Topic: coronavirus
BVI sees exponential growth of COVID cases
The British Virgin Islands continues to experience a rapidly increasing number of COVID infections, with the number of active cases increasing from 480 to 1,147..
No date set for mandatory vaccinations for work permits
Premier Wayne Panton has confirmed that mandatory vaccinations would be introduced for expatriates renewing their new work permits and for those getting new ones, although no date has been fixed for when this will begin.
Lack of US-wide vaccination certificates a barrier for travel
Premier Wayne Panton says the US federal government's unwillingness to create a country-wide verifiable COVID vaccination system is continuing to be a barrier to allowing people vaccinated there to avail of Cayman's five-day quarantine period.
Analysis: Almost everyone eligible must be vaccinated to reach 80% reopening target
Cayman’s vaccination target appears to be very high, considering that children under the age of 12 cannot be inoculated.
COVID patient discharged, HSA staff end isolation
The COVID-19 patient who prompted the isolation of healthcare staff and their household members has been discharged from hospital, the Ministry of Health announced today.
Fewer than 200 get first jab since vaccine supplies replenished
Governor Martyn Roper has joined the growing chorus of concerned voices as numbers continue to drop in Cayman's national vaccination programme.
BVI reimposes lockdown restrictions amid rapid COVID outbreak
The British Virgin Islands has imposed a night-time curfew and closed bars, gyms and hairdressers from Tuesday in response to a COVID-19 outbreak.
Premier: ‘We just all need to get vaccinated’
Premier Wayne Panton has reiterated his call for residents to get vaccinated so government can look towards "safely" reopening Cayman's borders.
Concern as vaccinations drop
Health Minister Sabrina Turner is appealing for more young Caymanians to roll up their sleeves for the COVID jab, as Cayman’s vaccination numbers have dipped over the last few days.
The Resh Hour with Health Minister Sabrina Turner and Dr. Lee
Health Minister Sabrina Turner joins Compass journalist Reshma Ragoonath to discuss Cayman's COVID-19 response.
COVID-19 vaccination schedule July 2021
The Public Health Department has published the latest schedule for the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for July 2021.
Hospitalised COVID-19 patient off ventilator support
The condition of Cayman's lone hospitalised COVID-19 patient has improved "considerably" and is no longer requiring the support of a ventilator, Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee has confirmed.
Lee: Cayman days away from accepting EU vaccination certificates
Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee has said that Cayman could be just days away from accepting electronically verifiable European Union COVID vaccination certificates.
5 COVID cases among travellers
Five new positive COVID-19 cases are among the latest results announced by Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee today.
Pushback over Cayman’s selective 5-day vaccination policy
Travellers from the US and businessowners in the local hospitality industry are querying the rationale behind Cayman making the five-day quarantine option available only to those vaccinated locally or in the UK, when vaccine certificates from other countries are accepted for the 10-day quarantine.
5-day quarantine only for those vaccinated in Cayman, UK
The recently reduced five-day quarantine period for vaccinated travellers currently only applies to people who can provide vaccination certificates issued in the Cayman Islands or the UK, as those are the only ones that can be securely verified, according to officials.
14 in isolation following possible COVID exposure at hospital
The Health Services Authority confirmed Wednesday that 14 people, including eight members of its staff, are currently in isolation after employees at the Cayman Islands Hospital were exposed to a highly symptomatic COVID-19 patient.
HSA staff isolated for potential COVID-19 exposure
The Health Services Authority has said eight of its staff members, along with family members, are now in isolation due to potential exposure to a highly symptomatic COVID-19-positive patient at the Cayman Islands Hospital.
Traveller with COVID symptoms in critical care
A traveller who was nearing the end of the mandatory 14-day quarantine has been admitted to the Critical Care Unit at the Cayman Islands Hospital, suffering from symptoms of COVID-19, according to the Public Health Department.
5 vaccinated travellers test positive for COVID
A total of five fully vaccinated travellers have tested positive for COVID-19, Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee has said.
Cayman records nine positive coronavirus cases in two days
Cayman has recorded nine positive COVID-19 cases in two days, taking the national tally of confirmed cases over the 600 mark since the start...
McTaggart: ‘Dangerous’ to reduce quarantine before reaching herd immunity
Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart said government's planned reduction in the mandatory quarantine period for vaccinated travellers is 'downright dangerous' when Cayman is yet to reach the herd immunity threshold.
New population figures move reopening goalposts
Cayman’s anticipated reopening is not as close as many would hope, with recalculated population numbers showing the jurisdiction is further away from achieving the vaccination percentages needed for herd immunity.
No cases of Delta variant detected in Cayman
Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee said Cayman has not recorded any cases of the infectious COVID-19 Delta variant in travellers found positive, based on local genomic sequencing results.
Quarantine reduced to five days for vaccinated travellers, but no plan for reopening
Government announced the reduction of the quarantine period to five days for incoming travellers who have completed an approved course of vaccination against COVID-19 that can be securely verified.
Fresh vaccine supply set to arrive on BA flight
Cayman is set to receive 11,700 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines on Wednesday's British Airways flight, Governor Martyn Roper has confirmed.
Travel Cayman says no quarantine breach occurred with couple on boat
Police have said a quarantining couple who photographed themselves aboard a boat did not commit any offence nor did they pose any public health risk.
Genome sequencing advances COVID fight
Cayman’s ability to conduct genome sequencing is not only a pivotal leap forward for the local COVID response, it could also help give the jurisdiction the edge it needs to be added to the UK’s ‘green’ travel list.
Nursing chief: The struggles with tackling COVID
The Health Services Authority's Chief Nursing Officer Dr. Hazel Brown, speaking on Rooster Radio's Crosstalk show this morning, recalled the stresses and pressures faced by healthcare workers in Cayman at the height of the COVID outbreak.
Vaccine supply used up; clinics to reopen on 17 June
All of Cayman's current COVID-19 vaccine supply has been used up, and vaccination clinics will be closed until after the arrival of the next batch on 16 June.
Pfizer vaccine approved for 12-15 year olds in Cayman
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been approved to be administered to 12-15 year olds in Cayman.
Cayman begins genome sequencing to determine strains of COVID
The Health Services Authority has commenced genome sequencing of local COVID-19 cases making Cayman the first in the region, outside of the Caribbean Public Health Agency, to conduct such testing, Governor Martyn Roper has said.
Cayman hits 70% vaccination rate
As of today, 3 June, 45,195 people in Cayman (70% of an estimated population of 65,000) have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the daily update from the Ministry of Health.
Lines at clinic as COVID vaccines expected to run out before next batch arrives
With prize-draw incentives, the impending expiration of Cayman's vaccine supply, and the likelihood of mandatory vaccinations for work-permit holders, residents are continuing to line up for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
UK expected to update green travel list Thursday
The UK government is expected to announce its revised travel lists tomorrow, according to British media reports.
Gov’t: Vaccine supplies will be used up before expiration
The Cayman Islands government confirmed today that all its free vaccine supplies from the United Kingdom will be used before their expiry date at the end of this month, and a new batch of vaccines is set to arrive on 16 June.
Gov’t considers 5-day quarantine, mandatory vaccines for work-permit holders
The Cayman Islands government is considering reducing the quarantine period for vaccinated travellers from 10 days to five days, and making it mandatory for work permit holders to be inoculated against COVID-19.
$10,000 cash prize up for grabs in new vaccination raffle
People who get vaccinated are being offered a chance to win US$10,000, as well as 280 other prizes worth a total of US$15,000, as part of an initiative by the Cayman Islands Tourism Association and the charity R3 Cayman Foundation to encourage residents to get their COVID-19 jabs.
COVID-19 vaccination schedule June 2021
The Public Health Department has published the latest schedule for the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for June 2021.
Dr. Shetty urges people in Cayman to get vaccinated
In a message from Bangalore, the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak in India, Health City founder Dr. Devi Shetty has urged people in Cayman to get vaccinated, saying he not had seen a single patient in his Indian hospital's critical care unit who had received both doses of the vaccine.
CDC greenlights first test cruise for Royal Caribbean
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday approved Royal Caribbean to launch the first test cruise from the US since the agency issued a no-sail order on all cruise lines last year.
The issue explained: The science behind the vaccines
We answer some of the key questions about the COVID-19 vaccines, how they work and their likely impact in helping reopen Cayman.
Cayman inches closer to 70% vaccination target
Following a "historical correction" from Public Health, as of today (19 May), Cayman's total number of administered vaccinations stands at 75,284, according to the daily update provided by Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee.
Lee: UK variant found in ‘large number’ of COVID cases
Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee has said the COVID-19 UK variant has been detected in a "large number" of Cayman's coronavirus cases.
More than 1,100 get jabs on Saturday vaccination drive
The government's ramped-up COVID-19 vaccination drive, which included offering prizes to people to show up to get their shots, attracted 1,138 people on Saturday.
UPDATED: Half of Monday’s 12 positive COVID cases found at exit screening
Since Friday, 12 travellers have tested positive for coronavirus, with about half of these results coming from people at the end of their quarantine, according to the daily COVID-19 update from Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee.
Premier: Cayman to push to be put on UK green travel list
Premier Wayne Panton says the Cayman Islands plans to push the United Kingdom to add the islands to its green travel list, which comes into effect on 17 May.
New data from Bermuda, England confirms vaccine effectiveness
New data and reports from Bermuda and the UK have confirmed the real-life effectiveness of vaccines in protecting against severe illness and death.
COVID-19 vaccination schedule 10 May – 31 May
The Public Health Department has published the latest schedule for the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic 10 May – 31 May 2021.
Hundreds flock to fresh vaccination drive
Hundreds turned out at the airport this morning to get inoculated against COVID-19 in a ramped-up vaccination drive.
Cayman excluded from UK’s travel ‘green list’
Cayman has been excluded from Britain's new quarantine-free travel 'green list' despite having a vaccination rate of almost double the UK and no community transmission of COVID-19 since last year.
Panton appeals to public to use up remaining 14,000 vaccine doses
Cayman's new PACT government on Wednesday held its first press briefing since being elected to office last month to gave an update on Cayman's COVID-19 situation.
70% of Cayman’s over-16s vaccinated
In its daily update, issued this afternoon (4 May), the Ministry of Health said that 70% of Cayman's population aged over 16 have received at least one dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Pregnant women now encouraged to get vaccinated
The UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has updated its guidance and now recommend that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should be offered the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as non-pregnant women.
COVID vaccine approval for over-12s expected this week
The US Food and Drug Administration is this week expected to approve the distribution of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 12-15.
Can employers insist staff get the COVID-19 vaccination?
Employers in certain industries such as social care would likely be within their legal rights to insist that their workers are vaccinated against COVID-19, according to analysis from Cayman Islands law firm HSM.
Leader of the Opposition adds his voice to vaccination push
Leader of the Opposition Roy McTaggart is encouraging everyone across Cayman who has not yet been vaccinated to do so "as soon as possible".
In...
Lee: Get first vaccine shot by 9 June
Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee is urging people who have not yet received their COVID-19 shots to ensure they get their first dose by 9 June as the vaccines on island will expire at the end of that month.
COVID-19 vaccination schedule 26 April – 8 May
The Public Health Department has published the latest schedule for the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic 26th April – 8th May 2021.
Lee: ‘Business as usual’ for COVID vaccination programme
Cayman's COVID-19 response and national vaccination programme have not been affected by the ongoing wrangling by local elected Members of Parliament locked in negotiations to form a coalition government.
Bermuda eases lockdown restrictions
Bermuda will ease its lockdown restrictions from tomorrow, 20 April, but households are still not allowed to mix and a nighttime curfew will be in place.
6 investigated for suspected quarantine breach
Police are investigating a suspected quarantine breach involving six people, including three travellers and three local individuals, who were allegedly found together on board a boat.
8,000 more adults must be vaccinated for 80% coverage
Cayman has administered a total of 60,637 vaccines with 33,544 people having received at least one dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. This equates to 52% of Cayman estimated population of 65,000.
COVID vaccines leading to some breast cancer scares
One possible side effect of the COVID-19 vaccines is swollen lymph nodes, which has led to breast cancer scares for some women who have found lumps in their armpits after being vaccinated.
61% of Cayman’s eligible population vaccinated
Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee reported Monday that 61% of Cayman's adult population has now received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccination.
More than 100 vaccinated at youth drive
Public health officials say 123 people aged between 16 and 24 received their COVID-19 vaccines at an inoculation drive and street party on Friday.
Bermuda going back into lockdown; premier has COVID
Bermuda government officials announced Sunday that the country will go back into lockdown from Tuesday morning for at least seven days after 118 people tested positive over the weekend.
Just over a quarter of under-30s vaccinated
Only 28% of people aged between 16 and 30 have received the COVID-19 vaccine in Cayman, officials announced today.
COVID-19 vaccination schedule 12-24 April
COVID-19 vaccination schedule 12-24 April for residents of the Cayman Islands
Slower uptake in COVID vaccines worries governor
The last scheduled batch of COVID-19 vaccines arrived on island from the United Kingdom today, meaning Cayman now has enough vaccinations to inoculate 90% of its adult population.
11 test positive for COVID-19
Out of a batch of 1,004 tests, 11 travellers returned positive results for COVID-19, according to the chief medical officer's report on Tuesday.
Police investigate quarantine breach
Police are investigating an alleged quarantine breach involving a traveller isolating at home and one other person, according to a press release issued on behalf of Travel Cayman.
