Topic: coronavirus
Bill mandating vaccines for work-permit holders heads to Parliament
Government is moving ahead with plans to mandate vaccinations for new and renewing work permit holders in the Cayman Islands.
Gov’t mandates masks indoors
The Cayman Islands government Thursday evening published regulations that include mask mandates, restrictions on scuba gear rental and public gatherings. Many of the regulations were not discussed or announced by lawmakers during a nearly two hour COVID-19 press conference Thursday at Government Administration Building.
COVID outbreak in check after 10,000 negative tests
More than 10,000 people have been screened for COVID-19 and tested negative in the past two weeks, health officials revealed Thursday.
COVID contact tracing focusses on close connections
Testing and isolation for COVID-19 in the community is focussing on ‘primary contacts’ of people who test positive.
Cayman’s doctors ‘ready’ for COVID impact
Cayman's medical fraternity is ready for a potential increase in cases of COVID-19, should that situation arise as a result of opening Cayman's borders.
Poll: Do you support mandatory vaccination?
As government continues its push to vaccinate Cayman’s population, should Cayman consider implementing mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations?
Police: File on COVID-positive airline passenger to go to DPP
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service says it plans to send a file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions shortly on a Cayman Airways passenger who entered the island despite testing positive for COVID-19 prior to departing from Jamaica.
No new community cases as first two people receive booster shots
Cayman's locally transmitted COVID-19 cases remained at 28 Wednesday morning as Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee confirmed there were no new local cases in the latest round of tests.
Unvaccinated Doctors Hospital COVID screener tests positive
Three more people have tested positive for COVID in community transmission cases, including an unvaccinated person working in the coronavirus screening service at Doctors Hospital, Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee confirmed Tuesday.
What is the risk to Cayman from a COVID outbreak?
Once the borders reopen to vaccinated travellers, Cayman Islands leaders are anticipating that some degree of exposure to COVID-19 is inevitable. But what exactly is the risk from COVID at this point?
Eight travellers test positive in latest COVID-19 results
Eight travellers have returned positive COVID-19 results, in tests conducted since Saturday.
Government issues new mask mandate for all public schools
The Ministry of Education has mandated the wearing of masks in all public school in almost all circumstances.
Another George Town Primary student tests positive for COVID-19
One more child has tested positive form the George Town Primary School community outbreak of COVID-19 said Chief Medical Officer Dr John Lee.
Governor: 11,000 new vaccines arriving this month
Governor Martyn Roper announced Friday that another 11,000 vaccines will be arriving on the 27 Sept. British Airways flight, which can be used for first and second doses, and for booster shots.
UK to remove pre-test for vaccinated travellers
United Kingdom Transport Minister Grant Shapps has announced to the removal of Britain's traffic list travel list and the introduction of a new two-tier plan which will ease travel requirements for the vaccinated passengers.
No new local COVID cases in most recent results
In an update on the latest COVID-19 results, Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee said there were no new local positive cases, but two travellers exiting from quarantine had returned positive results.
Editorial: It’s time to take the reopening leap
Cayman has done an exemplary job at every stage of this pandemic, but the days of prevention are now gone. COVID-19 is in our community, even with the borders closed. Handling the reopening is the final hurdle. We must have the courage to take that leap.
Ask the Experts: Cayman’s doctors talk vaccines & COVID-19
A selection of highlights from the roundtable discussion on vaccines and COVID-19.
WORC staffer isolated after COVID-19 contact
A Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman staff member has been placed in isolation and fellow co-workers sent on remote working and shift duties after contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Nine more George Town Primary School students test positive
Nine more children have tested positive in connection with the George Town Primary School outbreak, Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee said Thursday.
George Town Primary student and family flagged in suspected breach
Public Health has said a George Town Primary School student and family were placed in 14 day home isolation after a suspected breach in which three individuals traveled to Cayman Brac recently.
Mail Call: Face Masks
Editor-in-chief Kevin Morales explains why businesses can ask you to wear a face mask to enter their stores.
Prisons closed to public as staffer tests COVID-19 positive
The Cayman Islands Prison Service has closed the doors of Northward and Fairbanks to the public and restricted movement internally after a prisons employee tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday night.
Opposition continues calls for cooperation despite chilly response
Opposition legislators have renewed their offer of assistance to Premier Wayne Panton and his administration as Cayman navigates the reemergence of COVID-19.
Local COVID cases rise to 17
Cayman's locally transmitted COVID-19 cases have now crossed the double digit mark, to 17, as Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee confirmed that 10 people are now connected to the outbreak at George Town Primary School.
HSA confirms COVID-19 positive staffer
A staffer at Health Services Authority's East End Health Centre has tested positive for COVID-19 forcing the temporary closure of the facility.
COVID-19: What is the risk to children?
The Food and Drug Administration is yet to authorise a COVID-19 vaccine for children younger than 12, and paediatric COVID-19 cases have been rising.
Border reopening on hold as local COVID cases rise
Cayman is putting its border reopening plan on hold, as health officials announce that a total of eight people have contracted COVID-19 through community transmission.
George Town Primary parents concerned as COVID test results awaited
COVID-19 testing commenced on Tuesday for families, students and staff at George Town Primary School, following news of a student testing positive overnight.
Panton: No lockdown planned
Premier Wayne Panton, following confirmation of a George Town Primary School student testing positive for COVID-19, said in a live address to Cayman on Tuesday morning that his government has no plans at this time to implement a new lockdown,
BREAKING: Lockdown not considered following local cases
Premier Wayne Panton addresses the country following the recent announcement of a student testing positive for COVID-19 at George Town Primary School.
George Town Primary student tests positive for COVID
George Town Primary School will be closed on Tuesday following confirmation that one of its Year 6 students has tested positive for COVID-19.
16 travellers test positive for COVID
Cayman has recorded 16 new COVID-19 cases, three of which were detected at the end of their five-day quarantine period, Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee reported Monday evening.
7 alleged quarantine breaches reported over weekend
Travel Cayman, police and the Public Health Department are investigating seven suspected breaches of quarantine that were reported over the weekend.
Local COVID transmission prompts 401 first-time jabs on Friday
News of three cases of COVID-19 within the community have prompted long lines at the vaccination clinics on Friday.
Third local COVID case confirmed
Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee confirmed Friday that a third locally transmitted COVID-19 case has been detected, following contact tracing relating to two people who tested positive Thursday.
Lines at vaccine clinics signal increased uptake of jab
Since news broke of two positive COVID-19 cases within the community, there has been a marked increased in the number of residents seen queuing at vaccination clinics.
Local COVID transmission prompts panic buying
In scenes reminiscent of March 2020, shoppers have been flocking to local supermarkets to stock up on toilet roll, disinfectants and hand sanitiser, following news of two local transmission COVID-19 cases on Thursday.
Incoming COVID-positive traveller allowed to board Cayman Airways flight
A passenger who tested positive for COVID-19 in Jamaica was allowed to board a Cayman Airways flight and fly to Grand Cayman, the airline confirmed Thursday night.
UK regulator approves COVID booster shots
The approval by the British medical regulator of the Pfizer vaccine to be used as booster shots moves Cayman a step closer to offering boosters to local residents.
Two patients confirmed as positive local transmission COVID cases
Health officials have confirmed two cases of COVID-19 in Cayman involving local transmission.
Opposition makes U-turn on reopening, hits out at PACT plan
Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart has reversed his opinion on reopening Cayman’s borders, claiming conditions had changed.
COVID-19 vaccination schedule September 2021
The Public Health Department has published the latest schedule for the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for September 2021.
Suspected local transmission COVID case being probed
A local resident, along with first responders, has been isolated as the Health Services Authority investigates Cayman's first suspected community transmission COVID-19 case since last year.
Health minister: 52 quarantine breaches in August
Travel Cayman recorded 52 suspected breaches of quarantine last month, Health Minister Sabrina Turner said at a press briefing Wednesday.
Panton: 80% no longer hard target
Premier Wayne Panton has announced that his government will go ahead with phase 3 of the border-reopening plan on 9 Sept., but said that phase 4, when quarantine for securely verified vaccinated people is set to be scrapped, will be re-evaluated nearer the 14 Oct. date.
Government allocates another $28.5 million for COVID mitigation
Parliament’s Finance Committee approved an extra $28.5 million on Wednesday to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and pay for mitigation measures including testing.
Bryan: 5 airlines confirm readiness to return to Cayman
American, United, Southwest and Delta airlines, as well as British Airways which already operates repatriation flights, have applied to fly commercial routes to and from the Cayman Islands from October, according to Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan.
Survey: Side-effect concerns are top reason for not getting vaccinated
A survey into COVID-19 vaccination acceptance and reluctance around the Caribbean has indicated that concerns over side-effects is one of the main reasons why people are not getting vaccinated.
Quarantine breaches reported to police
Travel Cayman on Saturday confirmed that a number of alleged breaches of quarantine at private residences have occurred over the past two weeks. All the infractions were reported to authorities by members of the public.
Education minister: Why I waited so long to get vaccinated
Education Minister Juliana O'Connor-Connolly received her second COVID-19 vaccination last week, several months after her government colleagues rolled up their sleeves to get their jabs.
Gov’t moves 80% vaccination rate target date to 14 Oct.
The Cayman Islands government has revised the date for when it hopes the islands will reach the 80% vaccination rate, from 9 Sept. to 14 Oct.
Digital vaccination certs on horizon as HSA urges portal registration
The Health Services Authority is inviting vaccinated people to register on its MyHSA Patient Portal in preparation for the launch of local digital COVID-19 vaccination certificates.
Health officials considering COVID booster shots
As new data begins to demonstrate the waning effectiveness of COVID vaccines over time, health chiefs in Cayman are contemplating if and when booster shots will be required.
Health minister hopes FDA vaccine approval will allay fears
Health Minister Sabrina Turner says she hopes that the US Food and Drug Administration's approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will ease the fears of people who are refusing to be inoculated due to safety concerns.
US FDA grants full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday (August 23) gave full approval to the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTech SE for use in people over the age of 16, in first such approval of a COVID-19 shot.
Government using upper limit of error margin to estimate population
The ESO recommended government use the upper maximum of the error margin in its population estimate to calculate vaccination ratios.
Virtually no vaccination progress among 18 to 30-year olds
While vaccination rates have slowly edged higher across most age groups in the past 30 days, there have been virtually no vaccinations of 18 to 30-year olds in six weeks.
Barbados vaccine certificate added to Cayman’s ‘verifiable’ list
The Cayman Islands has added electronic vaccination certificates from Barbados to its list of 'securely verifiable' COVID-19 inoculation documents.
Supermarkets introduce new vaccination policy for jobs
Starting today (9 Aug.), local supermarkets will require vaccinations as a pre-requisite for both new employees and work-permit renewals.
$100,000 cash and plot of land among prizes in two new vaccination drives
A COVID-19 vaccination could win a lucky person in Cayman a $100,000 cash prize or a plot of land as part of an upcoming inoculation drive.
Dozens vaccinated at Prospect health screening
Health and Wellness Minister Sabrina Turner took to the streets of her Prospect constituency on Friday, 30 July, in an effort to boost Cayman’s vaccination numbers.
Full vaccination numbers nudge up to 68%
The percentage of people in Cayman who have been fully vaccinated has now reached 68%, with 48,064 people having received their second shot of the two-dose course.
Ministers’ Association: Religion no reason not to take vaccine
The Cayman Ministers’ Association has dismissed claims that religion should be used as a reason to refuse to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
Ship crew member tests negative for COVID
A foreign ship crew member who was admitted to hospital in Cayman after displaying possible COVID-19 symptoms has tested negative for the virus.
Global vaccine mandates on the rise
To vaccinate or not to vaccinate may no longer be a question for many workers, as companies and healthcare providers internationally move to mandate the COVID-19 jab. The issue of mandatory vaccination remains a hot topic of debate within the community; however, the UK, France, Australia and other countries are making vaccinations mandatory.
COVID-19 vaccination schedule August-September 2021
The Public Health Department has published the latest schedule for the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for August and September 2021.
Traveller with COVID hospitalised
A traveller in quarantine has been admitted to hospital suffering from symptoms of COVID-19.
Panton: COVID now a ‘pandemic of the unvaccinated’
COVID-19 is fast becoming a “pandemic of the unvaccinated”, Premier Wayne Panton said Wednesday, as he urged everyone that had yet to be immunised to get the jab.
BVI suffers 16 COVID deaths in less than two weeks
The British Virgin Islands confirmed three more COVID-related deaths on Sunday, bringing the total number of deaths in the islands to 17.
UK moves BVI to amber travel list amid rising COVID cases
The UK government, in the latest review of its 'travel light' travel lists, on 14 July, removed the British Virgin Islands from its green travel list amid a marked increase in COVID-19 cases there.
Slowing vaccination pace jeopardises Cayman’s reopening timeline
The pace of vaccinations in the Cayman Islands has slowed down considerably, since a new batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arrived on island on 16 June.
