Chief Medical Officer (Interim) Dr. Autilia Newton reported 13 new suspected Omicron cases in her latest COVID-19 update, bringing the total number of confirmed or potential cases of the highly contagious variant to 48.
On Friday, Public Health announced that four cases have been confirmed through genome sequencing as being Omicron. No other cases have been confirmed through this method since then.
PCR tests can strongly indicate if a person has the Omicron strain, which unlike the Delta variant, is missing the S gene. While genome sequencing will confirm the strain, if the PCR test shows an S-gene dropout, it is almost certain that the tested individual has the new variant.
Genome sequencing of the suspected cases is ongoing, according to Public Health.
The 13 new suspected Omicron cases are among 29 COVID cases recorded Monday, which included five among travellers and 24 in the community, Newton said.
Tuesday’s update did not indicate if the new suspected Omicron cases involved travellers or community transmission.
The latest results bring to 3,503 the total number of active cases in Cayman. Ten people with the virus are currently in hospital.
No new cases were reported in the Sister Islands, where there are two active cases.
According to the latest update, 58,629 people, or 82% of the estimated population of 71,106, have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while, 56,951 individuals (80%) have completed the two-dose course.
Additionally, 15,666 people, representing 22% of the total estimated population, have received a third or booster dose.
The government is continuing to urge people to get vaccinated, and if they are vaccinated, to get a booster shot, as research is indicating that those with a third, or booster, vaccine dose are better protected than those with two doses.
Fuelled by concern over the fast-spreading variant, the government last week encouraged people to start working for home, if possible, and implemented a midnight closing time on bars and nightclubs.
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