Topic: COVID-19
Pension Law changes passed
Premier Alden McLaughlin has piloted Pension Law changes which will allow workers to access to their pension funds to ride out the current COVID-19 storm.
Fire Service issues warning as bonfires increase
Residents who under curfew regulations can no longer take garden waste to the landfill or have it removed by landscapers have been burning the rubbish in bonfires in their yards, according to Cayman Islands Fire Services officials.
Don’t let human rights become a victim of COVID-19
COVID-19 has wreaked unimaginable damage to even the most robust healthcare systems globally. The meteoric pace of contagion in the absence of a vaccine...
Meals on Wheels ramps up during COVID emergency
Meals on Wheels is delivering 330 meals daily to Cayman's infirm, housebound, disabled, elderly and other vulnerable residents during the COVID-19 crisis, with the help of volunteers and local catering company Mise en Place.
Recovered nurse shares COVID-19 experience
A Health City Cayman Islands nurse talks about her battle with and recovery from coronavirus.
More evacuation flights needed for Europeans
I’m an Italian guy that lost his job on the island because of the COVID-19 emergency.
I would like to report that, according to what...
Small island nations lead the way in COVID-19 testing
A new COVID-19 report by the Caribbean Development Bank shows that Montserrat and the Cayman Islands have by far the highest number of coronavirus cases on a per capita basis in the Caribbean, largely due to the amount of testing done in the islands.
Homeless, jobless and hungry, Nicaraguans stranded after flight cancellations
The eleventh-hour cancellation of two repatriation flights bound for Managua, Nicaragua, has left at least 160 people stranded in Cayman, homeless, unemployed and swiftly running out of food and money.
Residents speak out after near miss with COVID-19
Residents of a George Town apartment complex describe what it was like awaiting COVID-19 tests after a neighbour who tested positive failed to self-isolate.
Call for fellow tourists to help Grand Cayman
To the tourists who regularly visit Grand Cayman on vacation:
As the pandemic continues to spread, how about those of us who frequent this beautiful...
More online food shopping needed
The government knows that the supermarkets are the main risk of COVID infection. The split days do little to reduce it.
What is needed...
NAU records 165% increase in food voucher requests
The number of people seeking help to feed themselves and their families has jumped by 165 per cent, according to the latest data from the Needs Assessment Unit.
Roadblocks to continue
All across Cayman, residents who venture out on their assigned shopping days are almost certainly going to encounter police checkpoints and roadblocks.
Parents question paying school fees during school closures
While parents of students in private schools question why they need to pay full fees during school closures, the association representing the schools say, without fees, the schools may have to close permanently.
Chamber sponsors Resilience Cayman
The Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring Resilience Cayman, an initiative that connects non-profits, entrepreneurs and businesses with tools, funds and volunteers to identify and meet community needs during times of crisis.
Legislative Assembly sittings planned for next week
Lawmakers are set to meet next week to discuss changes to local legislation which would allow private sector employees access to their pension funds.
HSA lab under COVID-19 testing pressure
With limited numbers of laboratory technicians on islands those working daily to churn out COVID-19 test results are starting to feel the pressure from testing for the virus on local shores.
UPDATED: 40 samples from George Town apartment complex negative for virus
The 40 samples taken from residents at a George Town apartment complex where a coronavirus patient was said to have failed to isolate all came back negative for the virus.
Chamber webinar to highlight government’s COVID-19 assistance
The Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Cayman Islands Centre for Business Development for the third in a series of free webinars designed to provide information and guidance to businesses struggling to cope with the impact of COVID-19.
Support from Canada
Here in Canada we hope to help. Our people and companies have restructured manufacturing outlets to help with our demand, and help others. We...
Applauding Cayman’s deal with South Korea
The story about the test kits from South Korea, is so inspiring, so Caymanian.
I’m not sure that this sort of dealing in good...
Requests for Cayman test kits grows
Premier Alden McLaughlin has said Cayman has fielded requests for test kits from at least six different countries within the region.
Cayman Brac Power: No disconnections on Sister Islands
Cayman Brac Power General Manager Jonathan Tibbetts has assured that the sister island power supplier is not engaging in any disconnections.
Public, COVID-19 patients urged to secure waste properly
Health Minister Dwayne Seymour has issued a warning to the public to properly secure its garbage to protect essential staff at the Department of Environmental Health.
40 people breach Easter Sunday hard curfew
A total of 40 people was warned for prosecution on Sunday after they were found in breach of Cayman’s hard curfew, Police Commissioner Derek Byrne confirmed.
Grateful for government’s efforts
Headline this morning (30 March), ‘4 new cases of coronavirus confirmed Sunday’. And not a one on Cayman Brac , the nearest you can...
Thankful for Cayman’s response to COVID-19
For the many efforts you, as our government and police department, have made in trying to keep the Cayman Islands as healthy as possible...
Money transfer services in limbo
Government has rejected one of two proposals for money transfer services to reopen during soft curfew hours.
NAU applications on the rise
The demand for Needs Assessment Unit assistance by vulnerable Caymanians is increasing as some 136 new applications are set to be processed this week.
Gov’t approves purchase of 30 new ventilator beds
Government has given the Health Services Authority the green light to purchase 30 additional ventilator beds as Cayman continued to ready itself for any widespread outbreak of COVID-19.
Baby shops allowed to open
Local baby shops are now allowed to operate under the new ‘shelter in place’ rules, Premier Alden McLaughlin announced.
True COVID-19 picture unknown
Chief Medical Officer Dr John Lee has said the true picture of Cayman’s COVID-19 spread remains unknown as testing has been limited by World Health Organisation protocols, but he intends to widen testing locally when supplies increase.
Private aircraft to collect 200,000 testing kits for Cayman
Government has secured a private aircraft to deliver 200, 000 COVID-19 testing kits from South Korea, Governor Martyn Roper has said.
Plans for workers to access pensions in the works
Premier Alden McLaughlin says he would be in a position to announce a formal plan to allow workers to tap into their pension savings could be announced by next week.
Economist: Hit from COVID-19 could go beyond 2021
economist Marla Dukharan writes in her COVID-19 Caribbean Economic Impact Report,
Cayman Airways reduces Sister Islands flights
Cayman Airways will only be flying once per week to Sister Islands from April 6-18.
Frontline staff to get boost in supplies
Cayman will receive thousands of key personal protective equipment for frontline workers on Tuesday’s British Airways flight, Health Minister Dwayne Seymour has said.
Premier: Health of frontline staff a major concern
The health of Cayman’s frontline staff, and the country’s ability to provide human resources to bolster any shortfalls should they fall ill, continues to be a source of sleepless nights for local leaders, according to Premier Alden McLaughlin.
Governor warns public against seeking out COVID-19 patients
Governor Martyn Roper has expressed “serious concerns” that members of the community are actively trying to find out who are Cayman’s positive COVID-19 patients and where they live.
One-off payments made to vulnerable Caymanians
Premier Alden McLaughlin has said promised off-payments to Cayman’s vulnerable groups have been delivered.
Government explores COVID-19 support from Cuba and South Korea
The Cayman Islands government has reached out to Cuba and South Korea in a bid to improve medical capacity as it looks beyond the UK for support in the fight against coronavirus.
Hundreds use COVID-19 online assessment
Some 800 people used the government’s digital coronavirus self-assessment tool during its first night online on Monday.
What is the true scale of the coronavirus pandemic?
Testing the entire population repeatedly is key to controlling the spread of COVID-19 early and effectively, but most countries do not yet have this option.
UPDATE: US shipment of COVID-19 testing supplies arrives
Cayman’s rapidly dwindling supply of COVID-19 testing material is set to get a double boost this week with two consignments scheduled to hit local shores in the coming days.
Swim coach finds fun way to train his athletes
In the wake of the lockdown due to coronavirus, Stingray Swim Club head coach David Pursley has come up with other ways for his athletes to train
UK Prime Minister, Health Secretary test positive for COVID-19
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Health Secretary have both confirmed they have contracted COVID-19, according to British media reports.
Coronavirus myths: Drunk elephants and anti-malarial drugs
The COVID-19 situation is constantly developing and so are the myths and rumours surrounding the pandemic. It can be difficult to sort through the barrage of fake and misleading social media posts. The Cayman Compass is seeking to dispel some of the misinformation.
Pinboard: How Cayman spends time in curfew isolation
Cayman is under government-mandated curfew to help curb the spread of COVID-19. So we wanted to know, how are you spending your time?
Living in lockdown, Cayman residents cooperative
The streets of densely occupied communities, such as Windsor Park, Prospect and Washington Boulevard, were largely empty Thursday as Cayman settled into the reality of a 24-hour curfew.
COVID-19 curfew lands arrests
Two people were arrested and at least 97 vehicles were stopped by police on Wednesday and Thursday as they enforced Cayman’s 24-hour curfew.
‘False negative’ prompts local testing change
Health officials have changed how they will be reporting COVID-19 cases in Cayman.
702 calls made to flu hotline
A total of 170 people have made use of the Health Services Authority’s flu clinic, which was created to separate patients with respiratory conditions from the general public as part of government’s COVID-19 response.
Coach Trumpet stays positive in dire times
While the coronavirus pandemic triggers fear and uncertainty in millions of people around the world, Cayman Islands head boxing coach Floyd Trumpet has found...
WORC changes operations as part of COVID-19 response
The Workforce Opportunities and Residency department has implemented policy changes to reduce public interaction as part of its COVID-19 response.the Workforce Opportunities and Residency department has also implemented policy changes to reduce public interaction.
Curfew announced as two new coronavirus cases confirmed
Governor Martyn Roper has announced the imposition of a curfew from 9pm to 5am to prevent the spread of the coronavirus
Minister: No Olympics for Cayman unless proven safe
Minister of Sports Juliana O’Connor-Connolly said Friday that she does not support a Cayman Islands Olympic team travelling to Tokyo, Japan, amid the current coronavirus crisis.
Cayman’s air travel ban begins
The Cayman Islands closed its borders at midnight Sunday with no certainty over when they will be reopened.
Ship connected to COVID-19 cases in Cayman, Puerto Rico
Carnival’s Costa Luminosa, operated by Costa Crociere, has left a trail of alarm and, in several Caribbean and European countries, patients sick with coronavirus. So far, the first confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Cayman Islands and Puerto Rico have been connected to the ship.
Isolated student taken to hospital
A student staying in one of the isolation facilities provided by Government has been placed in isolation after being taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital for assessment Friday evening, Government Information Services confirmed.
Court heightens COVID-19 prevention measures
Cayman’s courts have ramped up their emergency contingency plan to meet additional problems presented by COVID-19.
Public transport grapples with COVID-19 plans
Some public bus drivers are sanitising their vehicles, while others are choosing not to continue driving buses. However, the drivers have not received any official word on procedures or approaches for operating their buses during the coronavirus crisis.
Court activates emergency plan
Island-wide coronavirus-containment measures have forced Cayman’s court system to enter ‘level 3 procedures’ of its emergency continuity plan.
HSA cancels elective surgeries
The Health Services Authority has cancelled all elective surgeries and specialist services at the Cayman Islands Hospital and Faith Hospital
HSA to start local COVID-19 testing
Cayman will begin local testing for COVID-19 at the Health Services Authority forensic laboratory.
Cayman cancels cruises ahead of ban
Cayman has turned away three cruise ships one day before a government ban on the cruises was set to take effect to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Premier warns against breaking public spaces ban
Premier Alden McLaughlin has warned that anyone who breaches the 50 people in public spaces ban will face penalties for their actions.
LIVE: Coronavirus news and updates
Latest breaking news and updates on the coronavirus pandemic. Follow the Cayman Compass for factual and trusted news and stay informed.
Could coronavirus trigger the next financial crisis?
The stock markets on Thursday reacted with significant losses to President Donald Trump’s decision to ban travel to the US from 26 EU countries in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Updated: Government urges public not to panic buy
To dispel rumours of supply shortages, Hazard Management Cayman Islands has confirmed that freight ships carrying food supplies and household products continue to arrive on island as normal.
Education officials: No coronavirus at CIFEC
The Department of Education Services issued a statement Wednesday evening denying a rumour circulating through a WhatsApp message of a case of coronavirus being found at the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre (CIFEC).
Second COVID-19 case confirmed in Jamaica
Jamaica has a second confirmed imported case of the coronavirus, according to the Jamaica Gleaner.
This was announced by Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher...
Sister Islands residents meet officials on coronavirus
Residents on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman have been meeting with health and government officials to discuss coronavirus preparedness.
