This week’s increased number of COVID cases has fuelled a high demand for lateral flow tests, as well as prompted a significant uptick in PCR testing.
On Friday, there were long lines at both the Cayman Islands Hospital and Doctors Hospital COVID-19 testing stations. Cars stretched out to Walkers Road as people waited to use the drive-through testing facility at Doctors Hospital.
The increased demand for testing was sparked by this week’s COVID-19 results, which – at the last provided count (8am on Thursday) – stood at 646 active cases of the virus, the highest tally since the pandemic began last year.
From the beginning of the local outbreak in early September, up to this point, a total of 779 cases of community transmission have been recorded.
Increased demand for testing
Shomari Scott, chief business officer at Health City Cayman Islands, said at the East End hospital they have seen “a significant increase in both PCR testing (available in Camana Bay and Health City’s main campus in East End) as well as the demand for lateral flow tests, which we recently made available to the public”.
Where to get a COVID-19 PCR test
He said the hospital will have a fresh stock of the home tests available next week.
“However, as it is currently, we expect to have a few days of unavailability of test kits for sale, as the demand quickly outstripped our supply,” he said, adding that Health City was the first private healthcare provider to receive those tests and make them available to the public.
“[W]e will bring in significantly larger quantities moving forward and will judge demand to see if limits will be implemented,” he added.
At Hurley’s supermarket, one resident who opted not to give her name because of her job, said, “I’m surprised that this really happened to us… that we are having so many cases after taking so many precautions.”
“I think it should go across the board that everyone should be vaccinated. Everyone should be protected when they enter in the country and are travelling. Everyone should be protected,” she added.
Another, who asked to remain anonymous, shared the view “we just have to prepare and take the necessary steps and get the vaccine. When you vaccinated you are more conscious you feel better and just do as protocol states.”
Test supplies limited
As the public awaits the latest COVID-19 figures, anxiety is growing. While many people are looking to take PCR tests, there has also been a drastic increase in those seeking to buy lateral flow tests. These home testing kits have been disappearing from local shelves at both pharmacies and supermarkets.
Over at Hurley’s, managing director Randy Merren said they sold out of the tests within two days of advertising them, and the demand continues to grow.
“We are out of stock and have ordered more that we hope will arrive next Tuesday or Wednesday. We bought 2,000 units, and have been [allotted] 2,000 from Bluewater Medical, our supplier, once they arrive,” he said via email following queries from the Cayman Compass Friday.
At Foster’s Camana Bay, shelves were also empty and a sign was posted saying, “Sorry Home COVID (lateral flow tests) Tests currently out of stock.”
Julian Foster, senior marketing manager at Foster’s, said their stocks were depleted quickly.
“We’ve had a few orders come in and all have sold out very quickly. We have another order coming in next week, and we will implement product limits of 10 tests per person for the time being. Once we’re able to secure more vendors for the product, and have a steady supply coming in, we’ll lift the limits,” Foster said in an emailed response to the Compass Friday afternoon.
The Compass has reached out to Kirk Market for comment on the supply situation, and we are awaiting a reply.
Merren said there are no plans to put purchase limits on tests at this time “but that may change”.
He stressed that customer and staff safety is the top priority.
“We are working closely with our suppliers to get more tests in stock and make sure that the community has access to these. The team at Hurley’s Marketplace understands the importance of reducing community transmission that is why we have introduced protocols to ensure our staff have access to tests if needed.
“We are happy to see that the community is doing their part by purchasing the tests and if we all work together we can reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the Cayman Islands,” he added.
Checks with local pharmacies also showed supplies of the flow tests were either low or out of stock.
At both of Health Care Pharmacy’s locations, the tests had sold out and a staff member confirmed, “They were gone so fast.”
A “cautious order of the tests” was initially made because they were not sure of the demand, but more tests will be arriving within the next couple of days, the staff member said.
Other pharmacies on island reported a similar demand.
At Be Well Pharmacy, their supply was gone within a day and they, too, were awaiting more supplies.
“Every five minutes the phone is ringing with someone looking for tests,” a staff member said.
Jordan Stubblefield, director at Blue Water Medical Supplies, said the demand for the test “has gone up drastically”.
“We have 800K tests in production and on the way to the island. Shipping and logistics are so difficult to schedule along with production from [the] factory, but the good news is, the tests are secured as we have been working around the clock to help Cayman get what it needs,” he said.
Scott said Health City is working with Public Health and the Health Services Authority “to help in any way possible”.
However, he said, lateral flow testing will be a key component to “living with COVID”.
“These tests help with detecting positives and ruling out negatives and can prevent large populations of people being in isolation as direct contacts of someone who has tested positive. People are able to test daily and be cleared to return to work and school, minimising time away from these important activities. The more knowledge we have about the extent of any spread in our community, the better we are able to keep each other safe,” he added.
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