The Department of Education Services issued a statement Wednesday evening denying a rumour circulating through a WhatsApp message of a case of coronavirus being found at the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre (CIFEC).
The DES added that government schools remain open and fully operational despite false information being circulated.
CIFEC Director Delores Thompson said in the statement, “Rest assured that students and parents would have been informed if any member of CIFEC staff was being isolated, quarantined or tested for coronavirus. The safety of staff and students is of utmost importance to us, and should the current situation change we will update everyone.”
Premier Alden McLaughlin said the rumour had caused alarm in the community and the matter had been reported to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.
He pointed out that it was a criminal offence to deliberately create fear and alarm, and said the WhatsApp voice message that circulated throughout Cayman on Wednesday had “upset many people”.
“These are gravely serious times,” he said. “This kind of behaviour is not merely mischievous, it is downright evil. It cannot be allowed to continue and has been reported to the police.”
In the DES statement, the department’s acting director, Tammy Hopkins, said all schools had received coronavirus response procedures “as a precautionary measure and will adhere to these procedures to ensure the well-being of students and staff. We are committed to keeping parents, guardians and the wider public well-informed of any developments as they arise.”
“As educators, we are also child-care practitioners, therefore we take this matter very seriously as our priority is always what is best for our students, including their health and safety,” she added.
She appealed to members of the public “to desist from spreading unsubstantiated information that will only incite fear and panic among the general population. We must all strive to act responsibly while we remain vigilant and proactive as concerned citizens.”
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