Deputy Premier Chris Saunders tests positive for COVID

Deputy Premier Chris Saunders has tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently in isolation, a government statement confirmed Monday.

Saunders, who is also the minister for finance and economic development and minister for border control and labour, is showing COVID symptoms, but he is continuing to carry out his duties remotely, the statement said.

“I am symptomatic, but with relatively mild symptoms, and look forward to testing negative and being released from quarantine once recovered,” Saunders said in the brief statement. “I’d like to urge everyone to continue practicing COVID safety measures and to have their vaccinations up to date, as the virus is still within our community and can be dangerous to those with serious underlying health conditions.”

The deputy premier said he had been feeling unwell over the weekend and tested positive via a lateral flow test (LFT).

“This result was later confirmed by a PCR test. I am currently in isolation and working remotely. My wife and son have tested negative thus far and will continue to test daily via LFT. I’d like to thank everyone for their well wishes and expressions of support,” he added.

He planned to attend caucus Monday, 25 April, and Cabinet on Tuesday via teleconference, the statement added.

As of Monday morning Public Health said there were 895 estimated active cases of COVID-19 in the Cayman Islands.

A total of 186 cases were recorded between Friday and Sunday.

Six individuals are currently hospitalised for COVID-19-related causes, three of whom are unvaccinated, and the seven-day rolling average of new daily cases as of 25 April is 68.

On the Sister Islands, nine new cases were reported, bringing total cases there since the beginning of the pandemic to 702.

Meanwhile Governor Martyn Roper returned to his office Monday after having been cleared from isolation, he said in a post on his official Facebook page.

Roper announced last week that he and his wife Lissie had tested positive for COVID-19 and were isolating.

Roper said in his post that he was “delighted to say that both Lissie and I were released from isolation over the weekend. I was back at my desk this morning.”

He thanked the Health Services Authority and all at Public Health for their support during the couple’s isolation.

“They continue to do an excellent job keeping our community safe from covid. Many thanks for all the kind wishes and messages over the last week or so. We are both fully recovered and feeling fine. I enjoyed getting back on the beach for my daily run! Please continue to follow Public Health guidance and get your booster if you are eligible and have not yet had it,” Roper said in his post.