Topic: coronavirus
108 days: Inside Cayman’s COVID-19 response
The National Emergency Operation Centre has been the central organ coordinating Cayman’s COVID-19 response for 108 days and has since been deactivated. The Cayman Compass takes a look inside the operations of the entity behind the response.
Lee: Much to learn about antibody tests
Health experts still do not know if having antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19 can protect someone from getting infected again or how long such protection might last.
Committee set up to help open Cayman’s borders
Premier Alden McLaughlin announced Friday that Cayman has set up a ‘Reopening of Borders Committee’, consisting of 10 government agencies and ministries to work on allowing international tourists to return to the islands.
Staycations boom provides boost for struggling tourism industry
Staycations are starting to sell out across Cayman as island residents shake off months of lockdown and opt for holidays at home.
No new COVID-19 cases as encouraging results trend continues
There were no new positive cases of the coronavirus in the latest batch of test results continuing an encouraging trend which has seen only 3 cases out of nearly 3,000 tests over the past week.
Summer camps and daycares to open 5 July
Schools and daycare facilities will begin reopening on 5 July, as Cayman moves into Suppression Level 2 of the COVID-19 crisis. Eased public health protocol, announced by Premier Alden McLaughlin on 17 June, will allow tutoring centres, preschools, summer camps and bible schools to receive children in person.
One new COVID-19 case reported
The latest coronavirus test results show that Cayman has one new case of COVID-19, Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee said in a statement Wednesday.
No new COVID-19 cases reported
Cayman has no new cases of COVID-19, Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee announced today.
From trapping roosters to trusting in God and charity
From the very early days of the coronavirus crisis, Cayman’s elders were identified as the highest-risk group.
“The seniors were very concerned,” says Jennifer West,...
COVID-19 prompts increased use of plastics
While the COVID-19 lockdown has led to a reduction in fuel emissions with fewer cars on the road, local health protocols have increased the use of plastics.
Ask the Experts: Health in the time of COVID-19
Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Samuel Williams-Rodriguez and Health Services Authority CEO Lizzette Yearwood join host Kevin Morales...
VSL explained: What is value of a statistical life?
It’s an uncomfortable question – how much is your life worth? Many would say you can't put a value on human life.
Yet, mathematically speaking, economists around the world do it every day.
Calculating value of a life presents moral dilemma
While calculating a value of statistical life figure can assist with cost-benefit analysis, questions loom over the morality of such calculations.
Money or life? The complex moral equation of balancing lives and the economy
Let’s not bury the lead – statistically speaking and according to our non-scientific calculations, the value of the lives potentially saved by a government’s...
No new COVID cases reported
The latest test results for COVID-19 show no new cases among 461 tests carried out since Friday afternoon.
Postal Service extends operations
The Postal Service has said it will be extending its opening days as of next week.
COVID-19 antibody tests begin at Cayman Islands Hospital
The first COVID-19 antibody tests at Cayman Islands Hospital were conducted Friday morning, with frontline healthcare workers taking priority.
Churches welcome reopening with praise and precautions
After three months of lockdown, local churches will be allowed to reopen their doors on Sunday for worship as Cayman enters Level 2 (minimal suppression) on government’s COVID-19 control tier.
Divers prepare to go back underwater
Dive sites across Grand Cayman will be open for the first time in almost three months on Sunday, and the island’s dive operators are gearing up to welcome back customers.
Level 2 – Minimal suppression rules and regulations
Premier Alden McLaughlin on Wednesday outlined a series of plans to ease restrictions related to Cayman's COVID-19 suppression measures.
R3 donates $346,000 to target hunger and education challenges
The private sector-led R3 Foundation has released $346,000 of grant funding to grassroots organisations targeting hunger and education needs in the community.
Free masks ready for pick-up
Reusable cloth masks issued by the government will be available for pick-up over the next week.
Premier hails COVID-19 heroes as hard curfew lifted
Premier Alden McLaughlin hailed the heroes of Cayman's COVID-19 response, saying the island had avoided the most tragic consequences of the deadly virus.
He said...
COVID-19 brings new pollution challenge
With face masks now mandatory in many indoor areas during the COVID-19 crisis, the careless dumping of these disposable items has become the latest...
Schools to reopen in September
Cayman’s schools are set to reopen in September, Premier Alden McLaughlin confirmed Wednesday.
No new cases of COVID-19 for second straight day
For a second consecutive day Cayman has recorded no new cases of COVID-19.
Premier: Border reopening proving ‘great challenge’
Government continues to maintain 1 Sept. as the date to reopen Cayman's borders to international travellers, while acknowledging the process poses a 'great challenge'.
Stem cell study aims to fight the COVID-19 ‘storm’
Through a new stem cell treatment, Dr. Javier Perez says doctors at Baptist Health and Miami Cancer Institute hope to control the magnitude of COVID-19 ‘storms’ and mitigate the virus’s effects in the most severely affected patients.
Ritz boss: ‘Risks must be taken on road to recovery’
The Cayman Islands may have to take some ‘calculated risks’ to bring tourists back to the destination.
That’s the verdict of Marc Langevin, general manager of the islands’ biggest resort, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.
Public Accounts Committee questions fees for pension withdrawals
Members of the Public Accounts Committee criticised pension providers on Wednesday for charging extra fees for emergency pension withdrawals on top of the regular administrative fees they are collecting every year.
Gov’t unveils plans to continue easing restrictions
It's a three-part plan beginning 21 June, when hard curfew and the alphabet system will be a thing of the past, beach restrictions fall away and scuba diving will be allowed.
Nicaraguan borders remain closed, but some nationals allowed in
Stranded Nicaraguan residents in Cayman are hopeful they may be able to return home soon, as their government has begun accepting a select few of its residents back across its border.
Report calls for ‘green stimulus’ to drive post-COVID-19 recovery
Environmental watchdogs are calling on government to "seize the moment" and create a greener post-COVID Cayman.
Virtual school-leaving ceremony for East End Primary
Family, teachers and well-wishers gathered over Zoom on Tuesday morning to help 13 East End Primary students celebrate leaving school.
6 new confirmed COVID-19 cases reported
Testing carried out over the public-holiday weekend revealed six new COVID-19 cases, according to Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee.
Breakthrough on evacuation flight for stranded Indian community
The Governor’s Office believes it has made a breakthrough that could allow hundreds of stranded Indian nationals to return to their home country in early July.
New sanitation guidelines for tourism industry published
New sanitation guidelines have been issued for businesses within the tourism industry to ensure the safety of visitors to local shores and guard against the spread of COVID-19.
RBC Royal Bank announces second phase of relief options
RBC Royal Bank is offering financial-relief options for its personal-banking clients impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with measures including payment deferrals on auto and instalment loans, as well as mortgages.
Three pregnant women among those who beat COVID-19
Three pregnant women were among Cayman’s positive COVID-19 cases, according to statistical data released by Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee.
Government’s COVID-19 spending: Where the money has gone
Government had allocated almost $30 million in public funds by the end of May to help fight COVID-19. Here is where it has gone...
Special constable’s career runs from Hurricane Ivan to COVID-19
It was in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan that Craig Coe first signed up to be a volunteer police officer.
Now, 16 years later, he has found himself at the centre of another national emergency as one of the most experienced officers in the Special Constabulary.
Reserve force helped solve police manpower shortages
As the coronavirus crisis took over the Cayman Islands in early March, police found themselves facing a manpower shortage. Officers from across the uniformed services left their day jobs and stepped up to fill th breach.
Police: Crime drops by a third during COVID-19 crisis
Overall crime in the Cayman Islands fell by nearly a third while COVID-19 hard and soft curfew restrictions were in place between the last week of March and the end of May, according to statistics released Friday by police.
Gov’t relaunching Ready2Work to retrain Caymanians
The government is relaunching its 'Ready2Work' programme in an effort to prepare and train Caymanians who have lost jobs in the tourism sector to work in different industries.
Gov’t issues RFP for $500M line of credit
Government has issued a request for proposal for a standby line of credit of $500 million which it intends to use as a contingency plan should its reserves be significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Easing of restrictions increasingly likely as 1 new COVID case reported
One person has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 187.
Tourism accommodations pay out millions in refunds
Cayman’s accommodation sector seemed to be on track for another profitable year at the start of 2020, but this came to a screeching halt with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last three months, those within the industry say they have refunded millions of dollars in rental bookings.
Let overseas students self-isolate at Christmas
While for the most part I have been in agreement with how everything has been handled during this pandemic, I have recently found myself...
How to fish, swim and dine under the new COVID-19 regulations
A look at the latest regulations.
Six new COVID cases reported
Cayman has six new positive COVID-19 cases, Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee reported on Thursday.
Local business launches contest to honour front-line workers
Luxury Cayman Villas has launched a contest to acknowledge and honour frontline workers.
HSA to begin antibody testing this week
The Health Services Authority plans to commence antibody testing this week.
Four new COVID-19 cases reported
Cayman’s COVID-19 cases have increased by four, according to the latest test results released by Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee on Wednesday.
Vampt Motors reports one case of COVID-19
A staff member at Vampt Motors has tested positive for coronavirus, the company stated on Wednesday.
2,700 unemployed tourism workers apply for help
Nearly 3,000 people left without work amid the collapse of the tourism industry have applied for a stipend from government. They are being offered $1,000 a month for up to three months to help get them through the lean period ahead.
Premier: Full lifting of local COVID restrictions weeks away
Virtually all restrictions on movement, business and gathering could be lifted within a few weeks if COVID-19 testing results remain encouraging, Premier Alden McLaughlin...
Governor assures Nicaraguans: ‘We’re doing all we can’
Under the fruit trees, Governor Martyn Roper on Monday sat and listened to the stories of hardship and despair among Cayman’s Nicaraguan community. The governor told the group of stranded worker, who have been without income for ten weeks, that he is doing his best to arrange an evacuation flight despite the country's borders being closed.
7 new COVID cases reported
Cayman has seven new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number to 171, Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee stated in a press release Monday.
Beauty salon owners keep fingers crossed for reopening
As Cayman’s domestic economy slowly returns to a level of normalcy, those in the personal services industry, like beauty salons, barbers and aestheticians, say they are hopeful they will be given the green light to get back to work this month.
Health City hopeful over ‘immunity’ transfusions
Blood-plasma transfusions could soon be used to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients, doctors at Health City Cayman Islands believe.
Cayman’s restaurants reopen for outdoor service
Cayman Islands residents ventured out to restaurants and bars on Sunday for the first time since coronavirus lockdown measures began in March.
Tourism Recovery: Caribbean islands begin to welcome back visitors
Around the region, many countries are still facing COVID-19 challenges, including the damage to the economies of the impacted islands. This week, Antigua and Barbuda reopened its borders to international travel, the first in a string of Caribbean countries looking to restart the region’s most significant industry.
High-speed testing could allow tourists to return
High-speed COVID-19 testing could be the ‘game changer’ that potentially allows Cayman to open its borders to tourists before the end of the year, government leaders believe.
Three-month stipend for unemployed tourism workers
Retraining out-of-work Caymanians to play a bigger role in the stayover tourism industry will be part of the focus of a new three-year plan for the stricken sector. A 3-month stipend and an increase in scholarship funding are also being put in place to ease the transition.
4 new COVID cases reported as bars/restaurants prepare to open
Four new cases of COVID-19 were reported Friday as Cayman's bars and restaurants prepare to open their doors on Sunday for the first time since March.
4 new COVID-19 cases reported
Cayman’s COVID-19 cases have increased by four taking the national tally to 160, according the latest report from Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee.
5 new positive results reported
Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee announced Wednesday that Cayman has five new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the islands' total number to 156.
Survey kicks off R3 Cayman Foundation’s grant process
R3 Cayman Foundation, a new non-profit organisation set up to help Cayman respond to the COVID-19 outbreak and other crises, has launched a survey to help determine the scope of assistance needed.
Passengers arriving in UK must self-isolate for 2 weeks
Passengers travelling to the United Kingdom on next week's British Airways evacuation flight will have to self-isolate for 14 days after they land.
Butterfield offers optional three-month loan deferral
Butterfield Bank will provide existing clients in good standing who have personal loans and mortgages with the option of deferring payments for another three months.
More than 1,000 jobless tourism workers register with government
More than 1,000 Caymanian tourism workers have applied to the government for assistance after losing their jobs in the industry, Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell said in a statement Wednesday.
Butterfield staffer tests positive for COVID-19
One of Butterfield Bank's employees has tested positive for COVID-19, the bank stated in a press release on Tuesday evening.
