With local COVID-19 cases on the rise, the Health Services Authority has expanded operating hours at the Flu Clinic starting Thursday.
The clinic will remain open from 8am until 11pm on Mondays through Fridays.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Samuel Williams-Rodriguez, in a statement announcing the increased hours, said, “This dedicated facility will allow us to better manage patient flow and an increase in cases due to COVID 19.”
Thursday’s total confirmed COVID-19 cases had yet to be released as at 4:30pm. On Wednesday, 126 new cases had been reported, taking the total number of active cases in the Cayman Islands to 517.
Information on the numbers of active cases that are symptomatic versus asymptomatic, as well as the number of people in isolation, had not been made available at the time of Wednesday’s report.
To date in Cayman, 973 cases were considered to have fully recovered from the virus.
Williams-Rodriguez has said adherence to prevention measures such as social distancing, wearing of masks and the calling of the Flu Hotline prior to going to the clinic will help to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for patients who visit the facility.
The clinic, which is located in the Cayman Islands Hospital, provides a dedicated area for the treatment of people with flu-like symptoms and “helps to isolate persons with flu like symptoms from the general patient population and potentially reduce opportunities for influenza/COVID transmission”.
HSA Deputy Chief Executive Officer Ronnie Dunn welcomed the expanded hours.
“We find that extending the hours reduces the congestion in our Accident & Emergency Unit for non-emergent cases and allows the team to appropriately triage and treat true medical emergencies,” he said in the statement.
Williams-Rodriguez said although influenza activity last year was minimal largely due to COVID-19 prevention measures such as mask wearing, predictions have varied on what this year’s flu season will look like.
The Public Health Department is awaiting their annual supply of flu vaccines.
Flu symptoms may include:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Chills
The department anticipates the arrival of vaccines before the launch of their annual flu shot campaign which is expected to run from November 2021 to March 2022.
People can access the Flu Clinic by parking in the Seventh-day Adventist Church parking lot, that provides access to the clinic, which is located left of the Accident & Emergency entrance.
All people are required to wear a face mask at all HSA locations.
Anyone with flu symptoms is advised to first contact the 24-hour Flu Hotline to speak to a health professional about their symptoms. To contact the clinic call 1-800-534-8600, 345-947-3077 or email [email protected].
The HSA has urged members of the public to call the Flu Hotline or 911 if they experience worsening symptoms including sudden dizziness and confusion, severe or persistent vomiting, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, or difficulty breathing.
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