Government’s isolation stipend will be extended to families on both Cayman Brac and Little Cayman facing mandatory quarantine due to a spike in COVID-19 cases there.
Health Minister Sabrina Turner, in a video message Wednesday night, confirmed this, as she urged calm within the Cayman community after 126 cases were recorded earlier in the day.
She noted that over the past few days there was mounting concern in the Sister Islands regarding positive cases there, as hundreds turned up for swabbing at the Aston Rutty Civic Centre on the Bluff.
“Again, this was inevitable in the current pandemic situation,” the Minister said, adding “everyone affected by COVID-19 in the Cayman Islands will have access to support in getting groceries and other supplies, as well as with getting their results in a timely fashion, and being able to apply for the ex-gratia stipend, if eligible”.
Last week, Turner announced government had approved $1 million in funding for stipend, which will be paid to Caymanians and Permanent Residency holders who have lost earnings due to required Public Health home isolation.
A statement from the Health Ministry, in response to Cayman Compass queries on the stipend payments, said, “It’s important to note that this is an ex-gratia stipend and not a “like-for-like” wage replacement. The daily amount is CI$69, which is effectively the CI$1,500 displaced tourism worker stipend prorated by work day”.
The minister, in her message, also added that, similar to Grand Cayman schools, lateral flow tests will be offered in Cayman Brac schools, “so we can quickly identify cases and advise on isolation as needed, with the intent to make the process as quick and efficient as possible,” she said.
Online reporting for positives, she said, will be launched over the next day or so.
“I would also like to ask anyone who thinks you may be positive to stay at home until you can be tested. This is the best way to minimise spreading the virus until you know for sure,” Turner added.
Opposition MPs receive boosters
Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart, who received his booster shot Thursday along with fellow Opposition MPs, shared the minister’s sentiments, saying it is important for those who are infected and their direct contacts to all remain isolated to try to limit the spread.
“Unfortunately, we find ourselves in the situation that we have widespread community spread of the virus, and everyone just needs to follow closely the protocols set by the health services and stick to those. I think that’s the best way to try and limit the spread of the virus,” he said.
McTaggart encouraged everyone to get the COVID vaccine and “if they’ve had the vaccine, the two doses, come back and get your boosters. It is essential to winning the fight”.
This, he said, is key as Cayman moves towards the border reopening next month.
The George Town East MP also shared that the Opposition had met with Premier Wayne Panton on Wednesday, where they were given a presentation on the way forward with the reopening.
“They shared with us the information that they had… we did not see a complete plan because it’s still a work in progress. So it’s difficult to really pass any judgments or comments on the plan, but I’m happy to see them moving forward and progressing it and I hope that they’ll be ready as well on November 20th to reopen the borders as they have told the country they’re going to do,” he said.
Panton, on his official Facebook page, also discussed his meeting with McTaggart and his team.
He said they had “great dialogue” around a presentation made by the Programme Board, led by the Deputy Governor.
“This presentation provided the Opposition with detail on the Critical, Preparedness, and Readiness Plan in anticipation of the border reopening. This government recognises that we are all in this together and our country will be stronger when we all work together,” he said in the post.
Related Videos
