DRIVE THRU OPEN Eastern Avenue cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 75 CENTS | Funding local journalism | Monday, 30 March 2020 Ariel Christian, Pines’ oldest resident passes away Page 4 Quick guide to shelter-in-place rules Page 5 More virus testing equipment on island Page 6 Alphabet supermarkets Split shopping shifts announced as 4 new coronavirus cases confirmed. Page 2Temporarily closed until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Cayman Compass Ltd. Compass Centre, Shedden Road, George Town, Cayman Islands SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman, KY1-1108 Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@compassmedia.ky ADVERTISE WITH US: T: (345) 949-5111 E: sales@compassmedia.ky W: caymancompass.com PUBLISHER KATHLEEN CAPETTA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KEVIN MORALES Partly cloudy skies with a 20% chance of morning showers. weather Forecast today Cayman Islands 87°F 76°F HIGH LOW WINDS East to southeast at 5 to 10 knots today, southeast 5 knots or less tonight. SEA STATE Smooth to slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass The Cayman Islands has four new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number on the island to 12, public health officials confirmed Sunday. Dr. John Lee, Cayman’s chief medical officer, announced the results during Sunday’s press briefing. Of the four new positive cases, he said two had travelled recently and two had been in direct contact with family members who had travelled. He said they had all been in isolation either since they returned from travel or since they started showing symptoms. Lee said the new cases emphasised the need for people to stay home. “Please stay home, we do not know where you might meet a potential threat from this virus,” he cautioned. In addition to the 12 positive cases, there have been 194 negative tests. A 13th possible positive case, involving a patient at the Cayman Islands Hospital, remains inconclusive. Lee said all of Cayman’s COVID-19 patients were reported to be in good condition, with the exception of the first case - an Italian cruise ship visitor who was recovering from a heart attack when he died from complications associated with the virus. Governor Martyn Roper and Lee confirmed the arrival of some 500 new test kits and said there were positive developments in terms of getting more testing on island. The CTMH Doctors Hospital also hopes to have its COVID-19 testing lab operational this week. Premier Alden McLaughlin said the goal was to be able to test everyone on the “front line”, including medical staff and supermarket employees. “We hope that we will be able to beef up significantly our ability to test more broadly over the next few weeks,” he said. In the interim, he said, people should proceed as if anyone could have the virus and limit human contact as much as possible. The World Health Organization has recommended widespread testing in an effort to isolate COVID-19 carriers, trace their contacts, and prevent the spread of the virus. “We have a simple message for all countries: test, test, test,” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director- general of the WHO, said during a press conference last week. 4 new coronavirus cases confirmed New supermarket shopping rules announced JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Cayman Islands residents are being divided alphabetically and allocated specific days when they are allowed to go to the supermarket. The move comes as public health officials confirmed four new cases of COVID-19 in the Cayman Islands. Premier Alden McLaughlin said the recent crowding at supermarkets raised the risk of community transmission of the virus. He said the new arrangement had been devised to control crowds, and urged families to designate only one shopper and not to bring children to the store. Anyone whose last name starts with the letters A-K will be able to shop Monday, Wednesday or Friday. Anyone whose last name starts with letters from L-Z will be able to shop Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday. The new system comes into place Monday and applies across all three islands. Government insists there is more than enough food and other supplies in stock at all grocery stores and that the supply chain to the islands remains intact. But officials are concerned that the large crowds gathering at supermarkets could undermine the regulations they have put in place to contain the spread of the coronavirus through the community. McLaughlin said enforcement of the new regime would be a joint effort between police and supermarkets, but he warned the public, “If you know tomorrow is A-K, and your name is Levy, you shouldn’t turn up at the supermarket.” The premier urged compliance with all the measures of the soft curfew. He said police had stepped up their surveillance and he urged everyone to stay home unless they were exercising for 90 minutes or going to the supermarket, pharmacy or gas station. He said a similar alphabet-based split- shift could be introduced for all the measures in the soft curfew if police did not get full compliance and cooperation with the regulations. “We have had an increase in the number of positive cases by four and we expect that number is going to continue to rise,” McLaughlin warned. He said all but one of the cases had been linked to travel, but there was no certainty that the virus had not spread through the community. “The only way we can reduce our risk of contracting the virus is to stay away from as many people as possible. Stay home Cayman,” he said. Governor Martyn Roper backed the new measures and noted that 2.4 billion people across the world were now under some kind of curfew. “A third of humanity is now in lockdown,” he said. Curfew enforcement Commissioner of Police Derek Byrne said the hard curfew had been well-observed overnight. He said there had only been one person warned for breach of curfew last night in Grand Cayman and two in Cayman Brac. There were a handful of criminal incidents, including one person who was driving under the influence of alcohol during curfew hours. The commissioner said on Sunday that the ‘soft curfew’ had gone reasonably well. There had been some concern about gatherings on the beaches, but these were in the minority, he said. Police have set up checkpoints on the road and the police helicopter is monitoring beaches and stratas, Byrne said. In addition, police on all-terrain vehicles are checking on the beaches if any incidents are reported. Supermarket opening hours Foster’s and Priced Right Opening hours: 6am to 6pm 6-7am: Designated hour for senior citizens, disabled people and preg- nant women 5-6pm: Designated hour for es- sential workers Hurley’s Opening hours: 7am to 6pm 7-8am: Designated hour for senior citizens, disabled people and preg- nant women 5-6pm: Designated hour for es- sential workers Cost-U-Less Opening hours: 7am to 6pm 7-8am: Designated hour for senior citizens, disabled people and preg- nant women 5-6pm: Designated hour for es- sential workers Kirk Market Opening hours: 6am to 6pm Front-of-line service is available for senior citizens, people with disabilities, and pregnant women during operating hours. cayman compass 2 news N news MONDAY, 30 MARCH 2020EVERY SHOPPER MUST HAVE A SHOPPING CART IN ORDER TO ENTER THE STORE because this helps maintain social distancing SHOPPING BAGS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN STORE because we're trying to reduce the number of items in store which are difficult to sanitize ONE PERSON PER SHOPPING CART & WE SUGGEST LEAVING KIDS AT HOME because we're trying to keep stores less crowded so you can shop quickly and easily. (Care workers, and the like, are OK to accompany) LIMIT 2, PER PRODUCT, PER PERSON FROM THE GROCERY, FROZEN AND HBC DEPARTMENTS because we're aiming to provide product for as many customers as possible COME PREPARED WITH A SHOPPING LIST because we want to help expedite shopping time and keep lines moving quickly. CURRENTLY OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY 6AM-6PM @fosterscayman | cayman compass 3 MONDAY, 30 MARCH 2020JEWEL LEVY jlevy@compassmedia.ky Ariel Christian, the oldest resident of The Pines Retirement Home, died at the Cayman Islands Hospital Sunday morning at the age of 102. She died just a week short of what would have been her 103rd birthday on 5 April. She was the daughter of Nettie Levy, who lived to be 105. Christian had lived at The Pines for the past 10 years. She was fondly known by family members as ‘Ma- Ariel’ and by close friends as ‘Bonga’. Her daughter Corine Rankine said she died between 6am and 7am Sunday. Rankine was in tears at the loss of her mother and upset that she had been unable to see her during her last days, because of a ban on visitors to retirement and care homes due to the coronavirus crisis. “I know mama would have missed me coming to see her these past weeks; she looked forward for that,” said Rankine on her way home from the hospital Sunday. “Every other day, I would visit, and spend time letting her know how the family was doing and have a few laughs about old times.” Rankine said her mother always wanted to hear about everyone, what everyone was cooking, and if the breadfruits were “fit” on the trees. Because of social-distancing regulations in place as part of the efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus, Rankine said it was hard not to have family members with her for support in her time of grief. She also knows that only 10 people are now allowed to attend funerals. “Mama would have loved to have everyone around,” she said. Christian’s niece Marilyn Nasirun said she had been looking forward to celebrating joint birthdays with her Aunt Ariel on 5 April. “My wonderful Aunt Ariel, you have always been an important person in my life, not only as part of my family but because we celebrated the same birthday. I am saddened that God took you before we could celebrate your 103rd,” she said. Osbourne Bodden, former MLA for Bodden Town, said ‘Bonga’ was a special, kind and loving person, who had been very close to his mother and, by extension, to him and his family. “We enjoyed our times with her, and all the stories and good laughs ... she had a great sense of humour ... and watching her cook those good old-time Cayman dishes. She was all about family, and her extended family meant a lot to her, and her home was always clean and welcoming,” he said. Bodden said she will always be remembered, and these islands were blessed to have her for almost 103 years. “Her family have our deepest condolences,” he said. Sheila Minzett, a friend of the family who would visit Christian at The Pines, said she always wanted to find out how things were in Bodden Town, how her brother Cedric, 94, and grandson Rodney were, what was cooking, and how she longed for a little piece of fresh fish. Dwayne Seymour, Bodden Town East MLA, said his heartfelt condolences went out to Christian’s daughters on the passing of their mother. “The loss of a loved one is always hard to accept but God knows best. Our hearts and thoughts are always with you as you mourn your loss,” he said. At her 100th birthday in 2017, Christian said, “I feel very good, but I don’t think I will live as long as Mama. I just want to go to heaven when I die.” Christian was born in Bodden Town and lived a vibrant life among her family and friends before moving into The Pines. She worked at the Bodden Town Clinic for several years before she retired, and she was known as the best seamstress in Bodden Town. In her spare time, she would ride her bicycle and enjoyed many a party in her day, especially the ones at Christmas time when she got to share a glass of wine with her brothers and sister and meet the newest members of the family. She also was one of the favourite cooks in the family and around town. During Christmas time, she would prepare Cayman- style beef with Scotch bonnet peppers paired with sweet potatoes dug from her yard and breadfruit picked from her brother’s yard. Christian is survived by daughters Corine and Vernell, grandson Rodney, brother Cedric, and a host of family and friends. Her funeral arrangements will be announced later. cartoon The wait - By Caymanman Pines’ oldest resident passes a week before 103rd birthday She died just a week short of her 103rd birthday on 5 April. She was the daughter of Nettie Levy, who lived to be 105. Ariel Christian, pictured with her daughter Corine Rankine, at her 100th birthday celebration in 2017. Christian passed away on Sunday, one week shy of her 103rd birthday. FridAY'S SOLUTiONS 1234567 8 9 10 11 12131415 1617 1819 20212223 24 25 26 27 1234567 8 9 10 11 12131415 1617 1819 20212223 24 25 26 27 Puzzle 16337 ACROSS: 1 Backlog, 5 Pitch, 8 One and all, 9 Owl, 10 Deft, 12 District, 14 Pariah, 15 Rapier, 17 Off and on, 18 Aged, 21 Eye, 22 Triathlon, 24 Batty, 25 Nunnery. DOWN: 1 Broad, 2 Cue, 3 Link, 4 Gratis, 5 Palatial, 6 Two-timing, 7 Holster, 11 For effect, 13 Mainstay, 14 Proverb, 16 Motion, 19 Dingy, 20 Stun, 23 Lie. ACrOSS 1 Period of surveillance (5) 8 Be humiliated (4,4) 9 Steep rock face (5) 10 Be one one’s guard (5,3) 11 North Italian city (5) 12 River bottom (3) 16 Part of the eye (6) 17 To disregard (6) 18 Aries (3) 23 Different (5) 24 Mentally alert (3,5) 25 Try to equal (5) 26 Don’t touch! (5,3) 27 Intoxicating (5) dOWN 2 Inopportune (3-5) 3 Unbecoming (5,3) 4 Comfort in distress (6) 5 Steeplechasing obstacle (5) 6 Conductor’s stick (5) 7 Big and strong (5) 12 Except (3) 13 Faint (3) 14 Refusing to work (2,6) 15 Liberty to act at will (4,4) 19 Loose from moorings (6) 20 Go for a swim (5) 21 Insipid (5) 22 Period of development (5) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16339 The numbers in the black cells are clues. Numbers above the slash are across clues. Number below the slash are down clues. The goal is to enter digits 1 - 9 in the white cells to add up to the number clues. You cannot enter any digit more than once when adding up to clue. 4CICS understands the importance of bringing awareness to all gynecologic cancers—cervical, ovarian, uterine/ endometrial, vaginal and vulvar cancer—and declared March as our Female Cancers Awareness Month! Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the ad sponsored by: 25 ANNIVERSARY th Go to www.cics.ky for ideas on what you can do. For more information call the CI Cancer Society: 949 7618 JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Healthcare facilities, supermarkets, mini-marts, pharmacies, banks and gas stations are the only named businesses allowed to open during daylight hours under new regulations to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Premier Alden McLaughlin announced a package of measures on Friday, which he described as the ‘Stay Home Cayman’ survival plan. The plan enables limited movement and a select-few essential businesses to open during the day. A hard curfew remains in place in the evenings from 7pm until 5am. Later on Friday, government published a list of Public Health (Prevention, Control and Suppression of COVID-19) Regulations which give police the legal mandate to begin enforcing the conditions of that plan. Those regulations outline the essential businesses that are allowed to open, as well as the key personnel who will be allowed freedom of movement, during what the premier called a “soft curfew” to enable more normal living conditions in the day time. Stores on the exempt list will be allowed to open between 6am and 6pm. Banks will be allowed to open between 9am and 1pm. There are no restrictions on hours of operation for healthcare facilities. All stores must ensure social distancing of six feet and no more than six customers are allowed in a mini-mart at any one time. Any businesses not listed in the law can apply for exemption to the ‘competent authority’ – in this case the Ministry of International Trade – through the email address curfewtime@gov.ky. Liquor stores are not expressly listed in the legislation but the premier suggested at the Friday press briefing that they would be allowed to open until 6pm, and several were open Saturday. The regulations also create scope for weddings and funerals to take place with no more than 10 guests. Private parties are banned. Individuals must remain in their homes unless they are going out to one of the exempt businesses or to exercise. “A person may engage in outdoor exercise, whether alone or together with a family member living at the same residence, for no more than an hour and a half each day between the hours of 6:00 am and 6:00 pm, provided that the person maintains a distance of at least six feet or two metres from another person,” the regulations state. Outside of those purposes, anyone who is on the road is liable to be questioned by police and ordered to return home or face arrest. Breach of the law carries a penalty of a $1,000 fine or six months’ jail time. The law includes similar penalties for people who breach social distance limits of six feet in a public place. The regulations are in place for 10 days from Saturday, 28 March, unless they are extended, the document indicates. All public service workers, unless designated essential employees, are required to work remotely from home. Emergency services, sanitation workers, essential utilities staff, security workers and emergency vets are among a long list of essential workers who are exempt from the conditions for work purposes. A ‘hard curfew’ will remain in place for the hours of 7pm to 5am, during which time no businesses will be open and only designated essential workers have permission to be on the road. ‘Soft curfew’ exemptions outlined Can I go to the beach? You are allowed to go to the beach but only to go for a walk or a swim as part of your daily 90-minute exercise allocation. Sunbathing is not “in the spirit of the regulations”, officials said Saturday. Can I go out on my boat? Boating, fishing and all water-sports are banned because the police currently do not have the capacity to enforce the curfew and police the ocean at the same time. Can I visit a friend? No. You are required to stay at home unless you are going to the store, the pharmacy, gas station or to exercise. Private parties are banned and gatherings of more than two people, outside the core family group, are not permitted, Can I walk my dog? Yes. Walking a pet is included in the provisions for exercise. Can I buy beer? Liquor stores have been allowed to open, for now, so, yes, you can buy alcohol as long as you take it home and drink it in your house or your yard. Can my dinner get delivered? Yes. Although restaurants are closed to the public, they are being allowed to operate delivery services up to 9pm. Can I go to work? Unless you are listed among the exemptions for essential services or businesses, you must work from home. What if I am unsure? Ask your boss, or if you are the boss, check the regulations at www.gov.ky/portal/pls/ portal/docs/1/12940549.PDF. If you are not on that list, you must stay home. You can email curfewtime@gov.ky to apply for an exemption. Can I take a taxi? If you need a ride to and from the supermarket or pharmacy, taxis are currently operating with a limit of two passengers at a time. What about weddings and funerals? Weddings and funerals with 10 guests or fewer are allowed under the law. Are churches open on Sundays? No. Churches are also impacted by the limit on public gatherings to no more than two people. Many are holding virtual services online. What if there is an emergency? There is a specific exemption in the regulations that allows people to leave their homes if they are at risk of injury or death. What happens if I break the regulations? There is a penalty of $1,000 fine or six months in prison, but officials have emphasised these are public safety regulations. The worst outcome would be that you could contract the coronavirus yourself and help it spread through the community, putting lives at risk. A Foster's member of staff sprays sanitiser on a customer's hands on Saturday. Under the soft curfew regulations, people are allowed to visit supermarkets. A quick guide to the regulations: 5JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky The CTMH Doctors Hospital expects to have the capacity to carry out 200 coronavirus tests daily as early as this week. In a development that could radically change Cayman’s strategy in fighting the virus, the private hospital has established its own testing laboratory. It has teamed up with Australian medical services firm Ozgene, which has a presence in Cayman’s Special Economic Zone, to retro-fit its chemo compounding lab as a COVID-19 testing facility. Medics in full protective gear, including goggles and N95 masks, will be able to perform the tests on anyone who fits the World Health Organization criteria to be tested. Dr. Yaron Rado, chairman of the hospital board, said it had invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in readying itself to play a pivotal role in the coronavirus crisis. He said the lab could get approval within the next few days from the Health Practice Commission and Public Health England to begin processing patients. Initially he said the lab would test 72 patients daily, ramping up to 200-a-day once it fine-tunes the process. Through its partnership with Ozgene, the hospital has sourced equipment, including a polymerase chain reaction testing machine, which will allow it to test for COVID-19. As a private hospital, Rado said, the facility had been able to tap into different supply lines and would have enough materials to conduct 200 tests a day for the next two weeks. After that, he believes, they will be able to increase even further the number of tests that can be carried out. “We have our supply chain activated and we don’t see any issues there,” he added. He said the lab would enable the government to open up testing to a broader base. Rado said he was in constant contact with the Health Services Authority and would work with public health officials to supplement their testing. The World Health Organization has recommended widespread testing in an effort to isolate COVID-19 carriers, trace their contacts and prevent the spread of the virus. “We have a simple message for all countries: test, test, test,” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, said during a press conference last week. “Test every suspected case; if they test positive, isolate them and find out who they have been in contact with two days before they developed symptoms and test those people, too,” he said. Until now, a lack of resources has prevented Cayman from pursuing this strategy. At a press conference Thursday, Cayman’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee said the island had the capacity to carry out only 100 more tests. There was better news Saturday, however, with health officials announcing the arrival of new reagents – chemical compounds used in the testing process – taking the number of patients that can be tested through the Health Services Authority to more than 500. Speaking on Thursday, Lee added, “If we were to have the abilities, we could think about how we could be more inventive. Could we release people by doing wider testing, just like they have done in Korea? “They have used testing as their means to try and get out of the explosion, which they have very successfully done.” Rado said the protocols on who could be tested would come from the HSA and WHO. He said CTMH Doctors Hospital will outsource chemo compounding to the HSA while the lab is operating as a COVID-19 testing facility. He added that the hospital had altered its processes to keep everything COVID-related separate from other functions. All new patients, whatever their medical complaint, are being isolated and won’t go on to a general ward until they have been tested for coronavirus. Dr. Frank Koentgen, CEO and founder of Ozgene, explained the testing process in a video produced for CTMH Doctors Hospital. He said, “We are looking for the specific genetic code of the the coronavirus. We do a general swab that a hospital does many times, from that swab we extract the genetic code, and then we have a big beautiful machine that can tell us whether there is a coronavirus gene in there or not.” How a coronavirus test works A swab is taken from the patient 1 Chemical compounds known as reagents, which can be used to target specific DNA codes, are also in the tube 4 The sample is taken to the lab and placed in a test tube 2 If the targeted DNA is present it will be multiplied many times creating flashes of light 5 Lab techs use a PCR, polymerase chain reaction, machine to transform the virus’ genetic material into DNA 3 The PCR machine records the levels of light in the sample 6 A high light presence means a positive test for COVID-19 7 RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Cayman’s rapidly dwindling supply of COVID-19 testing materials received a boost on Saturday as one of two scheduled consignments arrived on island. Medical Officer of Health Dr. Samuel Williams-Rodriguez made the announcement at government’s COVID-19 press briefing on Saturday. “We have [received] enough material to test another 480 patients,” he said. Williams-Rodriguez said 19 patients were tested on Saturday, leaving enough material to run 60 tests, but now that the new shipment for the Health Services Authority is on island, more tests can be run under the protocols outlined by the Pan-American Health Organization and World Health Organization. Governor Martyn Roper announced Friday that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was also air-freighting supplies for the Overseas Territories, including Cayman. Those supplies, he said on Saturday, should arrive soon. However, Roper said the US shipment was welcomed news. “I think the situation on that is clearly a lot better than it was,” he said. He said on Friday that Cayman, which is the only British Overseas Territory doing local tests, should not have testing concerns. “I hope that they (the supplies) are here within a week,” he said. Additionally, CTMH Doctors Hospital is preparing to conduct testing and has indicated that it should have the capacity to perform 200 tests daily by next week. On Thursday, Cayman’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee said that Cayman had roughly 100 COVID-19 testing kits left. On Friday, 15 test results were announced and they all came back negative. As of Friday, 190 samples have been tested in Cayman, 181 of which were negative. On Saturday, Williams- Rodriguez said he did not have any new test results to share, but he did provide an update on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. He said the Cayman Brac flu clinic saw 13 patients in its first week and six patients attended the clinic in the second week. “Three patients have been tested and I want to confirm that no positive case has been coming from Cayman Brac,” he said. There have been eight positive tests on Grand Cayman so far. There has also been one inconclusive test which may be the island’s first case of community transmission - that result is still under review. A 68-year-old Italian man was Cayman’s first COVID-19 positive patient. He disembarked from the Costa Luminosa cruise ship to get emergency treatment for cardiac arrest. He passed away two days after it was confirmed that he had coronavirus. On Friday, Lee addressed the number of tests left on island, saying that while supplies are decreasing, Cayman will not stop taking samples. “We wouldn’t put a pause on them. We would just continue to test as per the protocols, but they would be sent to CARPHA (Caribbean Public Health Agency) for analysis rather than be done locally,” Lee said. While Lee was unable to say how many items were contained in the FCO consignment, he said the shipment from the US to the HSA “will enable us to [perform], I think, around another 500 tests. So that’s a good consignment. The one from the UK, I don’t know the exact quantity they’re sending, but … they’re slated to be here shortly; I mean, within days rather than weeks,” he said. On Friday, prior to the COVID-19 briefing, Roper visited the HSA forensic lab, which has been doing the local testing, and commended the staff for their dedication and hard work. Roper said the visit was also to ensure that he himself understood the testing process. “I think the main message is that ... we can have confidence in our testing system, and it’s proven to be robust. Public Health England have reaffirmed that PAHO, the Americas World Health Organization regional body, has approved it, and it was impressive to see this in operation,” Roper said. He added that Cayman still remains the only overseas territory that can do testing locally “to the quality that is being done here in the island”. “So, we should be very proud of all the people who are involved in that,” Roper said. Premier Alden McLaughlin has also endorsed the testing system and its method of operation. US shipment of COVID-19 testing supplies arrives Doctors Hospital COVID lab could allow broader testing cayman compass 6 news N news MONDAY, 30 MARCH 2020Catch up on the news! Log on to caymancompass.com or Cayman Compass social media pages for our weekly news recap. Five minutes. All news. All Cayman. caymancompass.com RE/MAX Cayman Islands has launched the ‘In This Together’ campaign, which the real estate company says aims to support Cayman by giving back to local charities during the COVID-19 crisis. Charities will include Feed Our Future, Meals on Wheels and the Cayman Food Bank, among others, the company said in a press release Friday. RE/MAX Cayman Islands kicked off the campaign with a $2,500 donation to Meals on Wheels, which provides meals to seniors, the homebound and the disabled throughout Grand Cayman. “Nearly 300 meals are delivered daily, directly to their homes free of charge. More now than ever, the most vulnerable in our community continue to be fed, thanks to generous donations like that of RE/ MAX Cayman Islands,” Jennifer West, Meals on Wheels general manager, said in the release. RE/MAX said it will match any donation made to Meals on Wheels, using #INTHISTOGETHER, up to an additional $2,500. “When faced with a crisis, the one thing the people of the Cayman Islands can be proud of is how we come together as one and today is no different,” said James Bovell, broker/owner at RE/MAX Cayman Islands, in the release. “With the developments of the COVID-19 virus raising levels of concerns across the country, it is important now that we come together as one, that we keep each other safe and that we support each other here in Cayman.” Kim Lund, also broker/owner at RE/MAX Cayman Islands, added, “We encourage everyone who can to make the pledge to join us by posting photos and comments on social media using the hashtag #INTHISTOGETHER to share how they are giving back. We have donated an initial $25,000 to launch this campaign. 100% of these funds will go directly to local charities and none of these monies were or will be used to market and promote this campaign.” For more information and to check out the campaign’s blog, visit www.inthistogether.ky. RE/MAX launches ‘In This Together’ fundraising campaign RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Three people remained in serious condition in hospital Sunday after a two-vehicle collision in Bodden Town in which one of the vehicles burst into flames. The incident happened just after 4:30pm on Saturday on Northward Road, Bodden Town, police said. Emergency services and officers were dispatched after it was reported that two vehicles had collided and several people were injured. Police said the head-on collision happened when one of the vehicles veered to the right and crashed into the other, causing it to run off the road, hit a tree and catch fire. One of the vehicles is believed to have had only one occupant and the other is undertood to have had two occupants. Witnesses at the scene told the Cayman Compass a man had been trapped in his car when the vehicle caught fire. Residents attempted to assist and tried to extinguish the flames until emergency services arrived. One woman that she had been in bed when she heard a bang and ran outside. She described seeing a car on fire and people rushing to help. At least three ambulances responded to the scene and the police helicopter circled the area. The area was cordoned off by police for most of the evening as officers conducted their investigations. Traffic was diverted from Northward Road. Police said all three people in the collision were transported to the Cayman Islands Hospital by ambulance, where they were treated for what appear to be serious injuries. The Cayman Islands Fire Service extinguished the fire. The RCIPS Traffic and Roads Policing Unit is investigating the crash. Anyone with information about this incident can call the Unit at 649-6254. Three hospitalised after fiery crash The burnt-out vehicle in Saturday's collision in Bodden Town that sent three people to hospital. cayman compass 7 news N news MONDAY, 30 MARCH 2020Dr. Marc Lockhart gives advice for coping KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky The global impact of coronavirus may feel overwhelming for any one person to process. The news updates are both constant and frightening, and it’s natural for that to take an emotional toll. In times like these, however, it is important to remember that we are not powerless. Mental health techniques and resources can help us reclaim a sense of calm and direction in our lives. Dr. Marc Lockhart, chairperson of the Cayman Islands Mental Health Commission, broke down some suggestions to help manage our mental wellbeing during these exceptionally stressful times. Accept the changes It may feel like coronavirus has taken over our lives. Schools and workplaces are closed. We can’t meet up with our friends. Our regular routines have fallen apart. Unfortunately, this feeling isn’t far from the truth. “Coronavirus, to some extent, has taken over our lives and I have been repeating that we need to accept that,” Lockhart said. The urge to deny and push away the very real disruptions in our lives only makes it more difficult to adapt and respond, he explained. “The first thing we have to accept is that these are uncharted, unusual, very challenging times that we’re living in. And there’s a lot of uncertainty and that uncertainty is something that we as human beings do not like.” So, say we accept that coronavirus has severely disrupted our lives and turned our plans upside down. What then? Lockhart suggests some ways to help cope. Be patient, but plan “Our schedules have been one of the biggest, most obvious changes affecting most of us, and you know, I really sympathise with families right now who are juggling maybe working from home and having their children learning from home,” Lockhart said. “It’s going to take us some time to reorganise and re-establish a schedule, and in order for that to be done, we are going to have to really do something tangible.” While we can’t seamlessly restructure our lives overnight, we can take proactive steps to return some sense of control to our schedules, he explained. “We need to sit down, make a list, write things down in terms of how we’re going to manage having the kids at home, working from home, preparing meals, keeping a distance from others, giving [the kids] activities,” he said. Making a list and writing down our needs can help us feel more organised and empower us to actually become more organised. “It reduces that feeling of being overwhelmed,” Lockhart said. “So, make a list.” Factor in school and work schedules, meals, screen time, exercise, and activities meant to disconnect. This to-do list can also be treated as a journal, where we write down our thoughts, our plans and our goals. “It’s going take you about seven to 10 days to really get into a schedule and get things organised. So, be patient with yourself, but don’t just rely on time to change things,” he said. “We have to really involve ourselves by making a list and trying to organise ourselves cognitively with what we have to face.” Manage intake of information While digital tools can help connect us, they can also overwhelm us with a constant onslaught of news updates. It’s important to recognise the type of information we are consuming and how it makes us feel. “We think of it as a coin, heads and tails,” Lockhart said. “So, one side of that coin is we want valuable, legitimate, validated information. So, we have to be careful of the sources that we’re using to get information about what’s happening.” He suggests first turning to public health resources, like the World Health Organization, the Health Services Authority and the chief medical officer, Dr. John Lee. “Then on the other side of the coin, we have to manage the amount.” Pay attention to time spent on devices and watching the news. At a certain point in the evening, it may help to turn off cellphones or leave them in another room. “There are times you have to disconnect and I’m saying we’re now in a situation where that is extremely important,” he said. “We have to turn the phone off. You have to get to a certain point in the day and realise that there’s a point of negative returns on the amount of information we take in … It’s not going to help you to get the rest you need, to recharge your body and your mind to face the next day. Nothing’s going to happen between that time that’s going to change anything worthwhile of benefit for us.” Reframe the situation Sitting idle at home can feel frustrating but we have more power in this situation than it initially appears. Staying home and doing nothing are actually the most important acts we can commit right now, he said. By practising social isolation and following public health advice, we become part of the larger solution. “So, staying at home, keeping up social isolation, not going out unnecessarily, using the hygiene techniques in terms of washing our hands and being careful who we interact with is actually a very solid means of contributing to helping control the spread of what’s going on, and hopefully shortening the duration of what we’re going through,” Lockhart said. “So, it’s reframing in our mind the ways that we can contribute and help. Many of us feel that, ‘Well, I’m just sitting at home. I’m just locked away.’ And, I say, we need to restructure that. You are doing something. You’re doing quite a lot.” Recognise unhealthy environments For many people, home can be a stressful, unsafe or traumatic place. That makes the curfew measures even more painful and unhealthy for many members of our community. “Many of us are in environments that are very disruptive, that there is substance use. There is physical and emotional abuse,” Lockhart said. “It’s still very important to know that if you are feeling overwhelmed, you can reach out to a lot of the private facilities on island. You can reach out to the Health Services Authority that does have a counselling and psychiatric department to get guidance and help.” While exercising, maintaining a good diet and getting enough sleep can help reduce stress, it is important to recognise when a situation is out of control. “We don’t want to minimise. If those things aren’t helping or you’re in an environment that is challenging, we still have resources that will continue to provide help, guidance, and support, and if necessary, remove you from that environment and find somewhere else.” Monitor drug and alcohol use A sudden surge in stress and tension can increase the temptation to self-medicate and turn to drugs or alcohol to disconnect from reality. In fact, an increase in substance abuse is something health care professionals anticipate and are ready to address. “Whenever we’re going through any type of a major, traumatic community event, we find that as time goes on, the longer that we have to isolate, the higher the risk increases for things like poor coping-type mechanisms, increased alcohol use, increased use of substances,” Lockhart said. It’s important to be aware of how much we’re consuming and even writing down how many drinks, cigarettes or other harmful substances we’re consuming each day, he explained. “Again, if we find that we’ve gotten into a problem or there’s an issue with that, help is still available.” Planning, virtual counselling help fight COVID-19 blues Dr. Marc Lockhart Experts advise that limiting alcohol consumption can help with managing stress. Avoid an onslaught of news updates and monitor use of social media, experts advise. There are a number of online counselling services available. 8KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky It might feel like pressure in the chest or an inexplicably rapid heart rate. Maybe our foot suddenly starts to tap, and we feel the urge to stand up and pace around the house. During the day, our minds can’t focus and, at night, our thoughts won’t let us sleep. Anxiety manifests in many ways and, by now, plenty of residents in the Cayman Islands are familiar with the symptoms. The islands’ mental health professionals are well aware of the stress and uncertainty that COVID-19 has unleashed on the community. “It’s normal to feel overwhelmed by news of the outbreak, particularly if you have experienced mental health issues before,” said Health Services Authority psychiatric nurse Dympna Carten. The influx of negative, fast-moving information can easily overwhelm people and it’s natural to need a timeout and extra support. Counsellors and psychiatrists have been working behind the scenes to step up their remote capabilities through online sessions, social media support groups and consultations by phone. Despite the isolation many are experiencing, mental health resources have become more accessible than ever. The Cayman Islands Psychological Association has partnered with Hazard Management Cayman Islands, for example, to provide a mental health hotline, 1-800-534-MIND(6463). The CIPA had its first mental health clinical directors’ meeting this week BAFCaymanBAFCaymanofficial @baf_cayman On Tuesday, March 24th the Government of the Cayman Islands issued a mandate that impacts our business and our ability to provide personal services to our valued clients. Accordingly our offices will remain closed to the public until further notice. Premium payments can be made via one of the following methods: Online payment with FirstCaribbean Int’l Bank (select BAF Insurance from the list of payees) Cheque/Bank Draft/ Health Claims can be placed in the Drop Box located downstairs at our cashier’s office. Via online local bank transfer to the account below: Account name BAF Insurance Company (Cayman) Ltd. Bank Name: FirstCaribbean International Bank Account Type: Savings 10417336 (KYD) Chequing: 10417310 (USD) Debit/Credit Cards - Requests to pay via debit/credit cards can be done via email. www.bafcayman.com Customer Service For policy and claims queries, email our Customer Service team at caymancustomerservice@mybafsolutions.com In case of emergency, call any of the numbers below. 925-5676 925-2988 925-9198 916-3543 NOTICE Online resources expand to address coronavirus anxiety Even mental health professionals are taking advantage of meeting and sharing resources online. The Cayman Islands Psychological Association held an online clinical directors meeting recently. Even mental health professionals are taking advantage of meeting and sharing resources online. The Cayman Islands Psychological Association held an online clinical directors meeting recently. Health Services Authority – 949-8600, www.hsa.ky Department of Counselling Services – https://www.dcs.gov.ky Family Resource Centre – 949-8789 Mental Health Hotline – 1-800-534-MIND(6463), Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Alex Panton Foundation – https://alexpantonfoundation.ky, info@alexpantonfoundation.ky The Wellness Centre – 949-9355, info@wellnesscentre.ky, https://wellnesscentre.ky Colours Cayman – 324-3779, hello@colours.ky Cayman ABA – 947-5477, info@caymanaba.com, https://www.caymanaba.com OnCourse Cayman – 745-6463, http://oncoursecayman.com Behavioral Health Associates Cayman – 746-0066, https://bhac.ky Hope Academy Clinical Services – 749-4673, cpantry@hopecayman.com, https://www.hopecayman.com/clinical-services.html Infinite Mindcare – 926-0882, info@infinitemindcare.com Cayman Islands Psychological Association - http://cipa.ky Coping with uncertainty requires a few important ingredients: Patience: Be patient with yourselves and others. Flexibility: Let go of how you want things to be. Mindfulness: Just notice your surroundings and feelings. Action: Paint your nails, bake a cake or clean a closet. Expression: Express your feelings and thoughts. Movement: Move every hour for five minutes. Tips from The Wellness Centre Mental health services in Cayman: via video conferencing and brought together practitioners from across the islands to share ideas and resources. Meanwhile, Infinite Mindcare is promoting free 10-15-minute check-in calls and the Wellness Centre has stepped up its social media presence to offer mindfulness and coping tips. For Cayman Islands students, a private Facebook group, ‘Stay Safe & Chill’, offers a way to connect even while young people remain socially isolated. The initiative, launched recently by the Alex Panton Foundation and government partners, seeks to keep youth emotionally healthy through online activities like yoga and meditation classes, group games, and workshops. For those who need it, resources and help are available. 9Next >