Suspected Omicron cases cross 1,000 mark

Cayman’s suspected Omicron cases crossed the 1,000 mark, however confirmed cases of the variant still remain at 89, according to interim Chief Medical Officer Dr. Autilia Newton’s latest COVID-19 report released Friday night.

Newton said the number of probable Omicron cases reached 1,073 on Friday, 7 Jan., and the number of reported active cases of COVID-19 stood at 3,470. Of these, 3,221 are linked to community transmission.

The gap between confirmed and suspected Omicron cases is expected to narrow as further results from genomic sequencing, which is ongoing, are released.

The variant is now raging globally, pushing COVID-19 figures to record highs and fueling fresh restrictions around the world.

It was identified in Cayman in November.

World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that while the variant appeared to be a “less severe” disease than the Delta variant, it should not be categorised as “mild”.

This week, Cayman’s overall COVID-19 cases crossed the 10,000 mark.

Local transmission cases increase

On Friday, Newton confirmed 432 new cases of COVID-19, 403 of which came from the community and 29 among travellers.

Positive cases were reported among residents and staff at Maple House – a residential home for adults with special needs and/or disabilities – through routine testing, the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) confirmed Saturday.

“Working collaboratively with Public Health and the Ministry, DCFS has enacted its contingency plans for all individuals testing positive to reside separately in isolation at another location, thereby enabling staff to continue to care for residents during their quarantine period,” DCFS said in its statement.

The Cayman Compass has requested further details on the number of cases and the conditions of those affected. We are awaiting a response.

DCFS said the ministry will continue to provide all resources to support “staff and the residents of Government’s care homes, in aiding to prevent mortality and reduce morbidity from this highly contagious disease”.

Newton said four COVID-19 patients were hospitalised in the Cayman Islands as of Friday night, one of whom was a new admission during this period.  

“The percentage of the Cayman Islands population who are reported COVID positive currently stands at 4.88 percent. The total number of cases recorded in the Cayman Islands since the start of the pandemic stood at 10,618 at the same time,” the report stated.  

Public Health reported 1,007 PCR tests were conducted since Thursday, 6 Jan., of which 301 were positive; 131 positive lateral flow tests (LFTs) were also reported during this period.

Cases on the Sister Islands continued to increase, as a further 33 new cases were reported Friday.

To date, there have been 214 total cases recorded in the Sister Islands, with 128 having recovered.

Out of the total number of cases in the Sister Islands, 132 were fully vaccinated, seven were partially vaccinated, and 75 were unvaccinated.

Vaccinations continue to move forward as new stats show 58,965 people or 83% of an estimated 71,106 population had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, 57,403 individuals (80%) had completed the two-dose course.

Additionally, 17,784 people, representing 25% of the total estimated population, had received a third or booster dose up to that point.