Pool service, landscaping, car wash among businesses that can reopen

New regulations governing Cayman’s COVID-19 lockdown, which were published in the Government Gazette Friday, outline what types of businesses will be allowed to reopen from next week.

The Prevention, Control and Suppression of COVID-19 Regulations, 2020, which cover the first phase of the reopening of the islands’ economy, encompass a two-week period, beginning on Monday, 4 May.

According to the regulations, such businesses as pool service and maintenance, landscaping and gardening, and mobile car washing can resume operation once they are given an official exemption by government.

Although pools can be serviced, people are still not allowed to use pools at stratas or residential complexes, or public pools, across the islands.

Retail stores will be allowed to reopen, but only for the delivery of goods. Car dealerships can also reopen but only to provide delivery services, and mobile tyre-repair businesses can also operate.

In addition, the times when food and groceries can be delivered have been changed in the new regulations. Restaurants and stores can deliver food until 10pm; and customers can travel to restaurants to pick up meals as well as use drive-throughs until 7pm.

Among the newly exempted workers are attorneys-at-law who need to travel to represent their clients; and those who practise pain management and treatment for chronic pain.

Also added to the exempted businesses list are people involved in agriculture and food production; emergency veterinary services; pet groomers; postal workers and parcel-courier services; those involved in the distribution of school supplies at educational institutions; and laundromat services, for collection and delivery.

Premier Alden McLaughlin, speaking at Friday’s daily COVID-19 briefing, said the amended regulations were part of government’s phased approach of reopening the local economy while continuing to suppress the spread of coronavirus on the islands.

Holding up a chart at the briefing, he described the five levels of suppression measures that Cayman is undertaking. The islands have been in ‘Level 5’ – maximum suppression – since 24 March when the hard curfew was introduced, he said. Now, the next step involves moving in ‘Level 4′ – high suppression.

The other three levels are moderate, minimal and all clear.

He acknowledged that despite just one new positive case, out of 392 tests, being reported on Friday, it was too early “for us to relax and say ‘we’re good’.”

He said relaxing the existing regulations would mean that an additional 6,000 workers would be considered to be exempted staff.

Civil servants who have been designated by the chief officer of the Portfolio of the
Civil Service are also exempt for the purposes of performing their official duties. Governor Martyn Roper, speaking at Friday’s daily press briefing, said, however, that the status quo was being retained with regards to civil servants attending work, for the time being.

The next phase of the easing of restrictions is expected to begin on 18 May, depending on how the first phase goes and whether the encouragingly low numbers of new COVID-19 cases continue, McLaughlin said.

The premier also addressed operating times for businesses that can either open by Monday or which, like post offices, have already reopened. Money-remittance businesses will be allowed to operate at any time from 6am to 7pm, but will need to receive permission from the competent authority by writing to [email protected].

Post offices can be open from 6am to 7pm; and retail banks, building societies and credit unions can be open from 9am to 4pm. They will operate on the allotted alphabet day system.

The government spent much of Thursday putting the final touches on the new regulations, even cancelling that day’s COVID-19 briefing to give Cabinet enough time to finalise the document.

However, under the new regulations, beaches will remain closed, and no construction sites or hardware stores can reopen.

See the full regulations here.