Government schools across Grand Cayman will begin mid-term break early as the number of students testing positive for COVID-19 and the number of staff in isolation relating to those cases continue to rise.
John Gray and Clifton Hunter High Schools will close from Thursday, 7 Oct., according to the Ministry of Education. Primary schools on Grand Cayman will close for their mid-term break on Monday, 11 Oct.
“Over the past few weeks, a growing number of teachers have been required by Public Health to isolate. In fact, the teaching staff at John Gray and Clifton Hunter has now been reduced by 16 persons for one reason or another. By closing our schools a few days earlier than initially scheduled, we hope to reduce the risk of schools having insufficient staff to function effectively,” said Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly in a statement announcing the change.
Mid-term break for the schools originally was scheduled for 14 Oct., meaning high school students will miss an additional five days of school and primary school students three days. They return to school Monday, 25 Oct. The start date for mid-term break for schools on the Sister Islands remains unchanged and will begin on Thursday, 14 Oct.
The announcement came hours after Public Health announced a further eight schoolchildren tested positive for COVID-19.
The eight positive students were among nine new community COVID-19 cases. One of the students was from Red Bay Primary School and the others from John Gray and Clifton Hunter High Schools.
Cases of COVID have also been confirmed in George Town Primary, First Baptist, Prospect Primary, Triple C and Cayman Academy, as well as at two pre-schools.
O’Connor-Connolly acknowledged in the statement the announcement was likely to inconvenience parents, “and for that, we sincerely apologise. Your understanding at this time is greatly appreciated.”
Director of Education Services Mark Ray, on Wednesday’s episode of the Cayman Compass weekly talkshow The Resh Hour, discussed the protocols that were implemented for schools impacted by cases and steps that were taken to ensure students do not fall behind.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee welcomed the early school closures saying, “this course of action will certainly reduce the likely spread of the COVID 19 virus among our children, many of whom are unvaccinated, and lessen the need for in-school testing”.
Lee, in the statement, reminded those with symptoms of concern to contact their usual healthcare provider or the Flu Hotline on 1-800-534-8600, 345-947-3077 or 345-925-6327, or email [email protected].
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Cayman officials have been pretty ignorant about Covid IMO… it has been clear for over a year now that Covid free is impossible… vaccinate the at risk and those who want the vaccine and move on…
I’m afraid it will take Grand Cayman a decade to bounce back from these draconian government lockdowns.
“This brings to 128 the total number of active COVID cases in the Cayman Islands. Of those, 60 are symptomatic.”
Will someone from the HSA PLEASE tell Mr. Panton and his cabinet that these increasing positive Covid-19 cultures, especially amongst the school children, are to be EXPECTED. This pattern is occurring in all countries. The important thing is that these children and all the other adults are NOT getting seriously sick; they are NOT being hospitalized. This is the way the virus spreads. This pattern will continue despite closing schools and putting teachers and students in quarantine.
Keep pushing people to get vaccinated. THAT is the important step to prevent serious complications when they contact the virus and get a positive culture. Keeping the island in a virtual lockdown for another two months will do nothing to prevent the spread of the virus. It is now endemic – as it is in the rest of the world. The rest of the world is moving onward and dealing with it.