The Cayman Islands border will reopen on 20 Nov., Premier Wayne Panton announced Friday afternoon.
At that point, all quarantine requirements will be lifted for most vaccinated travellers entering the jurisdiction as the island moves to Phase 4 of government’s reopening plan.
The much-anticipated announcement, made at a government press briefing, paves the way for visitors to return to the islands.
There are still several restrictions in place, including testing requirements for arriving passengers. But the removal of quarantine is considered key to allowing tourism to resume. As it stands, children – who cannot be vaccinated – will not be able to come to the islands without quarantining, but Panton said this was being kept under consideration.
He said, “While we’ve had some visitors during the recent months, our tourism partners have always made it very clear that the real economic turnaround will come with the removal of quarantine for vaccinated travellers.
“This now gives us the opportunity as a country to rebuild our reputation, rebuild our world-class tourism destination and get many families and businesses back to work.”
He said Cayman was on the cusp of reaching the 80% vaccination target and he expects that threshold will be reached before 20 Nov.
Panton added that the government was moving forward cautiously with the health of the community as the number one priority.
“COVID-19 will be with us for the foreseeable future. We know there’s no better time than now to continue with our reopening plan,” he said.
“We’ve looked at this issue every which way. We don’t see… a better time to do this. So this is our time. This is the moment that the country will go forward and succeed.”
Tourism minister targets recovery
Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan confirmed that visitors will still be required to show proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival and proof of vaccination.
With those conditions met, he said, “visitors will be allowed to head straight to their hotels to begin enjoying all that the Cayman Islands vacations have to offer.”
Bryan acknowledged that it had been a “long and difficult year” for tourism but highlighted the announcement of the reopening date and the return of commercial air services, which began last Saturday, as the beginning of the recovery.
“There are now four airlines with confirmed routes to the Cayman Islands, namely, British Airways, JetBlue, Air Canada and Cayman Airways. I thank these airlines for the confidence that they are showing in the government’s reopening strategy, and I hope that following today’s announcement, the other international carriers will consider bringing their return dates forward in line with the government’s commitment to reopening.”
Bryan said the ministry and department of tourism would continue to work with the private sector to fine-tune preparations to welcome back visitors.
As the tourism industry prepares for a “new reality of living with COVID”, he said vaccination levels in the industry were extremely high, mask mandates would be in place and that training was taking place to ensure safe interactions with visitors.
Lateral flow tests to be deployed
Health Minister Sabrina Turner said 29 additional staff had been hired to support the work of the Public Health Department.
She also revealed a $1 million budget to help support people who suffer financially after being forced to isolate because of COVID.
Turner said various modelling exercises of a potential COVID outbreak indicated Cayman was well equipped with enough beds and ventilators as well as medical personnel.
She said the ministry was “poised, prepared and funded” to procure further resources in case of a “surge scenario”.
Turner highlighted the arrival of rapid lateral flow tests as a “game changer” that was already helping to reduce the number of people in quarantine when a positive case is identified.
She said the Ministry of Education is in the process of implementing a policy for how the tests can be used to ensure continuity of learning. Turner said 20,000 tests are being made available to schools.
She said the tests would be distributed free of charge and would be a useful tool in the community alongside mask wearing, contact tracing and, where necessary, quarantine requirements to prevent the spread of the virus. Further details on how the tests will be used in the wider community are anticipated before reopening.
Deputy governor outlines plan
Deputy Governor Franz Manderson outlined some details of the plan designed to allow the country to reopen safely and not have to shut down again, something he said few countries in the world have achieved so far.
He said the Cayman Islands COVID-19 Critical Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan would seek to ensure there was no significant escalation in serious cases once quarantine requirements are removed.
Manderson said the plan would include 10 key categories including policies to ensure continuity of essential services, healthcare systems and educational institutions, among others.
He added there would also be procedures for managing cases at hotels.
Manderson said the plan would be made public and feedback invited.
He added, “We are now engaging with the private sector, the people who are going to help us make this magic happen.”
Panton said vaccinated travellers from countries where at least 60% of the population had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine would not be required to quarantine upon arrival in Cayman. Also, passengers from countries with less than a 60% inoculation rate but who can provide electronically verifiable documentation that they had been vaccinated can also forego quarantine.
He added that there would be a portal through which travellers can upload their vaccination documentation, which Customs and Border Control will review. If approved, the travellers will be issued with a travel certification.
The premier said more details of the specifics of the reopening plan would be released in the coming days.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee meanwhile confirmed 34 new cases of COVID-19 in the latest round of testing, comprising four travellers and 30 community cases, including 11 children.
Individuals in quarantine either because they have come into contact with community transmission cases or there is a positive case in their families, and who need assistance with groceries or other deliveries, are now being advised to contact a newly set up Isolation Support Team. Previously, they had been advised to contact the Flu Hotline for assistance.
Danielle Coleman, director of Hazard Management Cayman Islands, said the Flu Hotline had been “somewhat overwhelmed” by the number of calls it has received recently, as the numbers of people in isolation grew.
As a result, a new dedicated support line has been established, she said. It can be contacted on 946-3530 or 1-800-534-3530, or via email on [email protected].
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Will US CDC cards be acceptable as proof of vaccination?
“quarantine requirements will be lifted for most vaccinated travellers”
Here we go again.
MOST? MOST? Who are most?
So “SOME” vaccinated travelers will have to quarantine?
Pray tell – which ones? PLEASE don’t say unverified. Or anyone with only a CDC card.
What about unvaccinated Children? It’s a family island. Have we thought about families? There won’t be a meaningful opening here without a way to bring unvaccinated minors. I just had my Pfizer booster – 3rd shot was not as bad as the first two. Everyone should get the booster to help take the load away from Health services after opening. All you hold outs on the vaccine, you have your rights and I respect your freedom to exercise them, but like a smoker who ultimately gets cancer, don’t cry the blues to the community and local politicians if you wind-up on a ventilator. The vaccine will save you from getting really sick and there is no secret plot around vaccinations other than keeping you alive, so get Vaxxed and breathe — get Vaxxed and live.
What about the QR code requirements?
I was initially elated only to read the Government believes our minor children, who are not vaccine eligible, are potential dangerous super spreaders. If we can’t travel with our young children, we cannot go in and out of the Cayman. This is so upsetting.
So close, yet so far for us and so many other families with little kids.
Please let your instincts guide you to the right decision and allow ineligible children to follow their parent’s vaccination status, as is widely the standard in so many other countries!
PS our children are not dangerous, and we are not worried about them caching covid from Caymanians. If they were immunocompromised or diabetic, we would not travel with them until vaccinated.
This is progress but the devil is in the details, and details are missing. The major problem here is quarantine for unvaccinated children. This is a particular problem for children under 5, as they can not be vaccinated in the US. Since Cayman attracts many families. Quarantine will not be feasible for families with young children. Hopefully thought will be given to this, and promptly, before more time in lost.
In addition, what specific progress has been made to convince US airlines to fly to Cayman. Without frequent flights from AA, Delta and United, the reopening effort will fail. Cayman Airways does not have sufficient equipment to replace the canceled flights. Again, flight schedules need to be re-established quickly if reopening is to be successful.
So if you are not vaccinated you cannot enter the Caymans even with a negative PCR test? Or are you allowed to enter but have to quarantine? If so, for how long?
If you’re not vaccinated please stay home or go somewhere else.
Agreed! Get vaccinated!!
I feel so sorry for you, original inhabitants of Cayman. Not only is your Island being slowly taken from you, but now tourists and the revenue generated from them is clearly being considered more important than your safety.
We will be praying for you as you go through the reopening. Please stay safe, try to maintain your compassionate, caring, respectful attitudes. #Cayman Strong
Unvaccinated children are not included in the November 20 date. Panton said that at one point in the press briefing. He didn’t give a time frame for unvaxxed children to enter.
They said travelers from countries with 60% rate of the population having received at least one dose of a 2 vaccine series, qualify to submit their non-digital vaccine proof to a portal (don’t know if the portal has been created yet), then Cayman Border Control will check the vaccine card/proof and notify the traveler if the card/proof is accepted. Countries with less than 60% of the population having received 1 dose of vaccine will need to have verifiable digital proof. You might double check my info but I took notes during the press breifing and that is what I wrote down.
The US qualifies for submitting the CDC card to the CBC.
Bottom line is QR code required seems to be phased out for countries with 60% vaccination rate
So I an vaccinated and have the booster I am coming on Oct 31 so I have to quarantine but if I wait 3 weeks I don’t Makes no sense
Gutted you won’t let my children come – not their fault or responsibility to protect an adult.
There is surely a special case to be made for the families living abroad of Caymanians and other local residents, many of whom have been unable to reunite for nearly two years. Families with small children who cannot be vaccinated but with close family and other ties to the Islands are not “tourists” in the proper sense of the word but part of the wider Cayman diaspora. In practical terms they cannot come while quarantine applies. Even if the Government were to retain the restriction for tourists with no family links for a while longer, it is to be hoped that this special case merits the further consideration announced yesterday. And in time to plan for visits this Christmas.
Very well said.
It is certain that this re-opening plan will be a bit convoluted and confusing and will leave out some important details, just like the last one. I don’t trust this government to get it right and will be waiting for a while before I return. This government has destroyed my trust and there are plenty of other great beaches with nice weather that I can spend my money at while we wait and see. That cockamamie fantasy of the faked vacc cards to go on a super expensive island vacation was evidence that there are some people working in the govt. who are simply not competent and shouldn’t even be running a lemonade stand, much less making international travel policy. Like I said, I will come back someday, but not for a while.
Issue is still that children who can’t be vaccinated still have to quarantine. Hoping they drop that restriction soon, as we wanted family to come visit over Christmas, and this restriction still prevents that.
In my opinion the CIG still really has no plan. In the press briefing, the gov’t still couldn’t answer any questions, and when they did it was a vague response that provided no clear answer. Why would anyone book a trip here when there are a dozen other Islands in the Caribbean that are accepting the CDC card as well as accepting children. Aruba, TCI, St. Lucia, Antigua, etc. Barbados today just announced that post arrival test will be removed for vaccinated tourists. Like seriously, who in their right mind would book a trip here? You can’t even find clear entry requirements for Phase 4 on the CIG’s website. How are they going to announce a date without a plan? More specifically, who will even book a trip here with their children when here isn’t even. firm date for when children will be allowed in? Airlines like AA and United will NOT resume their service to these Islands until the government establishes clear entry protocols (Negative PCR within 72 hours and proof of vaccination-including CDC card). It is an operational and logistical nightmare to constantly schedule flights to GCM, only to have to cancel them because of the incompetency of the CIG. Especially with the labor shortage, airlines would benefit much more from flying to other Islands. There are many questions that people have that are booking trips here, and from the impression I got, the government itself couldn’t even answer them. Just on a side note, the children thing is pathetic, like seriously. Do better.
“Do better”. Indeed. I can’t wait to see the hoops and contortions that will have to be made to get to Cayman, while I relax on other islands who are “over it” and moving on with life.
My daughter and her husband who are both vaccinated and have an 8 month old and work in Canada are patiently waiting to see if the can come at Christmas with their unvaccinated baby who has already had two PCR tests in his short life. They are willing to have him PCR tested again so he can meet his Grandparents and Aunt and Uncle in Cayman. This will sadly be the second Holiday they will be sacrificing and unable to come home. So sad.