Revised travel regulations stipulate that incoming vaccinated travellers to Cayman are now required to take certified lateral flow tests two, five and seven days after arriving on island.
Previously, they had to take tests two, five and 10 days after landing here.
Dr. Samuel Williams-Rodriguez, the government’s medical officer of health, speaking Radio Cayman’s ‘For the Record with Orrett Connor’ on Friday morning, said the change in the timing of the tests was in response to research and data that shows that Omicron, which is now the dominant variant in COVID-19 cases locally, has a shorter incubation period than earlier variants.
Asked by a listener on the show to explain the rationale behind the decision, Williams-Rodriguez said, “We keep track of who tests positive on day 2, 5 and 10, and we saw there was only a very small group that test positive on Day 10. By that time, if someone was going to [test positive], certainly they would have [tested positive] by day 7.”
He said the short period of time between each of the required tests was “an advantage”, adding, “The closer you do a lateral flow test to each other, it increases the probability of detecting positive cases.”
Government officials announced on Thursday at a press briefing that unvaccinated children coming to Cayman could take on the vaccination status of parents or guardians so, those were vaccinated, quarantine is no longer required, although children over the age of 5 would be required to undergo the LFT tests on day 2, 5 and 7.
The required lateral flow tests must be carried out at a certified medical facility, and the traveller must pay for their own lateral flow tests, which usually cost $25 each.
If a traveller returns a positive LFT test, the medical facility alerts Public Health, and the person is then required to take a confirmatory PCR test at one of three locations on island.
Once the test has been confirmed, COVID-positive vaccinated individuals must isolate for six days and get a PCR test on day 7.
Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated positives must isolate for nine days, with a negative PCR test required on day 10 to exit isolation.
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Sounds like more money for the testing locations versus logic. And a waste of visitors’ time – I would choose to go elsewhere.
This is comical now. I get it, do a test to come in. The rest is nonsense now.
No arguing this. It’s endemic. It’s over.
What nonsense. What kind of vacation would this be?
Even Dr Fauci admitted last week that everyone everywhere will be exposed to the Omicron variant in the next 8 weeks. The unvaccinated will bear the burden of severe disease, the vaccinated and young will be fine.
The headline for Tourist coming here is misleading. It is basically 4 test in 6 days.
Unless something has changed, day “zero” is the day before /day of your flight to Cayman and is a required test to gain entry.
Only Government could come up with such an anti Tourist proposal and call it an advantage to come visit our Islands.
What is the point? I think if you are negative on day -1, day 2, and day 5, then you probably caught it from the hotel staff or locally on island. Are you going to make them test? Or just the paying tourist?
Cut it down to a day 5 test and call it fair.
Won’t be coming for a vacation specifically because of this. Neither will anyone else.
We traveled to GC in November. Did the required Tests. Worst experience was Travelcayman not giving permission to travel. After 2 $125 phone calls got that straightened out (the day before we were to travel).
The LFT tests we did at the Kimpton did put a crimp on our leisure schedule but we managed to enjoy the beach, fishing, diving, and one memorable dinner out.
Leaving GC was somewhat troubling due to Jet Blue requiring ( after arriving at the airport) we certify online that we had followed all the health protocols. If you didn’t have a phone and an attendant prodding you to answer the prompts properly we would have missed the flight.
My take on COVID is that eventually we will all get it. Best to arm yourselves with whatever prevents serious health consequences from getting it. That includes vaccinations and boosters.
I had COVID in September 2020. Toughed it out over two weeks. When available in 2021 I got two shots of vaccine and subsequently the booster. Three weeks ago got COVID again. Probably Omnicron. Symptoms similar to a cold mild flu.
I truly believe the governments of US and Cayman try to protect the populations as best they can but their policies get stretched and pulled by the political whims of those that make up the governments. The message is not clear.
All businesses were impacted by COVID. Some profited many didn’t.
The government needs to better balance the negative impact of making travel to Cayman less onerous against the health impact of COVID.
This is a joke. It’s actually 4 as another one is needed to enter the island. 5 if you are going to the sister islands (my home is on LC). As I said many times on other forums, massive testing is an obsolete, useless approach with the Omicron strain. And treating travellers like garbage is an obsolete approach against human rights.
I’m all for tests that make sense but all this sure doesn’t. We should have dropped mandatory LFT’s for pre-tested visitors with phase 5. The Cayman Compass just headline below this story reads “UK DROPS PRE-TESTING REQUIREMENT FOR FULLY VACCINATED TRAVELERS” .. How can we be tripping over ourselves with tests on -1, 2, 5, 7 when the Government of England is two steps ahead of us and not even requiring PCR’s to enter? What’s different here?
And that’s why we haven’t tried to visit Cayman this year. Think of it: between my wife and I, that’s 6 LFT’s, each one of which requires us to interrupt our vacation to get it. That’s on top of the arrival PCR test, the departure test, and another entering Canada. That’s a total of 9 each, or 18 chances to have a false positive, any one of which will ruin our vacation. Why take the risk? By the way, if you’re wondering why Air Canada and other airlines are cancelling their service to GCM, its a good bet that its because nobody’s booking seats because of these requirements.
The inmates are running the asylum.
Cayman, still drinking the Fauci Kool-Aid! Just went to the Bahamas its a pleasure there!
So a family of four traveling to CAYMAN are going to spend an extra $300 just on Covid testing to return to the US/leave the country?… What a joke, this is based off of absolutely zero science, as a physician this is completely absurd. My vacation will be elsewhere… And the sad thing is I even own a place in Grand Cayman. I just cannot afford to be stuck in CAYMAN if by chance I am get asymptomatic positive test
Government needs to be reading these replies, which are all on point.
As of Feb 4th all tourists including Caymanians flying to the UK will not need a Covid test before departure nor a Covid test after arrival . Common sense prevails at least there.
How many countries in our world today require travelers to take 3 additional Covid tests once they have arrived at their destination besides Grand Cayman? Bermuda!
Families will not return to GC until these onerous expensive tests are not required. Travelers want to vacation/holiday not worry about finding or taking tests. Or worry about a possible positive result. Covid is still not going away.
Want tourists back ……..or not? You choose.
We own and have vacationed in Grand Cayman for 22 straight years. Did not go the last two years. We miss the people the restaurants and the beaches. We will not be back till all the testing is gone. We were told get three shots and your good to go. The goal posts keep moving and not in a good way.