More than two-thirds of COVID cases unvaccinated

The overwhelming majority of COVID cases and most COVID-related hospitalisations in Cayman affect the unvaccinated.

Chief Nursing Officer Dr. Hazel Brown reported as part of weekly COVID trends that in the first week of November, 70% of people testing positive for COVID and 87% of hospital admissions were not vaccinated.

During the week from Sunday, 31 Oct., to Sat., 6 Nov., Cayman saw an average of 178 new COVID-19 cases per day, amounting to a weekly total of 1,251 new cases.

About a third of positive tests (405) were among children and adolescents under the age of 18, including three in babies under the age of one.

Only 16 people over the age of 70 tested positive.

These figures and the average age of 30 for those testing positive, reflect both the effectiveness of COVID vaccines and the lower vaccination rates among younger age groups, especially in children under the age of 12, who cannot be vaccinated.

If the vaccines were not working, COVID infections would predominantly affect the fully or partially vaccinated, which make up 80% of the population.

Instead, unvaccinated residents were more than eight times more likely to be infected with the coronavirus, based on the statistics from the first week of November.

About two-thirds of COVID cases, more than 800, occurred in the working age population.

Overall, 54% of the cases were female, and 46% were male.

Despite the high number of active COVID cases of 2,185 on 8 Nov., hospital admissions remain comparatively low.

This is most likely because during the time-period infections in older age groups over the age of 70 were very low at about 1.3%. About 99% of people over 60 are vaccinated.

UK data, released by Public Health England for the last week of October, shows that more than three-quarters of hospital admissions for COVID-related illness there were over 65.

During the first week of the month, 14 people were admitted with COVID-19. Of those 12 were admitted for COVID-related illness, while six patients were discharged.

In a video message Dr. Brown urged residents to continue with personal prevention measures.

“As the community transmission continues, Public Health is encouraging compliance with the government regulations and continuing vigilance to protect yourself and your loved ones,” she said. “If you are isolated or quarantined, you may still prevent ongoing transmission if you adhere to the recommendations. Wear your masks, use hand sanitiser, and practice physical distance.”