$10k fines extend to COVID testing under new rules
(CNS): New regulations to control the new lateral flow testing regime, which have replaced isolation requirements for verifiably vaccinated travellers, extend the $10,000 fine first rolled out under the COVID-19 rules for breaching quarantine to people who fail to take a test on the stipulated days during the first ten days for after arrival.
The updated COVID rules now in effect require people to test on day two, five and ten. But if they fail to take a test at one of the more than two dozen locations now offering lateral flow testing and have their cards verified, they face the prospect of the same hefty fine that previously applied to breaking quarantine rules, including possible jail time.
The new rules also include the reintroduction of instant fines or tickets for not wearing masks or breaching social distancing rules. The Control of COVID-19 (Travel) Regulations 2021 and the Control and Management of COVID-19 (No 2) Regulations 2021 were published late Friday.
They set out the new requirements relating to the testing regime, as well as compliance with directions from the medical officer of health, social distancing and mask wearing and other protocols designed to curb the current outbreak of the virus that has seen almost 5,000 people infected with COVID-19 in Cayman since 8 September.
The revised rules remain in effect until 15 January.
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Category: Health, Medical Health
It would be nice if they gave the cards to returning residents on arrival, especially when we one is requested.
Not to worry everyone, with DPP’s record all of these cases and fines will be dropped unless you are a blonde American.
That’s exactly what worries us with this added testing!
the problem is this: cayman sufferes from 2 pandemics. one is called covid and the other is called stupid. there is no vaccine for stupid. the gov’t is seriously infected
How moronic can the CIG be? Traveler who come from countries with a lot lower positivity rate than Cayman, who are tested negative within 72 hours prior to arrival and are double vaccinated are required to go to a clinic three times to get tested and pay for it while people who live with a COVID positive person in their household can test at home. How utterly stupid can they be?
And then they will wonder why all of a sudden tourists are testing positive in cayman, but other islands are not having such issues.
Exactly. The reason for the terrible case rates in cayman is because the government refuse to impose any covid rules on caymanians versus the more vaccines aged and sensible tourists and expats!
Triple vaxxed w/ negative PCR which a lot of tourists will be (if they are not already) will be sent to these clinics where the staff do not even have to be vaccinated.
Yep 6:10. This is the absolute stupidity we have here.
Is this place dumb or what?
Speaking of fines and the hospital, how about getting a police car to monitor the four way “slow a little bit” sign at Smith and Hospital Road.
Everyday i see folks roll through it. Today at 7:15am was the worst. I am stopped, looking to my right down Smith Road and see a car coming, I put the truck in gear and begin to make my right hand turn with the right of way expecting my fellow road users to obey the sign, and a woman in a light blue CRV breezes straight through with ZERO effort to slow down.
The traffic fines from that intersection alone would be substantial, and maybe the thought of actually getting a ticket would slow some people down also.
More so just traffic fines in general so people starting driving better.
Listen to you…next you will demand that residents can see over the dash of their fully-reclined front seats, have permission to borrow a licensed car, and carry valid mandatory driver’s license, and insurance?!? <>
Sorry, what was I thinking.
Has Sabrina and CIG figured out that they’re is going to have to be testing on Sundays, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day? Bet there won’t be more than one or two testing locations and if you have to come into GT from East End plan on spending the entire day waiting.
Great. Spent over 10k to spend Christmas as a family on the beach, but instead we will spend it in a line getting out LFT w/ 700 people and that is probably where we will pick up covid too. It will be the only time we will be in a crowd. Oh, except day 5 and day 10.
How is the testing going now that they had a few days to iron out the kinks?
Please go to HSA Flu Clinic. Main hospital George Town.
Service is excellent.
Mornings only?
Results same day, I got mine back within 5 hours.
Compliance is on database so if you loose the pointless CBC LFT paper card you can prove very easily you’ve complied.
$25 no hidden private clinic “extra” fees.
Why is there a such a problem with getting LFT results immediately??? Isn’t there a 15 minute wait on these tests?
Sure is, at least 15 minutes.
That’s the time it should take for the testing kit itself to produce a proper result.
Hence the reason that these are called Rapid and not Immediate.
Had a test today – doctor said that if it doesn’t show positive within the first 5 minutes it isn’t going to change – the 15 minutes is just belt and braces. But it doesn’t change the fact that it has a high false negative rate. Better than nothing but not something you would bet your house on. Of course with the infection rates we have in Cayman now and the lack of serious restrictions to stop spread it’s all a bit pointless. You might almost think they want the infection to wash through the community bad fast as possible, so once tourists start testing positive it will be when rates are reducing and there will be no criticism of reopening.
I am sure it will all be fixed by Thursday…in time for your Day 5 test.
AND, there are 4 arriving international flights arriving today, two from Miami, JetBlue from NYC, and British Airways. These passengers will be doing their Day 2 test on Thursday.
Good luck to all on Thursday!!
Madness!
Give this up now. This will get bad really fast and I’m not talking w/ results. This has the potential to have a lot of angry people in one place at one time, some covid positive people together, some unvaccinated together, long lines, results mixed up or not received…. And so much more. The issue is not w/ vaccinated tourists who are on short term holiday!!
And think about the issues going forward…
By this Thursday the original 700+ arrivals from Saturday will be doing their day 5 test and the ones who arrive today will be trying to do their day 2 tests.
Then by next week Tuesday the original group will be doing day 10, those who arrive this Thursday will be on their day 5 test and those who arrive this Sunday will be on their day 2 test.
The numbers that the testing centres have to deal with are only going to increase day by day…
Not looking forward to the sh!t show when I return to the island this Saturday. I must be a masochist because I choose to work in the Cayman Islands with their absolutely inept government known as “PACT”. I think this is what it really stands for:
P- People suck – F*vk you
A- A**holes – the lot of us
C- Can’t do anything right
T- Trust us- We don’t know what we are doing…
I managed to get the test but cant get the results and I am not going to quarantine. Hopefully I am not positive.
It couldn’t have been a lateral flow test because you would have had the results in 15 minutes, so you must be referring to PCR test.
The problem is if you don’t have the negative result you will not be allowed to board the flight.
From now on just cruise to cayman. Just need 1 test and then you can continue on to other islands w/ out the craziness of LFT. Will probably have more time at the beaches now by cruising.
I just don’t understand why stricter measures and penalties are being imposed on incoming travellers, who are mostly vaccinated and have all had a negative PCR test before entry, than on residents already here. Given the current state of things incoming travellers are at risk from residents, not the other way around. Stories of residents testing positive on LFTs and simply tossing them in the bin (or just not doing them at all) to avoid an open ended isolation period are rife. Why isn’t that the focus of Public Health, rather than imposing onerous and expensive requirements on travellers that are likely to yield less than a handful of positive results?
The above is one of the most sensible comments I have read in a while.
You must be new here. This is nothing extraordinary.
We are not the brightest people in the Caribbean or the world.
Dumb is the best way to put it.
Pure insanity with these requirements for tourists.
Yes, because that’s just how PACT express their CaymanKindliness.
The performance of the RCIPS has conditioned us all to be skeptical. Save for the minority of vehicle crash sites where driver hasn’t fled the scene, there are no RCIPS fines or tickets being handed out for anything more than a narrow band of seasonal offences. They still haven’t figured out that alcoholic patrons drive to nightclubs on Friday nights.
This is the dumbest way to do this. Between sorting the LFTs and the amount of visitor that will have to que for this you probably should have just not said borders were opening. What a total joke. Give up the nanny state and get vaxxed.
What’s behind the rapid disappearance of the delta variant in Japan? It could be self-extinction.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/11/18/national/delta-variant-self-destruction-theory/
I never thought socialist Canada would have more freedoms than Cayman.
Shucks, how could you. I love Canada.
7:14, Canadians are a much brighter people than us.
Yeah 7:14, socialist Alberta has the most COVID cases per capita in Canada.
But Johnny, Alberta is the Texas of Canada. They are as conservative as Ted Cruz.
So what happens if someone flies in and out within a week? The person won’t take the 10 day test. Is that person fined? Greater risk of fine and imprisonment of a foreigner.
Good luck with finding someone who has left. Mind you, I would be astonished if RCIP got around to fining anyone!
More rules, more nonsense, nobody will be paying $10K.
When will the madness end ffs.
Just wait until they fine the first tourist. You will see all major news outlets in the world focusing in on Cayman. That will be a riot!!
Skylar 2.0.
Wow after reading the tests tourist are required to do, our tourism season 2022 is dead on arrival!
Only people w/ ties to Cayman will come. No one else will subject themselves to the expense and the time of these LFT tests.
Gee, I wonder if this is for Citizens, expats, work permit holders, visitors? Please educate me…
Who is excluded??
No one is excluded. Everyone (Citizens, expats, work permit holders, visitors) who is entering the island is subjected to this new rule of doing the LFT on day 2,5 and 10.
What good does it do to get tested when you can’t get the results.
Oh, this is gonna be fun!
Can’t wait till this time next month. Tourists will be up in arms.
Ahh PACT, you’re really wearing on me, I cant seem to ever come up with much good to say, ever, – right, please sit down, –
Ok PACT, you’re a bunch of feckless idiots. You can’t even enforce the simpler previous violations for breaking quarantine and now feel up to the task for implementing more regulations and levying fines which are going to be argued all day every day in court for their absurd expectations and limitations highlighted by the sole example of Skylar Mack ? – what the f&*$ is going on with you ? can you honestly say you know what you’re doing or are you just throwing masks, purell, tape measures, and a few choice live swabs into a cauldron together with a Ministers magic spell and seeing what the bubbles whizz, smoke and haze conjure up for you ? At least I can respect Ms Mack for her recognition of doing wrong and blaming nobody but herself, but you guys ? you can’t even see the blunder after blunder you’re creating to even acknowledge it ! Right, get out of my sight, leave quietly and don’t you dare let me see anything that represents a mortifying headline tomorrow.
sincerely,
your conscience
Well said. I’d add that the virus is a minor inconvenience for majority and a serious condition for very few. Why not to focus on the VERY FEW! I am talking about “bedridden grannies and aunties”. Protecting them on the tropical island is EASY!
If real concern is percentage of obese people in the population, why not a word on fighting the obesity epidemic? Even if one is triple jabbed but obese, his/her risk of respiratory failure remains high. Why not to treat them, and it is allowed, differently?
Everyone will take different things from this article, yet “Families must have choices in the treatment of their loved ones”
“My fear is the board will start punishing doctors who listen to alternative treatment requests,” said one testifier, taking listeners through the experience his wife has had as she tries to recover from a bout with COVID-19. “It is clear to the public that the standard of care for the ICU patients is a dismal failure. Families must have choices in the treatment of their loved ones.” https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2021/11/20/state-medical-board-takes-testimony-dozens-demand-accountability-over-covid-19-misinformation/
If the Cayman Islands could do, say, about 20 times better than Alaska in keeping patients from dying of Covid should people be happy? Alrighty then: Don’t worry people, be happy! The article from Alaska is shocking taken in the context of the experience here. In Alaska the Covid death rate of 1148/M is over 19 times–yeah NINETEEN times!) that of Cayman Is. at 60/M. Even worse is the overall USA death rate of 2414/M is over 40 times(!)that of Cayman. Perhaps the Alaska state and U.S. health officials need to come here to see how to manage cases and keep patients from dying of Covid.
However, if our medical care system becomes over-taxed by cases, the level of care and success will plummet. This is one clear reason why everyone who is eligible to get vaxed must get vaxed. NOTE: Tin hat “death vax” theories does not make one ineligible to get vaxed, although it might qualify them for psychiatric care.
How’s about no. We didn’t vote for this
Doesn’t matter, it is what is being done. Pay up your 10k fine then.
Forget about tourist testing which is just putting them thru needless testing expense, vacation time loss and aggravation. They arrive vaccinated and w/ a negative PCR and have to leave with a PCR- let them enjoy their short beach time. Same thing when traveling to UK or US- no 3 extra days of testing is needed or required.
Can stores/shops workers be fined for not wearing face masks and not staying 6 ft apart from shoppers ?. Workers stacking shelves without masks can sneeze, wipe noses etc on items as they put items on shelves for customers to handle.
Yes! There should be a number you can call …. bank workers not wearing masks correctly and sitting at Customer service!!! Flow customer service. To name a couple of examples
so where are you supposed to get the 3 LFT’s done I am currently booked to come in early December but no idea where to book these and is the $25 a set price. I have a private house booked.
CNS – do you know perhaps a traveler’s guide to traveling to cayman for tourists would be a great idea at the moment.
CNS: All the info is supposed to be here somewhere – https://www.exploregov.ky/coronavirus
Sorry, I don’t have time to go through it right now. Perhaps you could let us know if you find it, otherwise we’ll ask the HSA for you.
DOT were the ones who published it.
https://www.visitcaymanislands.com/Visitcaymanislands.com/media/VCI_main_site/Travel%20Requirements/Updated-LFT-Flyer.pdf
They will provide the information to you when you arrive along with your card.
I arrived yesterday. The CBC agent didn’t mention LFT testing nor did he provide me a card. I completely forgot and didn’t realize until I arrived home. Its the weekend and CBC is closed…my first test is supposed to be on Sunday. WTF
Who cares if you have a private house? What does that have to do with testing, how about instead of composing on CNS you use your two eyes and read the links that are available on the website. Furthermore, if you could read and comprehend, you will be provided with information when you arrive in Cayman.
https://www.visitcaymanislands.com/en-us/travel-requirements/health-services-providers-testing-sites
Not that difficult really.
9:24, Oh yeah, try going to West Bay for a test and they know nothing about such a test like we did yesterday.
Tourists don’t deserve this when most are already triple vaccinated.
Flu Clinic
HSA Main Hospital
George Town
Mornings only?
Service is excellent
Results same day-Print and keep
The results are held on database so if you loose the pointless CBC lateral flow test card you can prove you’ve complied
$25 with no hidden private clinic extra charges
What is the mask/ social distancing law while on the beach?
( serious question)
Masks required, clothing optional.
Love this!!
(not true by the way, we might just get the oddball visitor who truly believes clothing is optional)
In the states back in summer 2020 on the beaches in my area, masks were not required in your circle, but you could not sit within 6 ft. Of others. Masks were required if you were walking the beach. That is why I asked. Love the clothing optional. Yeah! 🙂
Do we set up an appointment? Walk in? Pay in cash? Credit card? Where are the locations?
Where do we go when testing falls on a holiday?
Are the people who will be observing us take the LFT be vaccinated w/ a recent PCR test?
If not, why not?
Good hope they start fining people for not wearing face mask and not staying 6 feet a part
oh give it up already. Get yourself vaccinated and mind your business
Window dressing? Or are they actually going to F@;$):ing enforce something?
They will do what they have always done. Rules are to be enforced on expats only. Everyone knows this. No Caymanians were ever held responsible for breaking quarantine and the resulting Caymanian surge. Culture over law.
CNS- How about publishing the ” One of Two Dozen Locations ”
Have no idea where they are.
Can workers in stores be fined for not wearing face masks. In the Brac especially in one main Market Store, workers are wearing the mask on their chins, NOT covering their mouth and noses. Asking for some friends .
Anyone who was at Total Health this morning trying to get an LFT done knows what a complete and utter mess this was.
Health City Camana Bay was refusing patients. Total Health was charging $30 per person!!
The lineups were crazy. 600 people plus all trying to get an LFT at one location in the Seven Mile Beach tourist corridor.
Nobody was prepared at all. They were taking photos of our ID, passports, and who knows where that data will go. Total privacy disaster. And then writing everything down on a messy paper.
What happened to 30 test centres? Why was there only 1 in 7MB and the rest in GeorgeTown?? Is TotalHealth politically connected?
I heard they ran out of LFTs later in the day. Cannot confirm.
Health City Camana Bay is not on the list provided.
This is not sustainable. Maybe a good thought, but just not sustainable.
We went to West Bay for tests yesterday and they knew nothing about any tests. They sent us away with many other people to somewhere in George Town. $100 to get us all there by taxi.
We are all fully vaccinated and had antigen test which was negative just before we left Toronto last Friday.
Telling my Canadian tourist friends to not come here with such utter chaos. Not worth all this stress and hassle.
Wonder if this place realizes they have a public relations disaster on their hands.
No they don’t. Completely and utterly lacking in any social awareness. Can’t see further than the ends of their noses because they are totally beholden to their woters and the church leaders. No one else counts. Welcome to the 3rd world and the 16th century.
You should contact Kenneth Bryan’s office and ask for a $100 refund for your taxi fare.
Hopefully “the system” will settle down in time but for sure there are many teething problems at the moment.
Taking pictures of ID’s???? Someone please explain this.
seconded –
Why do they need a picture of our passport? Can’t they just verify it is us visually? What happens with that information?
“Is Total Health politically connected?”, you decide.
https://www.totalhealth.ky/board-members/
https://www.totalhealth.ky/executive-team/
How many were tourists?
Total Health was charging USD $30 per person (or CI $25).
By the time I got there at 11:15 things were ‘calm’ and they had moved everything outside under a tent.
Next headline: LFT testing is cause of super spreading
Looking forward to the enforcement of this
Yeah right. We all know that not one single ticket will ever be issued.
7:39, Remember Skylar. She got more than a ticket.
Apparently 🤣
This obviously will be applied only to expats and tourists.
Applied to ANY PERSON entering Cayman