Fifteenth life lost to COVID-19

| 15/01/2022 | 82 Comments

(CNS) Public Health officials have confirmed that another person from COVID-19 related causes, but they have given no other information regarding the patient’s gender, age, other health problems or vaccination status. There are currently eight people in hospital who have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Another 488 positive cases were reported by Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr Autilia Newton, including 13 cases in the Sister Islands. With the decision to provide less information to the public, the number of people currently infected can only be estimated at about 3,500 people, which is around 5% of the population.

The CMO did report that in addition to the 132 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant, there are another 2,427 probable cases awaiting confirmation.

Meanwhile, the government has announced that COVID-19 vaccines are to be made available to vulnerable children with serious health conditions. The Public Health Department said the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has approved the use for high-risk kids aged between five and eleven years old.

“These vaccines need to be administered by Public Health nurses who specialise in children, as the dosage and inoculation for children differs than that of adults,” said Medical Officer of Health Dr Samuel Williams-Rodriguez. He explained that specific childhood immunization clinics will be established over the coming weeks and they will not be administered at the COVID vaccination clinic.

A physician letter in support of their patient receiving the vaccine will be required for any administration to this age group. Vulnerable or high-risk children aged 5-11 and those in the same age group living with vulnerable or immuno-compromised individuals will qualify.  This includes children with:

  • Chronic respiratory disease
  • Chronic heart conditions
  • Chronic conditions of the kidney, liver or digestive system
  • Chronic neurological disease (ie: Down’s syndrome)
  • Endocrine disorders
  • Immunosuppression (ie: those undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy, solid organ transplant recipients, bone marrow or stem cell transplant recipients)
  • Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen
  • Serious genetic abnormalities that affect a number of systems

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Category: Local News

Comments (82)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    CDC Recommends 3rd Vaccine Up-Take/Pfizer-BioNTech Booster to be administered at least 5 months after your initial 2-series jabs.

    See CDC weblink: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html

    *Who Can Get a Booster Shot, IF YOU RECEIVED Pfizer-BioNTech

    *Who should get a booster:
    Everyone 12 years and older

    *When to get a booster:
    At least 5 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series

    *Which booster should you get?
    Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) are preferred in most situations

    *Teens 12–17 years old may only get a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster

  2. Anonymous says:

    Why are we not told if they are vaccinated or not. This is vital info in the public interest

    • Anonymous says:

      There is global data on this. Not sure knowing the status of one local individual is relevant.

      And as hundreds of people locally know the identity of this person, we need to respect this persons privacy.

      • Anonymous says:

        Not the posters point, which was why isn’t HSA revealing the numbers of infected and hospitalized by vaccine status. No personal confidentiality whatsoever. All down to government trying to control messaging -presumably they don’t want to say the infected and the hospitalized are mainly unvaxxed as it will encourage reckless behaviour by the vaxxed.

      • Anonymous says:

        We need to respect the privacy of the person that is dead?! It matters to me because is seems that Caymanians are dying at an increase rate due to covid and there are already too few Caymanians, who are already a real minority in Cayman. It saddens me to see that Caymanians are dying at this rate (on top of accidents and natural causes etc) and no one seems to be concerned or alarmed. Now we wouldnt even hear their names. Very sad indeed.

  3. A.C.K. says:

    This government is failing ……on all issues but especially on the Covid issue ,they can’t even get civi service employees to get vaccinated. So the whole island is hostage to some nincompoops and conspiracy theorists.
    No wonder a government of crooks and cronies…….

    • Anonymous says:

      We’re at 80% vaccination rate. How high does it need to get?

      Israel and Singapore were both at 95%+ and had massive outbreaks.

      The vaccine prevents vulnerable people from dying. It doesn’t slow the spread or prevent you from catching it.

      I can’t understand this cult like faith in the vaccine as some sort of silver bullet…

    • Hmmm says:

      Anyone missing Alden now?
      At least he was able to make decisions.

  4. Anonymous says:

    If everyone in the Cayman Islands voluntarily performed a 5 minute LFT, 3 or 4 times in one coordinated special week, we could sniff-out pretty close to all the asymptomatic positive community transmitters in our community, and once again have high confidence in being COVID-free, without any lockdowns or fanfare, minimal cost (<£250k) and interruption to anyone. It would also save lives and fully reopen our economy. Why the heck aren’t we doing that?!? Let’s show the world how to responsibility live without COVID again. It’s easy, and cheap! If we can’t see that we already have the solution in our hands, then yeah, maybe we already need a different kind of mental help.

    • Anonymous says:

      People here can’t even be trusted to use a roundabout properly, obey speed limits, park properly, return shopping carts, use crosswalks, or dispose of rubbish in containers

    • Anonymous says:

      There are many many comments here on now the pandemic is mild or even fake, and even worse, how those with underlying conditions are disposable

    • Anonymous says:

      We can’t even get people to stay at home when they are positive. I am afraid your hope that the community will bad together and do the right thing is misplaced.

    • And then what genius ? Covid free !!! What planet are you from ? It is here to stay, and will never be eradicated . Try and let that sink in, before you start writing anymore garbage. I think I know who is in need of mental help !!

      • Anonymous says:

        Geniuses like you only care about the ground under their feet, and the air above their heads. Nothing else. Nobody else.

    • Beaumont Zodecloun says:

      Exactly right. Not too much to ask, at least for me and you. There are those that post on CNS that would attempt to influence us that such a thing is not only too much to ask, but completely unnecessary.

    • Anonymous says:

      You would be back to square 1 a week later

    • Anonymous says:

      Problem with cayman is It’s full of idiots. You test positive on day 10 lft arrival after being negative on travel anywhere and day 2 and 5 negatives: Cayman is always gonna be full of uneducated nobodies until they fix the education system: it’s a 40 year project. Try make a caymanian educated. Try make a caymanian get a senior finance or hospitality job. Good luck. 40 years:

      • Anonymous says:

        “Youths are passed through schools that don’t teach. Then forced to search for jobs that don’t exist and finally left stranded to stare at the glamorous lives advertised around them.”-Huey Newton

      • Anonymous says:

        I hope you’re not in Cayman adding to the “Idiot List”.
        If so, maybe you should do the benevolent thing and remove yourself.

        Here we will have one less idiot!

        • Anonymous says:

          Of course he is an idiot! Who on earth would write such a bigoted and simple minded statement but an idiot. Education alone doesn’t exempt you from being an idiot.

      • Anonymous says:

        6 34pm Agree we’re full of idiots but most are imported. This needs to stop.

    • Anonymous says:

      This would hardly take place without “any interruption to anyone”. If everyone in the Cayman Islands voluntarily performed LFT’s in one coordinated special week and all the presumed positives had to lock up pending a confirming PCR test; and, if all vaxed household members and close contacts had to perform daily LFT’s; and if all non-vaxed household members and close contacts of confirmed positive cases had to quarantine for 14 days, it is likely that the islands and economy would hit a brick wall.

    • Anonymous says:

      The number of dislikes on this post with solid ideas to protect the community as a whole indicate that many have chosen the “let it rip” plan.

      Don’t Look Up was actually a documentary, after all.

      • Anonymous says:

        Don’t Look Up was about people denying reality and uncomfortable truths. Bit like you thinking Covid is somehow escapable. Ironic for you to use that comparison – you are reinforcing the OPs point rather than undermining it.

    • Anonymous says:

      Can we all just behave and try to get Omicron under control?

      Because the next strain is probably Pi and we all know how long that will go on

  5. Anonymous says:

    So good to know that these precautions are being taken for our children. Why weren’t similar precautions taken for adults? A letter from primary physicians who are aware of health history and concerns should have also been a requirement for adults before administering these jabs!

  6. Anonymous says:

    So hospitalizations are down. 0.01% of the population are hospitalized with Covid. Even less because of it.

  7. Jay says:

    Wow when the pandemic started the Island was selling high price packet for remote working. Many people who could afford it did not think twice.
    Here is my question. Was it by luck that the island did not have any infection or was it just coincidental or else.
    Many ways to look at it.
    Was it a scammed or greed or safety protocol or else.
    Apparently something went awfully wrong in this place.
    5% rate of infection plus another 3k on top it put the island at 10% which pretty high if you believe in numbers.
    Food for thought.
    Peace and be safe.

    • Kay says:

      One factor is a spineless government who is afraid to make difficult decisions.
      Consider only allowing public gatherings by vaccinated people (eg clubs restaurants etc and also frontline/health care workers).
      Consider removing unnecessary rules such as lockdowns for travellers with children.

  8. Anonymous says:

    Special nurses required because the doses are different? Stop making shit up. If you are employing nurses that cannot properly dose patients, or who are too rough to be trusted to inject children, fire them. Safely administering subcutaneous vaccines is not brain surgery. It should not exceed the capabilities of any member of HSA medical staff.

    • Beaumont Zodecloun says:

      Is it subcutaneous, or intramuscular? Asking a question, not challenging you. I think there are differences in the administration of the shots, if so.

    • Anonymous says:

      AMEN! 6:27:
      Headline from Walmart corporate website, dated Nov. 3, 2021: “The Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Is Now Authorized for Children 5-11 and Will Be Available at Walmart and Sam’s Club Pharmacies Starting Later This Week”. Apparently Walmart has more capable in-store pharmacy staff than the average Cayman HSA nurse. Sad when a discount store can outperform Cayman HSA. Walmart was ready from November! The Panton/PACT Clown Car had PLENTY of time to train nurses to administer child vaccines at the vaccine clinics. This is inexcusable and yet another sorry manifestation of the pathetic Panton/PACT Clown Car and their Minister of Health. Should be redesignated “Minister of Ill-Health”.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Has anyone proven that omicron constitues a big public health risk? And can anyone prove that the quarantine rules for visitors and positive LFT results are helping?

    If not, I wonder if this activity by the government is even legal?

    • Anonymous says:

      The post travel LFT tests are a joke. The bud is barely placed in you’re nose and the test results given within 10 mins. This is all about the money, and they are making lots of it! I honestly feel they don’t care if your pos or neg as they already have your 25bucks. Scandalous.. a complete rip off.

    • Anonymous says:

      And the nurse administering the tests told me it was a joke – they are the ‘Test at home’ tests and can be purchased and self administered for $5!
      You get your card stamped and then what? NOTHING! “hold on to it in case anyone asks for it”
      I would bet not one person has been asked….
      All about the $$$$$$$$

  10. Anonymous says:

    Stop trying to make people scared of COVID. Omicron is mild, and no one should be hysterical about it anymore.

    • Anonymous says:

      Meanwhile in Mexico, 47,113 new coronavirus cases, the biggest one-day increase on record and every 45 seconds, 1 American dies of COVID-19, according to the seven-day average

      • Anonymous says:

        why are you comparing cayman to these places?
        they are not comparable on any level and both places have nowhere near our level of vaccination

        • Anonymous says:

          But I thought “omicron is mild”, which I believe is the part of the OP the comment was responding to. Either its mild and we don’t have to worry or its a potentially dangerous infectious disease and we should worry about it and (be glad we) get vaccinated (your comment). You can’t have it both ways.

          • Anonymous says:

            Actually you can – the variant is far more dangerous for unvaccinated people – hospitalization and death for vaxxed is very, very low.

            • Anonymous says:

              So its only “mild” if you have been vaccinated, well doh! that’s the whole point of vaccination.

    • Anonymous says:

      US COVID daily ICU trend
      Up 🔺+9,383(+56.7%)/day from 12/24

      1/16 – 25,849
      1/15 – 26,033
      1/14 – 25,878
      1/13 – 25,621
      1/12 – 25,170
      1/11 – 24,613
      1/10 – 23,884
      1/9 – 23,039
      1/8 – 22,767
      1/7 – 22,116

      1/1 (NYD) – 18,542
      12/24 (Xmas eve) – 16,466
      12/16 – 16,121

  11. Anonymous says:

    11,666 cases and 15 deaths.

    Dont get the panic when such a tiny amount of people are dying.

    • Anonymous says:

      It’s easy to say this aloud when one of the 15 isn’t one of your loved ones, isn’t it?

    • Anonymous says:

      The sentiment that “it’s only a few deaths” should not bring you comfort. In fact, this shows either how clueless or ignorant you are about this pandemic, and how much of a vacuum of humanity you are for minimizing death

    • Anonymous says:

      Let there be no doubt. There are actual humans here who simply do not care if you or your family becomes ill or dies as long as they get back to their sense of normal.

    • Anonymous says:

      With Omicron the death number might have been zero or one.

    • Anonymous says:

      Tell that to the families and friends of the dead. Ours is a small community where we care deeply about each other.

    • Anonymous says:

      Easy to be so dismissive, when it is not your family

    • Anonymous says:

      why do they make such a fuss over murderers, when they may kill only one, that is also a tiny amount of people dying.

      When should you panic when a serial killer is loose in Cayman? obviously not after only 15 murders,as that is also a tiny amount of people dying.

  12. Anonymous says:

    Yet, I just got my under 11 children vaccinated at CVS in Ft Lauderdale.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yep. And I just got a PCR at CV in Fort Lauderdale with results within 2 hrs. Something apparently beyond HSA. Oh – and it was free.

    • Anonymous says:

      The majority of under 12’s do not need to get vaccinate against Covid. They have proven to be at extremely low risk to it.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Get vaccinated people. If you’ve had your booster and are otherwise healthy Omicron is not going to kill you. 98% of ICU patients in the UK from covid are unvaccinated.

  14. Anonymous says:

    We have been in a bubble for so long. It’s backfiring a bit now as the inevitable catches up with Those to proud to get the jab. Vaccinate now or roll the dice on meeting the same fate as the 15 unvaccinated souls before you – those who triple vaccinate DO NOT DIE

  15. Anonymous says:

    There is no way around, only through.

  16. Beelzebub says:

    This pandemic is just Mother Earth fighting back. She wins every time, & will be here longer than we are

    • Anonymous says:

      Mother Nature is fighting back for sure. The pandemic should be a wake up call for the world!

      The reclamation of Seven Mile Beach by the sea is also another clear signal that she’s upset with our unquenched thirst for more stuff, more money, more high rises, more prestige. MORE, MORE, MORE!

  17. Anonymous says:

    The headline reads “Fifteenth life lost to COVID-19” and is misleading. Dying from Covid, and dying with Covid, are two very different things. Some of those 15 persons died for reasons other than Covid.

    • Anonymous says:

      “But they had underlying conditions” is one of the most heartless and ableist things you could say to 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”.

    • Beaumont Zodecloun says:

      Yet, all of them would likely still be managing their comorbidities, had they not contracted the virus.

    • Anonymous says:

      Food for thought, 1:20:
      In 100% of the cases of passengers and crew, the plane crash is not the primary cause of death of those whose plane flew into the ground. No one dies of a plane crash. They die of various effects of the crash, such as blunt force trauma, thermal injury, deceleration injuries, shock/massive blood loss, to name a few. The salient question is whether any of the dead with/of Covid would likely have died had it not been for Covid. If Covid led to their death it is just as much a root causative factor as the plane crash is to its victims.
      The “with/of” semantic foppery is beguiling, but more often than not it is the croaking of those who would be pleased if we become sluggardly in our approach to Covid policy.

    • Anonymous says:

      15 @ 1:20pm – Covid caused their deaths so they died from covid! Were their lives in imminent danger of ending before they caught covid? Imminent being the operative word.

      Perhaps when morons die they should list their cause of death as a “brain disorder”!

      • Anonymous says:

        No, “17 @ 5:27 am” Covid didn’t cause all 15 deaths, just like dying from heart disease and also having diabetes doesn’t mean you died from diabetes. Some of the deaths were due to cancer and other diseases, not Covid. Having Covid and another disease does not mean that Covid necessarily accelerated the person’s death any more than having the flu with another comorbidity means that you died of the flu. One day the experts will look back and calculate more accurately how many people died of Covid, and I suspect the number will be much lower than is generally accepted today. In case you’re wondering, I double-vaxxed, and I have had my booster, plus I’ve had asymptomatic Covid, and I have comorbidities. Dying while Covid positive does not necessarily mean that the person died of Covid, and that’s a fact!

    • Anonymous says:

      Guess what?
      If you die with COVID you’re still just as dead as you’d be if you died from COVID.

      • Anonymous says:

        I don’t really understand why people opt to make this distinction – i.e. with vs. from – except to eliminate the shame of falling ill and dying FROM a virus but, instead, using diagnosed comorbidities/serious underlying health conditions as the ultimate reason for dying, especially when it’s been professionally articulated that COVID-19 accelerates the mortality rate in anyone WITH serious underlying health conditions.

        So, to bypass any further confusion or contentious debate, on whether a person died WITH or FROM COVID-19, I am glad Public Health Officials are now labeling cause of death, when applicable, as “death due to COVID-19 causes.”

  18. Anonymous says:

    Another tragic loss for the profits and partying to continue

    • Anonymous says:

      And for the failure to vaccinate to continue

      • Anonymous says:

        Vaccination status is an unsustainable moving target, and doesn’t matter very much in terms of community transmission and interruption. The solution is synchronized LFT testing to screen our community for asymptomatic positive transmitters. We have the diagnostic tools in our hands to eliminate COVID from our community within a week or two, without any change in access or lockdowns. It’s easy and cheap. Everything could reopen back to 100%.

  19. Anonymous says:

    Not safe. Not ready.

  20. Anonymous says:

    Finally, some personal health information protection!

    It’s been absolutely absurd how much information has been put out about people’s private health situations.

    Tide is finally turning.

    Start the lawsuits, now.

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