People in isolation who are still COVID-19 positive in their exit tests will have a shorter time to wait to be retested under a new screening regime announced by Public Health on Wednesday.
As part of the new plan, the department is also launching an online platform for individuals to check their eligibility for isolation release when they test positive on an exit PCR.
The new guidelines apply only to people who have completed their full isolation period, are asymptomatic, and are within certain CT values.
CT value stands for ‘cycle threshold’ in a PCR test and reflects the amount of times a sample had to be multiplied before COVID could be detected. A CT value in the low, single digits represents an extremely high viral load, whereas a higher CT value of 30 or over, reflects a low viral load.
The new guidelines set out parameters for how long people in isolation will have to wait to undergo another PCR exit test, depending on their tests’ CT values and vaccination status.
The guidelines
CT values 32 or over (on exit test)
• Completed isolation period (seven days for vaccinated and 10 days for unvaccinated,
unvaccinated children isolate based on the vaccination status of parent/guardian)
• All CT values are 32 or over on an exit PCR test
• No symptoms for at least 24 hours (you may still have dry cough, loss of smell and taste,
runny nose)
Individuals who meet these criteria can submit an early release request to Public Health through this online form here or at www.hsa.ky/public-health. The form will require the uploading of the exit PCR result. Once the individuals receive an isolation release exit confirmation email from Public Health, no further action is required and they can leave isolation.
CT values 28-31.9 (on exit test)
• Those who receive CT values of 28-31.9 in their result should contact the Flu Hotline for further assessment ([email protected], 1-800-534-8600 or 947-3077)
CT values 27.9 and under (on exit test)
• Completed isolation period – seven days for vaccinated, 10 days for unvaccinated, and unvaccinated children isolate based on the vaccination status of their parent/guardian
• CT value of 25-27.9: Repeat PCR testing two days after your last PCR test.
• CT value 20-24.9: Repeat PCR testing four days after your last PCR test.
• CT value under 20: Contact the Flu Hotline for retesting date.
The retest date is counted from the date a person took their previous exit PCR test, rather than on the date they received their result. For example, if the isolation exit test was taken on 1 Feb., and the CT value is 25-27.9, the retest would be done on 3 Feb., (two days later).
For those who test negative on an exit PCR test, the lab result will serve as an isolation-release letter, so there is no longer a requirement to be officially released by Public Health.
According to Public Health’s statement on Wednesday, its new online platform will accept exit PCR results that are no older than seven days. Anyone who requires a letter for older results can use the previous request form on www.hsa.ky/public-health.
The department is advising anyone with questions regarding their CT values to contact the Flu Hotline on [email protected], 1-800-534-8600 or 947-3077.
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Well done Cayman for making a complicated process even more complicated. We must now qualify for the most ridiculous testing regime in the world. Stop this madness please !
The real kicker is that by importing tourists from the US (or anywhere else for that matter) they would likely drive DOWN their overall infection rate at this point. Total madness.
I think the CIG’s previous job was writing parking regulation signs in Manhattan.
What the heck is this? Does any single country in the world talk about CT values? Congratulations Cayman, you make no sense. The rest of the world is moving on with life as normal, and you are negotiating on CT values on a test that is scientifically proven to show DEAD virus up to 6 months after being contagious? Get some leadership.
I don’t even know what to say about this insanity. Let’s take an already confusing process, and add another level of pointless confusion.
Get rid of exit PCR testing. Who else in the civilized world requires a PCR to get out of quarantine?
Let me add that the US accepts negative LFT tests to enter the states but if you had the unfortunate experience of testing positive on the day 2/5/7 test in Cayman and were required to quarantine, CIG won’t allow you to leave the country without a negative PCR so many people continue to be stuck. Who in their right mind would want to come to Cayman?
And to think we were *this* close to buying a property in Cayman. Glad that didn’t happen.
Does the CIG sit around and try to think of ways to make everything awful for it’s citizens? I can’t for the life of me understand their policies in any other fashion. From the cruelty of not allowing people to see their children to this latest insane thing to everything else. They even closed the beaches and everyone knew from the start that exercise, sunshine (vitamin D) and fresh air are the best thing for a person physically and mentally – and that was BEFORE covid. What the heck is wrong with the people in charge?
If the Caymanians vote them back in, they get exactly what they deserve.
This is rather tiresome, and it is no surprise that some (many) people either locals, residents, expats or visitors alike believe this is very likely related to money “grabbing” by a group of individuals rather than public health itself. Obviously this is mere speculation and I am not pointing at anyone, specially taking in account that all in all health is a very serious issue.
But precisely just because of the importance of this matter (health) it makes a great excuse to impose unnecessary protocols from which the only beneficiary is the HSA and possibly some pharmaceutical which sells the LFT and labs that process the PCR – smells as if someone were on comission. Again, mere speculation. But this rumour, despite having different versions with the common denominator of “money grabbing” is widely spread. It won’t take me by surprise to see some “people” seating in front of a court of justice in a not too distant future regarding this matter.