Some frontline workers are resisting taking screening tests for COVID-19, Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee said this week.
Lee, addressing the daily COVID-19 press briefing on Wednesday, encouraged workers who have been contacted to get tested, as their screenings could be a key tool in helping to save lives.
“It’s vitally important for people to come forward for the screening. It’s not just for you, although it might be you. It might be your family; there may be an elderly relative in your family; you may have a friend with cancer you’re trying to protect; an elderly neighbor, perhaps,” he said.
Lee expressed his gratitude to those who so far had gotten tested for COVID-19 as it helps in determining the extent to which the virus is present in the Cayman Islands.
He urged others to follow suit.
“Please come forward for the screening because it helps to protect the whole community, and it really is appreciated, in order that, if anybody is found to be positive, we can isolate them and protect the whole community,” he said.
Lee stressed the importance of the effort as he pointed out that on Tuesday two essential workers who were screened were found to positive for the virus. Neither was showing symptoms.
“That’s the whole purpose of this screening,” he said. “Not only is it to try and discover if the disease is there so we can make active decisions but, more importantly, to identify people and to then protect the community until their infection passes, because it will pass and you’ll… likely to be much less likely to catch the disease in the future, if not for always.”
He said he was not making a call to the general public in relation to the screening tests, but it was for the specific groups that were contacted for testing, like essential frontline workers.
So far, 3,050 people have been tested locally. Lee explained that those testing numbers relate to individuals and does not include repeated tests or screenings that are used to clear recovered patients.
On Wednesday, he reported 298 negative results; 72 of those were from Doctors Hospital and 226 from the Health Services Authority. The total number of COVID-19 cases, as of Wednesday, stood at 78 positives, with eight symptomatic; 37 asymptomatic; two admitted at Health City, but who are being treated for conditions other than the virus; and 30 recovered.
Lee added that 96% of Little Cayman residents have tested negative.
He also issued a reminder about observing physical-distancing guidelines when exercising, which includes maintaining a distance of at least six feet from any other person. It is recommended that this distance be increased to 12 feet for people who are running and 60 feet from people who are cycling.
While these are the guidelines, Lee said, the distance “should be much extended when you’re doing these active sports because of the potential for any droplet spray as you pass other people or as you’re working hard.”
Exercise is not allowed at public beaches, public or strata pools, and public or strata gyms.
Related Videos
