Businesses want mask mandate dropped
(CNS): Shomari Scott, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, has called on the government to lift the indoor mask mandate for all retail establishments given the high vaccination rates and the relatively low number of hospitalizations as a result of COVID-19. But the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections has been steadily increasing over the last few weeks, with Public Health reporting 177 official new cases on Tuesday and Wednesday. The rolling seven-day average has increased to 60 and there are an estimated 783 people currently in quarantine.
Scott said Chamber members want the mandate dropped to help with the economic recovery process. “‘It is time to move to the next phase of the reopening plan. Removing the indoor mask mandate for businesses and simplifying travel restrictions is the natural next step,” he said.
“At present and based on the science, the level of vaccinations administered in our community and the relatively low hospitalization and infection rate since reopening our borders to visitors is a clear sign that we are ready to reclaim our position as a premier tourism destination and restore a marquee industry that is the lifeblood for many small and micro businesses.”
The Chamber’s appeal to Cabinet to make the change when they update the Public Health Regulations at the end of the month has some support throughout the community, especially with parents wanting to see an end to kids wearing masks in school.
But public opinion is still divided. Some people are concerned that the mask mandate is a buffer at a time when infections are rising again in the US and protocols are being widely relaxed, while untested cruise visitors are now coming ashore.
Many establishments are also failing to enforce mandates, especially in restaurants and bars where customers are supposed to wear masks while moving around the venues but not when sitting down.
The regulations require all individuals to wear a mask indoors unless the person has a medical condition or is exempted under the medical officer of health’s guidance. But in March restrictions were removed for travellers from countries with a vaccination rate lower than 60% for the first dose of an approved vaccine.
Any vaccinated person can now travel to the Cayman Islands without being subject to quarantine on arrival. However, they must have proof of a pre-arrival test, complete a medical questionnaire, take a medical exam if a Customs and Border Control officer considers it necessary, submit a travel declaration form and have evidence to support it.
However, cruise passengers are not subject to any of those conditions other than the requirement to be vaccinated.
The Jamaica Tourist Board dropped its indoor mask mandate on Friday and other popular destinations such as Aruba and Puerto Rico will soon relax pre-departure and COVID-19 test requirements, which the Chamber has said will be a breath of fresh air for the travelling public.
“Lifting restrictions at this point and time based on limited hospitalizations will make it easier to travel to
Cayman and will help us to continue to restore our tourism product to improve our economy,” said Scott.
“The longer we wait to lift the restrictions and regulations the longer it will take for our islands to fully
recover.”
Last week Health Minister Sabrina Turner was embroiled in her own mask scandal when footage of her without a face covering while visiting the health clinic in Little Cayman emerged on the government’s news channel, prompting a statement of regret.
In recent statements, Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr Autalia Newton has said that mask mandates are helping prevent a surge of infections in the current phase of the border reopening and recently blamed the current increase on parties where people were not wearing masks.
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Category: Business, Health, Medical Health
I just cannot believe so many unvaccinated people are still alive.
“Shomari Scott, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, has called on the government to lift the indoor mask mandate for all retail establishments given the high vaccination rates and the relatively low number of hospitalizations as a result of COVID-19”
. . . AND THE WEARING OF MASKS! Duh!
huh..isn’t he still a healthcare worker??
Exactly right, as if wearing a mask means patrons will spend less money in the stores and restaurants! Idiot.
These same businesses will be complaining when an increase in covid cases makes people reluctant to go out or CIG brings back restrictions to get it under control. Masks are not discouraging tourists from coming here, it’s all the travel time requirements. People don’t want the hassle or worry when they can just go somewhere else without all the problems.
The fact of the matter is that masks do work, but not the way everyone thinks they do. Well. Your one trip to the supermarket or walking through an airport will probably protect you But the more you’re around more people, the less effective it is. That’s why Frontline workers tend to get COVID even if they’re double to triple masked because their proximity to COVID and the ratio is overwhelming. And it’s absolutely ridiculous that you can walk through a restaurant with a mask on but then take it off the second you sit at the table like somehow COVID doesn’t dine with you. Our kids are coughing all over each other outside but then inside forced to wear a mask which they pull down constantly, again ridiculous. Get rid of travel time. Drop the mask mandates. Tell everyone do what you’re going to do but try to protect yourself and just try to be nice and think about everyone else. But apparently that will never happen on this island because you see how jackasses drive. No one gives a s*** about anyone here.
Thank you Mr Scott and good luck lobbying. It seems this government has no clue what they’re doing unless it involves serving their own self interests under the bs agenda of “Caymanians first”. No Caymanian can be “first” if our economy is stalled due to these stupid outdated mask regulations. Frankly, Caymanians will never be first with this level of government intrusion into people’s lives.
Crap.
Dude. There hasn’t been a relevant Chamber President since Benson.
How about you dropping the extortion prices and raising the slave wages in retail stores and businesses?!
How about offering FREE Chamber courses for locals (especially staff of YOUR Members) in Quickbooks Excel etc?
How about chasing deadbeat pension payments in your membership?!
sus piece!!
Never thought I’d hear that from someone so high up at a health facility. Nonsense. So many other things they could be concentrated on to boost the economy.
Get rid of all mandates. COVID is nothing but a common cold now. Stop talking about it and move on with our lives. The masks are useless. Only ONE type of mask works. That’s the N95 properly fitted surgical mask. All these other cotton masks are garbage. Just a way for people to make money. End all mandates. COVID IS OVER!
This is starting to smell of civil service overreach. I can’t believe that the present jokers in power are making their own decisions here.
Cayman is really behind the curve. All this Travel Cayman form and PCR-tests-less-than-24 hours-before-you-fly nonsense has been abandoned round the world months ago.
In England and the US mandatory masks are a thing of the past, although some people choose still to wear them.
In Cayman, everyone has had ample time to get vaccinated. If they choose not to, that’s their right, but we can’t keep restrictions in place simply to protect those who’ve made that choice. Omicron is mild, and very few people who have been vaccinated are hospitalized from it. Those who haven’t simply have to accept the consequences, as do those who aren’t vaccinated against flu. Otherwise we will never reopen and our economy will be wrecked as stayover tourists start to try, and then prefer, other cheaper and more welcoming destinations.
What is inexplicable from a public health standpoint is that the same rules don’t apply to cruise ship passengers. Do cruise ships somehow give their passengers immunity from infecting others? Rather the opposite, I’d say.
99 comments so far. Every one has their opinion. The fact of the matter is…that it should be a personal decision.
If humankind were sane there would be no need for rules and mandates. Everyone would rush to get vaccinated and happily wear masks in public until the pandemic was snuffed out. But…
#lame
But….too much idiots….not wanting to get vaxxed or wear mask.
Keep mask mandate til people grow brains.
No Mask No problem idiots keep getting it all wrong this has not gone away and the inconvenience has not left either Mask have been proven to save lives and stop the spread and what more proof do you need.
Proven by whom? If they are so great, you keep wearing them.
Point me towards the ‘proof’
Surgeons operating on patients for the last 2 centuries?
False equivalency spreads faster than covid.
Stupidity even faster.
Everyone saying cases are up in Cal and NY— newsflash, the number of cases doesn’t matter. Hospitalization and death are at low levels.
After a week of lower case figures, partly due to the Easter Holiday, the UK ended the week with a 20% increase in COVID Deaths.
Cases were down approximately 6% while testing fell 20%.
The UK has had over >190,000 deaths thus far, 8% or approximately 15,000 came during this “mild” omicron wave.
Limiting proliferation limits potential mutations thereby limiting potential mutations. Mutation is how new variants arise and potentially become more deadly. I guess this is a heretical concept to those that don’t believe in mutation or more to the point evolution.
Can we mandate prices dropped too?
It will happen soon enough. But what about also droppjng:
#FREE Travel Visas for Jamaicans, when Caymanians need them to go over there?
#TUITION Costs for Any Native wanting to attend UCCI?
#PROMISES of District Councils?
Chamber’s timing sucks! Seems callous and greedy, in light of new hospitalizations.
All 5 of them, and presumably mainly among the unvaccinated dumb who wanted their “choice” and “freedom”.
“especially in restaurants and bars where customers are supposed to wear masks while moving around the venues but not when sitting down.” – read that a couple of times to grasp how idiotic this is.
Out of interest, do the regulations mean you should wear a mask when dancing at a charity fundraiser, given you are no longer sitting at your table. Asking for a friend.
If table seating is arranged to preserve adequate social distancing, then when you are seated, that is maitained. When other customers or staff walk by your table, they may be spewing virus carrying particles much closer than 6 ft, and also above you, greatly increasing the chance that you are at risk if they are infected. Their wearing a mask reduces their spewing of infectious particles on you and your food. Makes sense to me. I wince and hold my breath when people cough, sneeze or even speak/breath over me and my food.
And it will never rain on Friday evenings if preceeded by a full moon on Thursday when the winter solstice occurs on a Monday and the following summer solstice is also on a Monday. Sometimes an eclipse can make a difference too but the science us still evolving.
Not sure how to interpret that comment. From a public health perspective it is a matter of risk reduction, not trying to achieve 100% protection. Mask wearing as currently mandated in restaurants is a logical way to statistically reduce transmission risk, not eliminate it.
Logical, no. Farcical, yes.
Absolute BS.
Covid is airborne.
Do you know how AC units work? All airborne particles are being sucked towards the ceiling.
Seated, standing, masked, unmasked………makes no difference what so ever.
Of course you and your fellow diners sitting next to each other are spewing pure non virus particles of air everytime you breathe.
You really are clueless.
Let’s get back to living.
Shomari and Saunders 101
Chris: We need an excuse to drop the masks
Shomari: Leave it to me Boss
The mask mandate was dropped months ago in my office, as with all other large employers on island in George Town or camana bay. The employers that drive the economy. It’s just stupid now and annoying. So easy to forget you mask at Kirk or fosters and get grief of you forget to accept the water spray on your hands. The mask mandate does nothing, we have a 4th jab available now. Most people are either boosted or had Covid, the hospitals are not full. I don’t get why we are the only democratic territory still making people wear masks. It makes no sense.
It has not been dropped in Camana bay actually so kindly stop spreading false news.
I work in Camana Bay. We don’t have to wear masks in our offices.
Which is the choice of your employer. Take it up with them, I dare you.
Because it makes the health minister look important.
Geez. Covid is a real disease, that transmission occurs when you are in close proximity of others. Science backs this. Breath, bodily fluids like sneezing, saliva, etc. spread it like the baby mamas around here. For a person to mask in a place where there are people is not a huge issue. The people that can’t tolerate wearing them barring people with serious respiratory diseases or vascular issues etc. are normally smokers, overweight and out of human proportions in terms of body size or just plain inconsiderate or ignorant. Walking to the bathroom to the bedroom is as challenging to accomplish without loss of breath. An idea is instead of putting so much energy on opposing a common sense approach to avoiding spreading an illness, direct that venament energy towards a healthy lifestyle. If you do this, having a cloth over your face may not feel like a 350 person sitting on your chest although this act is common around here.
Jeez…
Proximity means close
Science is a false god
Breath and body fluids don’t spread covid
I don’t remember anyone sneezing around me for maybe 5 years
I don’t remember anyone spitting on me ever…and if they did it wouldn’t get into my upper respiratory system…unless there’s such a thing as sniper spitting
Masks?…I don’t even want to comment…wear if you wish
Names calling is immature and childish
You completely lost me on “ walking to the bathroom…”
So educate us on how Covid spreads if not by the air your breath in and out and if not by the droplets from saliva. You do not have to have someone spit at you to get a person’s saliva on you, some people expel saliva when they speak. But again explain how an airborne virus is not transmitted by people breathing the same air? The comment about walking to the bathroom is most of the complainers cannot accomplish a simple task like walking from room to room without wearing a mask, without feeling like they climbed a flight of stairs. The fashion issue is just plain stupid. Please again explain how Covid 19 is transmitted?
I despise wearing a mask to protect others. It’s a horrible inconvenience and a terrible fashion accessory.
If the elderly or those with underlying health issues become ill or die, it’s part of the circle of life.
I am certain they have led a full life, but we don’t actually care as long as we get to live ours how we see fit.
Let’s get back to living our best salt lives!
Here lies the problem. Noone cares about others or themselves for that matter until they or a close loved one gets it. How many times have people complained on end and missed work cuz they had the worst flu or cold. Crying about it how they don’t feel good so they can’t go to work………sure covid is like a cold or.flu ????nonsense. Covid may for some be mild and many not deadly but it is not a sneezing and stuffy head issue also for many for longer then a day or two. Not lethal but many feel like they are dying. Use your god given brain. Live but except that this is not a cake walk and life can be normal for the most part but not the same as before. Hard when those that are to lead by example do not.
It is not “about time”.
The new variant has been found in Jamaica so it’s likely spreading here now and the bulk of visitors hail from the states and the UK where the new variant is spreading.
Infections in U.K. are way down. Stop the disinformation and fear mongering.
Apologies for facts.
Globally, the data shows a decline in infection prevalence, but infection is still high. 3.7 million people were infected with COVID in the week ending April 16th. That’s 1 in 17 in England, and as high as 1 in 15 in Wales.
71% of people in England have been infected. Scots and Welsh have less.
Following “Freedom Day” (July 21), when mask mandates were dropped due to a “protective wall” of vaccine immunity, Vaccines did reduce severe disease impacts, but infection has increased dramatically.
After a week of lower case figures, partly due to the Easter Holiday, the UK ended the week with a 20% increase in COVID Deaths.
It’s about time idiots like you were told to shut up and stop spreading untrue rumours.
Cases in the U.K. are going down drastically.
Time to dump the muzzle and quarantine requirements for visitors. LFT prior to departure and one on arrival if necessary because a mandatory vaccine requirement is discriminatory.
To the sensible people that are LFTing themselves, thank you. You are the only group that really deserve to be maskless during this pandemic. IMO it is a privilege that should be earned via a simple 15 minute diagnostic test every few days. Anyone that can’t offer that minimal courtesy to others should probably mask up until this is over, in an ideal polite world.
The LFT salesperson has entered the chat.
LFTs are price controlled in the Cayman Islands.
When do you anticipate this will be ‘over’?
As soon as he has sold off all the LFTs he panic bought.
It doesn’t end by accelerating transmission. All that does is engineer a more evasive and dangerous variant, even among “vaccinated”. We should use the tools we have now to sniff it out and retire it. It’s crazy that’s not even on the table.
There you are, voice of reason. I’ve missed you. How’ve you been?
Get over yourself Mastermind.
The majority here cannot even be relied upon to use indicators in the bloody roundabouts or obey speed limits.
Selfishness and stupidity on display daily on roadways.
New then? What does that have to do with when this is ‘over’ mask wearing? Is ‘bloody’ still used… LOL
The selfish should continue wearing their droplet catchers. The responsible should be allowed to demonstrate the safety of allowing them not to, with a regular negative test screening. Trust, but verify.
What is funny is when banks mandate masks, people to stand the 6′ distance then force the seniors to sit in chairs next to each other, even if they do not want to sit down. Pathetic!
Agree and security will make sure they sit and they as others are not allowed to open mouth otherwise causing trouble. When did we all become robots and banned from speaking.
This is getting beyond a joke, scrap it immediately. The Government said 28 April was the next milestone? They better act. In addition kids are now sitting external exams for the first time in two years, currently with masks on and in times of stress this is not a good combination.
Current regs expire May 31st
Self-assessing asymptomatic transmission risk to others doesn’t work, because it’s still not a flu. Unless you are LFTing, you don’t know if you are a spreader. This simple fact is why humanity is in season 3 of this. Maybe people who can demonstrate they are testing themselves regularly can earn the privilege to remove the vapour catcher from their emission holes? At least that would make diagnostic sense, while posing no additional danger to the community.
Have you driven here lately? Personal responsibility and courtesy is a joke.
So the no voters like seeing children suffer unnecessarily? SMH.
Chamber is just like the lodge they only look out for its members. They do not care about regular Caymanians never have never will.
Fodder for the dollar. Greediness is evil.
Are you saying regular Caymanians are not part of the lodge?
Everyone that wants to drop the mask mandate should be required to sign over their salaries to the government to use in the event that we have to go back into another lockdown or to cover the costs associated with any significant increase in hospitalizations.
Everyone should agree to provide sensible ongoing diagnostic basis for their masklessness via regular LFTing – but even that seems too unpopular even with the tools in our hand! Maybe we should order the FDA approved breathalyzing COVID tools to make it really easy for businesses and client-facing staff to be comfortable and responsible?
an overkill for something that is gone
Today in the real world.
Los Angeles County reports 2,056 new coronavirus cases, an increase of 52% from last week.
New York state reports 8,452 new coronavirus cases, the biggest one-day increase since early February. Reinfections are not included.
Reinfections are reported only once a week (on Wednesdays) in a separate count.
4,818 reinfections were reported on Wednesday, which was up 27% from the week before.
Going off last week’s average, today’s tally would be at least 9,140.
Did you know over 3,000 people in the US were hospitalized for the flu this week? COVID was a fraction of that. Those darn facts again…..
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm
https://gis.cdc.gov/grasp/covidnet/covid19_5.html
U.S. COVID update witb just 36 out of 50 states reporting.
– New cases: 73,770
– Average: 47,641 (+4,297)
– States reporting: 36/50
– In hospital: 14,499 (+214)
– In ICU: 1,872 (+24)
– New deaths: 799
– Average: 403 (+14)
Those darn facts, indeed.
From a population of 350 million +.
799 deaths are 799 deaths.
You can have your opinion, but you can’t have your facts….
Deaths
The current 7-day moving average of new deaths (376) has decreased 9.4% compared with the previous 7-day moving average (415). As of April 20, 2022, a total of 987,601 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in the United States.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/covidview/index.html
No link…….no facts
Great idea, but they are too much of cowards to do that.
Classic case of wanting the milk for free but refusing to buy the cow.
The Chamber of Commerce is now just a talkbox for the international business owners and do not represent the interests of the Caymanian people. Period.
PPM donations no longer worth the value per dollar it used to be and now Chamber are just the new puppets.
Let the people mask up if we want. Stop forcing it.
Please stop Travel Cayman forms
Please stop Covid exit testing, after testing positive
Please stop pre air travel into Cayman covid testing
Please stop school masks/lateral flow
In fact, stop all these crazy rules & let life go on
At risk can still stay home/wear masks/take care
Agree, but some of the rules are necessary to protect those with weakened immune systems. There needs to be balance.
Those with weakened immune systems can mask up all they want.
It’s the other way around.
They can stay they ass home.
Which business do you own?
Nunya
Cruelty and ignorance are endemic here
You still don’t know how masks work best at this stage???
They are pointless.
Nearly everyone got vaccinated, some 3 times, for the sake of the vulnerable.
WHAT ELSE do you want people do to protect them?
You can’t conquer death, to do so you must gain power over Nature.
Look at world meter and compare Florida to California.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/usa/florida/
Florida, no mask mandate
California, hardcore mask mandate
Same thing in New York and everywhere else.
The masks made no difference in the most recent peak between Dec 2021 and Jan 2022 and it won’t make any difference on the next peak either. Dr Autalia needs to get over herself and her power drunk ego. She’s not the messianic savior that she apparently thinks she is.
The reason is that LA, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Seattle, Ect. are Democrat run cities. All Republican run cities and states are free from the liberal BS mandates. Do the research.
Do you think we are all stupid?Too bad we didn’t have a Democrat in the White House early ’20 thousands of lives would have been saved.Denial,Golfing and Rallies the Republican way.
I think you are
Deaths during Trumps tenure: 425K with no vaccine available.
Deaths in Bidens first year: 575K with 3 vaccines available.
Total deaths since democrats took the presidency and both houses of congress: 600,000 with 3 vaccines and a bunch of therapeutics available.
At least now there’s peace in the world and they cut inflation and gas prices though.
CNS: You are implying that the deaths were because the Democrats controlled the Whitehouse and Congress, for which you win the rewriting history award. Very silly.
1) 2020 saw the beginning of the pandemic and few people died in the first few months, so you are comparing 10 months and 12 months. It wasn’t until March 2020 that the virus really got going.
2) There was a surge in infections at the end of 2020 which led to many deaths in the beginning of 2021 before vaccines were widely available.
3) During 2020 and 2021 the anti-mask, anti-social distancing, I-can-do-whatever-I-like nitwits ensured that the virus continued to spread.
4) The vaccines were available but anti-vaxxers ensured that people continued to die en masse. The vaccines saved many lives and prevented serious illness in millions of people.
5) The virus mutated and the Delta variant was more virulent.
The Faux News bot has logged on
At least in Florida life is great and normal. Those who want to mask up do and those who don’t don’t have to. Great job Gov. De Santis!
2 dats ago…Florida reports 3,570 new coronavirus cases, an increase of 40% from last week. Number in hospital up 9%, reaching 1,064.
DeSantis is a pandering right wing trump wannabe.
Population of Florida 22 million. 1000 in hospital = 1 in 22000. Population of Cayman 69000. Hospital cases 2. Mask mandate in Cayman. No mask mandate Florida. Outcome seems about the same.
Seriously? The homophobic racist egomaniac? Please go live there then!
All these people are best buds and hang out together and further each others agendas. You were appointed Chamber Pres by your buddy so just call him up and tell him to drop the mandate. You hold a press conference to make things look like you all operate at arm’s length – for what?
Keep the masks for indoors and.on planes, buses, taxes,
You wear one if you want. Don’t tell me what to do.
You drive on the left-hand side of the road, but don’t tell me what to do.
Do you wear a fire retardant suit while pumping gas?
Uh … no
Just back from California. Up to you if you want to wear a mask in 90% of the places. Should be a personal choice at this stage.
It is for Sabrina and Wayne.
Los Angeles County reports 2,123 new coronavirus cases, an increase of 75% from last week
And LA has more vagrant drug abusers living on the streets than Cayman’s total population.
It’s not about personal choice. It’s about looking out for our neighbours. As long as we can spread the virus without knowing we have it, we owe it to our fellow humsns to take precautions and not keep spreading the damn virus. What is so hard about wearing a mask? Get over yourselves people and grow a conscience.
And ridiculous rules on entry for unvaccinated. Even the vaccinated who have not had a ‘booster’ inside last 4 months are the exact same as those who never had any vaccines regards health protection.
This is insanity..where are the lawyers?
We are making money off corporate work…thoughts and prayers though
Well we tend to not end up in ICU so that’s kind of on you.
It’s scary that you believe that and you think to post it here.
You may be the same and transmitting the virus but you have a much better chance of staying out of the hospital if you’re vaccinated.
Do you need us to hire a lawyer to explain that to you? How about you listen to a doctor?
Exact same as those that never had a jab? Except that is complete BS. Incidence of disease lower. Incidence of being hospitalized or dying way way lower. But you comfort yourself that your decision not to vax makes no difference- I understand why confronting the fact would be uncomfortable. No one likes to think they made bad choices.
You lie. You are storying.
Almost no one in our 250 person accounting firms wears a mask in our office (except 1 or 2) and no ever has. We have full in-person meetings, some in very large groups. No one is worried, including me.
Time to move on.
how are you not all dead?
Sounds like you’ve been conned.
Accountants are all dead inside.
hmm that’s an admission that you broke the law and so did your Accounting Firm.
Nice try but private business that don’t serve the public are free to decide on their own approach in this area.
I have been an accountant for 35 years, and thought I had heard them all – but dead inside? That’s a trifle harsh. What happened – one sleep with your spouse? Or did you try to be one and fail?
when there is no current risk to the health service, and the general health risk of covid is less than flu…. mask wearing should be a personal choice.end of story.
Not just businesses, rational people.
The mask, travel time and testing farce has gone on far too long.
Who is it that still has masks and test kits they need to sell Sabrina//Wayne? Spill the beans.
It’s ridiculous. None of the cruise shippers wear masks going to indoor establishments, and the fact that air arrivals have to get a LFT before arrival is farcical. Masks optional. Simple. Hurry up and move on. Oh, and ban the cruise ships.