Topic: Omicron variant
Ministry of Health monitoring new COVID variant
The Ministry of Health, Environment & Sustainability, together with the Public Health department, has confirmed it is monitoring the emergence of a new COVID...
CMO: New Omicron ‘Pirola’ variant likely to reach Cayman
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nick Gent has said it is only a matter of time before the new Omicron variant BA.2.86, unofficially called 'Pirola', is discovered in Cayman, although no cases of it have been formally detected.
No cases of new Omicron strain recorded in Cayman
To date no cases of the latest variant of the Omicron strain of COVID-19 has been recorded locally, National Epidemiologist Rachel Corbett has confirmed.To date no cases of the latest variant of the Omicron strain of COVID-19 has been recorded locally, National Epidemiologist Rachel Corbett has confirmed.
Moderna vaccine booster available to over-12s
The Moderna bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine is now available to anyone aged 12 and over, Cayman's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nick Gent announced this week.
BA.5 Omicron sub-variant detected in Cayman for first time
Public Health has detected the BA.5 sub-variant of the COVID Omicron strain, which has led to a surge in infections, and re-infections, worldwide, in the Cayman Island for the first time.
Cayman’s COVID death toll rises to 23
Cayman's COVID-19 deaths increased by two over the last week taking the overall death toll tally linked to the virus to 23, Health officials have confirmed.
Travellers required to take 3 LFT tests in 6 days
Revised travel regulations stipulate that incoming vaccinated travellers to Cayman are now required to take certified lateral flow tests two, five and seven days after arriving on island. Previously, they had to take tests two, five and 10 days after landing here.
COVID hospitalisations double as Omicron surge continues
The number of people in hospital from severe cases of COVID-19 almost doubled over the weekend from 8 to 15.
Behind the front lines: Fighting the pandemic on Cayman’s COVID wards
At the start of every shift, nurse Nadine Douglas pulls on her red scrubs – the colour code that signals maximum exposure to Cayman’s most vulnerable patients. Then she dons a full suit of personal protective equipment – thin blue surgical gown and hair net, chemical-resistant gloves and an N95 face mask covered again with a perspex visor. She looks like she is ready to go to war and in a way, she is.
New peak of COVID cases in Sister Islands
The more contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus has led to a new high of active COVID-19 cases in the Sister Islands.
Immediate changes to isolation rules
With immediate effect, fully vaccinated people in a household with COVID-positive members are no longer required to isolate so long as they return negative results on lateral flow tests.
Cayman’s isolation woes: In their own words
The Cayman Compass invited readers to share their testing and isolation stories with us. Here, in their own words, are some of their stories.
Suspected Omicron cases cross 1,000 mark
Cayman's suspected Omicron cases has crossed the 1000 mark, however official confirmed cases still remained at 89, according to Chief Medical Officer (Interim) Dr. Autilia Newton's latest COVID-19 report released Friday night.
Cayman’s COVID cases top 10,000 since start of pandemic
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 10,186 positive COVID-19 cases reported in the Cayman Islands, Public Health has stated.
491 new cases of COVID reported since New Year’s Eve
Nearly 500 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported since New Year's Eve, according to the latest update from Public Health.
Half of COVID positives are suspected Omicron cases
Confirmed or suspected Omicron cases are on the rise in Cayman. The new COVID variant is suspected to be behind 341 cases since 21 Dec., compared with a total reported 729 positive PCR test results during that time.
Omicron cases double since Christmas Eve
The number of COVID-19 Omicron variant cases in Cayman has more than doubled since Public Health last released figures on Christmas Eve, with confirmed or suspected cases of the new strain standing at 242 as of Wednesday, 29 Dec.
Cayman considering CDC’s revised guidelines, and others, on isolation policies
Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr. Autilia Newton says the Cayman Islands is "taking into consideration" new guidelines by the US Centers on Disease Control and Prevention on reduced isolation requirements for COVID-positive individuals, as well as guidance from other entities internationally.
‘Cinderella’ variant frustrates club owners
Nightclub and bar owners have been left frustrated, confused and out of pocket by new COVID restrictions which they say effectively shut down the festive party scene.
13 new suspected Omicron cases reported
Chief Medical Officer (Interim) Dr. Autilia Newton reported 13 new suspected Omicron cases in her latest COVID-19 update, bringing the total number of confirmed or potential cases of the highly contagious variant to 48.
Suspected Omicron cases rise to 31
Public Health is examining eight new suspected Omicron cases, bringing the total potential cases of the highly contagious COVID-19 variant to 31.
National rugby player tests positive for Omicron
A player from the Cayman Islands men’s national rugby squad has tested positive for the Omicron variant.
CITA ‘frustrated’ by gov’t’s lack of consultation on large gathering decision
Cayman Islands Tourism Association president Marc Langevin has expressed frustration over government's decision to recommend cancelling large events without any consultation with industry stakeholders.
Same-day testing rules kick in for hospital, home care and prison visits
Visits to the prison are now restricted to relatives of inmates only as new COVID-19 regulations take effect in response to the detection of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
Two week quarantine for Omicron-positive patients and contacts takes effect
New isolation guidelines will now see individuals suspected of having the Omicron variant, and their primary contacts, being isolated or quarantined for 14 days under a Public Health order.
Midnight bar closure in force immediately, 3 new Omicron cases confirmed
Bars and nightclubs must close by midnight from Friday onwards with new COVID regulations, announced Thursday taking effect immediately. The news came as 3 new cases of the contagious Omicron variant were reported.
Omicron an urgent cause for concern
We are facing the most serious crisis of the pandemic and yet no one wants to talk about it.
As a scientist, I am at...
COVID reported on Brac for first time this month
Health officials have announced 26 new cases of COVID-19 in the Cayman Islands, including one on Cayman Brac – the first case to be reported there since 30 Nov.
10 more Omicron cases suspected, after positive traveller in community for 2 days
As of Thursday, one person in Cayman had been confirmed to have the Omicron variant, and 10 others were suspected cases, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Samuel Williams-Rodriguez stated at a press briefing.
Omicron variant found in traveller
The Omicron variant of the virus which causes COVID-19 has been detected, through genomic sequencing, in a test sample from a traveller in quarantine in the Cayman Islands.
Early BioNTech, Pfizer data suggests boosters may protect against Omicron infection
BioNTech and Pfizer said on Wednesday a three-shot course of their COVID-19 vaccine was able to neutralise the new Omicron variant in a laboratory test, an early signal that booster shots could be key to protection against infection from the newly identified variant.
The issue explained: Boosters, variants and COVID immunity
The feared Omicron variant of COVID-19 is “knocking on the door” and will be difficult to keep out of the Cayman Islands, Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee acknowledged as he urged residents to get their booster shot.
New rules require contacts of COVID-positive travellers to isolate
Household members and primary contacts of travellers who test positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Cayman are now required to isolate for at least 14 days and take a PCR test, Public Health announced as part of new rules implemented in response to the emergence of the highly contagious Omicron variant.
Cayman bans travel from 9 African countries and Belgium over new COVID variant
The Cayman Islands is restricting incoming travel from nine countries in southern Africa and Belgium in Europe, after cases of a new variant of COVID-19, named Omicron, were found there.
