Home Local COVID spike prompts Pirates Week postponement

Pirates 1 — The pirates will have to stay out at sea a little longer.

COVID spike prompts Pirates Week postponement

9 November 2021

Cayman’s signature festival, Pirates Week, has been postponed due to the continuing rise of local COVID-19 cases.

In a brief notice, days ahead of the anticipated event, the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage (MYSCH), along with the Pirates Week Office, announced the decision not to go ahead with the majority of the planned festivities.

“November’s Pirates Week 2021 landing, parade and district day activities have been postponed due to safety concerns with the ongoing community spread of Covid-19,” the notice stated.

This is the second year that the event has had to adapt due to the pandemic.

Last year, the Grand Cayman festivities were first postponed due to inclement weather that had been predicted ahead of the weekend. A pared-back schedule of events was held later in the month.

This time around, the jump in local cases prompted the decision to postpone.

On Tuesday, the Health Ministry announced Cayman’s active COVID-19 cases had reached a new high of 2,118, as a record 669 new community cases were logged by Public Health from 8am Friday (5 Nov.) to 8am Monday (8 Nov.).

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The ministry’s postponement notice also added that discussions are underway regarding possible firework displays in various districts. The details, times and dates of which are to be confirmed.

While the district day events will not move ahead, the Ministry said organisers have confirmed that the 41st Pirates Week 5k Sea Swim will still take place on Saturday, 13 Nov. at Governor’s Beach.

The race starts at 7am with registration opening from 6am.