at all times. Vaccinated are infected at a rate higher than unvaccinated at this point.
Please post your science credentials next time you spout out nonsense.
You do what you want and leave everyone else alone
We know the only threat to the hospitals and beds that could be used for non covid things is the selfish unvaccinated. Surely with Omicron not a threat to the vaxed, the fairest thing is to end all restrictions but ban unvaccinated from travel and make unvaccinated Caymanians and residents take a daly LFT negative to leave their homes?
There has to be some consequence of not being vaccinated and creating the restrictions which are only in place to avoid hospitals being full of unvaxed people on ventialtors.
Maybe you should run the hospital. You know, go around room to room and assign consequences to everyone in the hospital for causes that you haven’t pre-approved. Geezus you’re a disgusting excuse for a human.
Here here…genocidal ideas like the witch trials! no critical thinking required.
The eugenics method of hospital administration
Hahahahahahhaahaha good one. Oh, you’re serious. Why stop there. Off with their heads I tell thee!
There is no point in reducing quarantine and continuing to require a negative PCR test to exit quarantine. Anyone who has read anything bout PCR testing knows the test can produce positive results for weeks, even months after a person is no longer infected with the virus.
Sorry but the requirement for a PCR test to exit quarantine is stupid. If you can enter the island with a rapid test there is NO REASON not to allow a rapid LFT to exit from quarantine.
Agreed. Especially when they cannot get the result back to you the day you took it!
Not much point shortening the period if it still takes days to get the results that allow you to return to work.
The newly discovered BA.2 variant is not appearing on PCR tests.
6.49am Was this discovered on flights from H’Row?.
The government and authorities are still overreaching on this matter
The more draconian and complicated you make the system the less people will adhere
There are hundred if not thousands of people on Island not reporting their positive LFT to the government .
Why would you when you are practically locking yourself up longer than needs be because a PCR test can take days and days past your due release date. All because of the inept bureaucracy around the whole cayman island governments testing and release Programme
Voters, please write to your MLA’s and let them know your thoughts on the ongoing restrictions. Our only hope to avoid perpetual isolation and travel restrictions is for the voters to let the politicians know your beliefs on the matter. The restrictions will not end if you remain silent. Caymanians are kind and patient to a fault. It is time to be a little less patient. Write to your MLA at firstname.lastname@gov.ky to let them your opinion of ongoing covid restrictions.
Now tell us why Boris took this action. Could it possibly be that there are calls for his resignation and he’s attempting to gain support by the reckless abandonment of safety protocols?
Congrats on alienating reasonable people with a respect for others. If you’re a business owner, would you care to share the name so we can avoid it since you think Covid is fake news?
The 4 day difference in quarantine for vaccinated vs unvaccinated isn’t supported by any science whatsoever. The vaccinated have been told they are superior in every instance regardless of infection status, age or personal health. One size fits all policy and to hell with your rights and keep quite if you were injured. Anyone with a functioning brain can see how wrong it is to continue discriminating, but it’s apparently more important to continue this charade than tell the superior humans that they are just as likely if not more likely to be infected and just as likely to spread the virus. The narrative is crumbling but they march on.
But incoming travellers fully vaccinated and negative tested, still face 14 days isolation plus another 3 days waiting for their PCR results. No wonder PACT want to issue “bullets”, at this rate they will be shelling out stipends indefinitely.
Ditch the masks!
Bury the dead!
The bubonic plague would have loved you
Why? Get the vaccine.
I wonder how many people aren’t reporting it and just stay home until self negative.
All of the intelligent ones.
There’s no shame in having Covid, it’s a highly contagious virus.
There is shame in having Covid, not telling the people you’ve been around and/or continuing to hang out with ppl while knowingly sick with a highly contagious and potentially deadly virus.
You know you can be responsible while also not reporting it to the government right?
No more masks
No more quarantine
No more nose jabs
No more injections
We only have one life to live, let’s live it! E
No more common sense!
No more reason!
No more science!
This!
where’s the disconnect? the UK deciding to stop with the BS mandates / masks / passports / quarantine – and here we are, a british overseas territory stuck in the stone age.
Imagine, if you will, a virus so deadly and contagious that it disappears when a politician is at risk of losing public office.
Bingo, and these conspiracy theorists here have latched onto Boris as if he were a savior of some sort
We’ll reduce it from 10-7 days but still make you wait 2 days for the results. Oh yeah, and the threshold to pass the exit PCR is the same so good luck reaching it after 7 days when most cant after 10 days. And lets not forget that the CDC have said PCR can pick up the virus in someone even after 3 months so thats comforting.
UK public health can provide some assistance here – negative LFT after day 5 & 6 and you’re free to go. Not sure why we need to make things up here but what’s more alarming is that some people still continue to follow it….
Agreed. Follow UK Public Health rather that make up our own rules that are random and subject to political whims.
UK Public Health — you know, the people that gave us the free vaccines.
Agreed, follow an embattled UK PM who is facing calls for his resignation attempting to distract the people from his callous disregard for health and safety protocols. What could possibly go wrong?
Agree with you. My spouse has been stuck in quarantine for over 16 days because he has to meet the 35 value (not sure where HSA pulled that number from) but he is testing negative on the LFT but continues positive on PCR. Meanwhile, I’ve been with him the whole time and have tested negative on a daily LFT. There is no common sense here.
I had negative LFT for 10 days before I finally achieved the magic 35
3 weeks of isolation
Call me if you need a service.
This narrative, or at least some iteration thereof, is being repeated all over the islands. If we don’t do what the UK is doing, couldn’t we at least follow the latest CDC advice? The guidelines being imposed here are nonsensical.
How about, if someone self-reports that they returning positive LFT we take them at their word and believe them, adding them to the daily total, start their clock, and allow them to continue to be a responsible person for next week? We are over-thinking verifications that aren’t necessary. While we’re at it, workplaces should by now have to have some kind of scheduled employee LFT regime as part of workplace safety, and have that hinged to retention of 2022 T&BL. If we’re going all Jack Nicholson on border defence theatre, the rest of the picture needs to start making more sense. We should also want to get a handle on community transmission, using the tools we have, to reduce our travel threat level, so that businesses can hire and suspended flight routes can reopen. All constructive ideas should be be weighed on merit.
Not good enough. UK just ended all restrictions because of how mild omicron is.
When will cayman follow suit?
Anyone crying about covid hysteria at this point should be shamed then educated.
Anyone thinking like you should read up on what’s happening in other countries other than here and especially the UK. Boris is in political peril so he caved in to the ludicrous abandonment of scientifically proven measures.
When people like you think it’s perfectly fine to abandon masks and reduce isolations should be held accountable for any hospitalizations and deaths.
Haha you got ratioed
Boris Johnson, the white knight for Cayman conspiracy theorists
That idiot or Trump. Either or for a surprising amount of locals. Trump and Boris wouldn’t piss on them if they were on fire but they still adore the racists.
Major George Bush Mission Accomplished speech vibes
How does this affect those in quarantine due to travel but are negative?
Great news, although I still think it should be zero days for vaccinated non-symptoms positives. UK ending all restrictions now. The vaxed with a booster are no threat to the hospitals and the ones all policy is supposed to protect, so even day 7 exit PCR is over the top now.
The unvaxed are he ones that will die but that is obviously their fault for avoiding vaccines, so we shouldn’t have rules to protect just them that limit freedoms of the sensible vaxed.
haha good satire.
If serious, please seek help on the Covid Cult help line, people are leaving in droves, you will be in good company.
I wonder why the embattled PM in the UK did this. Could it be that he was caught red-handed partying without a mask?
Its time for full reopening of the borders. The UK is ditching all restrictions leaving only testing and isolation in place as of today. This is now an endemic virus like the flu and the cold. Masking, vaccines and social distancing will not stop or even slow the spread anymore.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/19/boris-johnson-announces-end-to-all-omicron-covid-restrictions-in-england
Full stop. Masks, social distancing and isolations are proven tools that no country should abandon during a pandemic. The UK’s decision is not based in science nor common sense at this time, especially when cases are on the rise in neighboring countries.
I propose a statue of Boris so the conspiracy theorists here can remember their hero
At least we can lull them all out to the same gathering for the opening and they can give each other covid.
Israel, the only quadruple-vaxxed country in the world (also using mask mandates and Covid passports), just broke global record for daily Covid cases.
Israeli study shows 4th shot of COVID-19 vaccine less effective on Omicron
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-study-shows-4th-shot-covid-19-vaccine-not-able-block-omicron-2022-01-17/
Congrats CITA! Countries around the world are seeing massive numbers of infections, with hospitalizations and deaths lagging behind the diagnosis of infection, but we are reducing quarantine days to what end?
Omicron has very low death rate comparable to a bad flu season.
Calm down, look at some actual numbers and stop being hysterical.
Numbers you say?
U.S. COVID update: Nearly 1.2 million new cases as holiday backlogs are released
– New cases: 1,180,187
– Average: 772,230 (+56,042)
– States reporting: 47/50
– In hospital: 154,199 (-9)
– In ICU: 26,209 (+250)
– New deaths: 3,338
None of these numbers matter. Only the deaths BUT details would help. Things like Age, co morbidities, you know – actual in-depth information. Not just blind hysteria on a number which has not been adequately analysed.
“But did they have any underlying conditions” is one of the most heartless and ableist things you could ask someone who just lost a loved one to COVID. These are the vulnerable people we are supposed to take collective action to protect. These deaths aren’t somehow “less”.
No one is saying they are less. Who in their right mind would. A death is awful and desperately sad in any context. It’s just a blanket number with no other information is simply not enough to go on. Especially in light of recent information of the UK deaths changing from 150,000 to 17,000. That is a huge discrepancy and people are weary and now hugely suspect of blanket numbers and rightfully so with information which is now coming out daily on how theses numbers have been collated and distributed as “facts” which later turn out to not be so. Many just want more coherent information to grasp the truth of the situation. No harm in wanting to truly understand a situation, especially when it impact all lives.
Wait til the data about long Covid comes out…
then maybe you’ll understand the importance of curbing contagion.
You’ve got to remember the vaccination take-up is not very high in the States and a huge proportion of the population are morbidly obese.
Let’s see what the situation is in highly vaccinated Germany…
Germany reports 121,832 new coronavirus cases, by far the biggest one-day increase on record.
More numbers
Brazil reports 204,854 new coronavirus cases, the biggest one-day increase on record
The only outcome from “let it rip” or “Live with the virus” is excess death. There is no advantage.
Dr. Bernard Ashby is based on Florida and is an actual practicing vascular cardiologist.
“Excess deaths are a much better measure of the Omicron Effect. In addition to exacerbating chronic illnesses and Long COVID…staff shortages, surging hospitalizations, in hospital transmission, poor therapeutic access etc. are all contributing to many preventable deaths.”
Quote from:
Bernard Ashby MD, MPP, FACC
Vascular Cardiologist/Professor
Cornell Med/Princeton Health Policy
Board Certified X 4
That quote is misleading because it doesn’t tell you how much excess death omicron is causing.
Just fyi, covid before omicron only caused the overall death rate in the world to increase 15%. With how mild omicron is, it’ll be even lower.
This is why doctors shouldn’t make policy, if we had it their way we would all stay inside 24 7 as going outside has risks.
RE: Excess Deaths
U.S. COVID update: Nearly 1.2 million new cases as holiday backlogs are released
– New cases: 1,180,187
– Average: 772,230 (+56,042)
– States reporting: 47/50
– In hospital: 154,199 (-9)
– In ICU: 26,209 (+250)
– New deaths: 3,338
“I fart in your general direction” – A Frenchman
this should be the final public advice on covid/omicron:
if you test positive ..isolate at home until asympotmatic.
nothing more to be said or done.
In other words use your common sense. It worked before covid started, why wouldn’t it work now?
It did? How? The whole world had to be locked down because people can’t be trusted. Now people are told by the MAJORITY of Drs to get vaccinated and they still think it’s some conspiracy. Only trust the vaccinated.
So positive people (vaccinated & unvaccinated) freed faster than Caymanian children coming here with their parents & having to quarantine for 14 days because that are too young to get vaccinated.
Before the ‘racist’ comments start, I stated Caymanian children as they are the only ones able to travel here.
Come on government. Time to free our children!!
Actually, not only Caymanian children- dependants of work permit and PR holders as well. Whatever the immigration status of the parents, the policy is equally bloody silly.
In response to increased infections and hospitalizations a decision has been made to reduce the isolation or quarantine period for people who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 and their close contacts.
It looks like the worse decision made in recent times was the decision made by the electorate during the last general election.
Still no update on traveler arrival protocol (ie, Day 2, 5, 10 day testing) or unvaxxed under 12 arrivals.
Covid is in the community so Day 2, 5, 10 day testing is pointless. As we are hitting the 2-year anniversary, we need to shift to a long-term plan that reflects the lessened virulence of Omicron that comes which much faster incubation and clearance.
Booster Does Not Work!
https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/mrna-boosters-don-t-block-omicron-south-african-study-shows
CNS: I wish people would read the links they leave. That is absolutely not what it says.
“All the cases were mild or moderate, providing support for the extra shots’ ability to fend off severe disease, death and hospitalizations. Still, the findings demonstrate omicron’s ability to evade immunity generated by even the most powerful Covid-19 vaccine boosters. That underscores the need to continue fighting the pandemic with measures besides vaccination…”
The booster does indeed work at preventing serious disease. Which is the main point of a vaccine.
Antibodies are just the first line of defense induced by vaccines. But, the shots also stimulate the growth of T cells, and preliminary studies have suggested that these T cells still recognize the Omicron variant, which is important in preventing severe disease.
“What you lose first is protection against asymptomatic mild infection, what you retain much better is protection against severe disease and death,” said John Moore, a virologist at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. He called it “a silver lining” that Omicron so far appears less lethal than the Delta variant.
Its quite astonishing how lucky we got. This could have mutated enough to also evade T-Cells and also to infect lung tissue making it far more virulent than any previous strain. If this was the case, we’d be talking about strict lockdowns world-wide instead of removing all restrictions.
Anyone care to explain why I’m still alive? Sans booster, sans Pfizer and 2 years in?
I’m guessing you’re younger healthier also lucky so far.
Thumbs up for CNS
Too little too late.