SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 5-11 June 2020 Business Development bank could lend businesses up to $100K Page 12 Health City hopeful over immunity transfusion Page 6 Parents, children feel mental toll of crisis Pages 8 and 9 Fast-track testing could speed up tourism revival Page 10 Kitesurfing kids on charity mission Page 14 Photo: Taneos Ramsay640-FILM (640-3456) Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 Camana Bay Cinema is currently closed. Stay home and stay safe Cayman. Follow us on social media for Movie Trivia Tuesdays. Open for outdoor dining starting Sunday, 7 June CURBSIDE PICKUP • TAKE-OUT • DELIVERY 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 showers. weather Forecast today Cayman Islands 86°F 75°F HIGH LOW WINDS North to northeast at 10 to 15 knots. SEA STATE Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass Reopening of economy continues Around 300 businesses, including retailers, realtors and construction firms, got back to work on Monday as some semblance of normalcy returned in Cayman. Next week, bars and restaurants will be allowed to open for outdoor dining and drinking. People will also be allowed to use the beach for exercise any day of the week. Health City antibody testing breakthrough A highly accurate COVID-19 antibody test could soon be used to determine the prevalence of the virus in the Cayman Islands. Health City has a Roche analyser machine, which is approved by Public Health England, and the hospital hopes to begin a testing programme within the next week. Antibody tests can determine past as well as well as current infection and could be useful for a variety of reasons, potentially including allowing people with ‘immunity’ from re-infection to travel. Optimism that tourists could return this year With several countries in the region beginning to allow tourists to return, Cayman is proceeding with caution. The borders will not reopen until 1 Sept. at the earliest, but Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell and Premier Alden McLaughlin both indicated this week that visitors should be able to return this year. Kirkconnell said travellers could undergo high-speed testing at gateway airports before they get on a plane. In the meantime, his ministry is working with economist Paul Byles on a three-year-plan for the revival of the stricken sector. More than 1,000 Caymanians lost tourism jobs More than 1,000 Caymanian tourism workers have applied to the government for assistance after losing their jobs in the industry, Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell said in a statement Wednesday. The government has extended the deadline for unemployed Caymanian tourism-related employees to register for assistance with the Ministry of Tourism. They can continue to register through 7 June. Kirkconnell told the Cayman Compass that government is planning a three-month stipend for workers as the industry gets back on its feet. Child diagnosed with coronavirus A 9-year-old child has tested positive for COVID-19 and is showing symptoms. The patient, who has not required hospitalisation, is one of seven children to contract the virus. Of those, three have shown symptoms. Premier Alden McLaughlin said the case was a sobering development that showed government was correct to be cautious about reopening schools and childcare centres. Most cases asymptomatic The vast majority of people who have contracted the virus over the past month have had no symptoms. That largely continued to be the case this week, with health officials cautiously optimistic that this strain of the virus may be weakening. As of Thursday afternoon, Cayman had 160 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Hunger issues continue Thousands continue to rely on charities for food amid a growing humanitarian crisis. Acts of Random Kindness, Meals on Wheels, the Cayman Food Bank, Resilience Cayman and multiple other non-profits and churches are providing meals to Caymanians and guest workers who have no income. COVID-19 weekly round-up: Normalcy begins to return to Cayman Hard-curfew hours: 10pm-4:30am. Beach access: 5:15am-9pm every day for exercise purposes only. Letter days no longer apply to beaches. No sunbathing, parties or picnics allowed. Fishing: Allowed any day of the week from shore or boat. Six people can be in a boat together. Public gatherings: Up to six people. Exercise: Between 4:45am to 9pm for two hours. Up to six people can exercise together. Restaurants and bars: Patios and outdoor areas only can be opened until 9pm. Up to six people allowed at a single table. Tables must be placed 8 feet apart. Food delivery: Allowed until 11pm. Sunday travel: People can visit gas stations or mini-marts on Sundays. These regulations come into effect on Sunday, 7 June, and will remain in place until 22 June. Quick look at latest regulations cayman compass 2 news N news FRIDAY, 5 JUNE 2020Massy United Insurance Supports Meals for Students Massy United Insurance has partnered with the Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman to provide further support for the Homeschool Lunch Initiative for udents in need. We recently donated to Kiwanis towards the purchase of supermarket vouchers to support the initiative. This geure ensures these vulnerable udents continue to receive meals for 23 weeks, until the end of the summer! This donation in the Cayman Islands forms one small part of our regional community outreach initiative to support families impaed by the Covid-19 Pandemic. Massy United Insurance is inveed in enhancing lives in the communities where we operate. Through this initiative we aim to assi vulnerable families across the region to ensure the well-being of our children, eecially as the hurricane season begins. “When the plight of these udents was brought to our aention, we could not say no. The well-being of our youth has always been of key importance to the Massy United Insurance family and we are happy to know that we have been able to reduce the impa of the pandemic in some way in this market,” ated Winsome Gibbs, Cayman Executive for Massy United Insurance. While Kiwanis provided free breakfas for countless children at the local primary schools for many years, recent developments brought an enormous increase in the need for free meals. “When Kiwanis (along with The Department of Education Services and Feed our Future) took on the Homeschool Lunch Program for 465 udents at 13 of the Government Schools in March, we had no idea how much of a need there was. It has been humbling witnessing firhand the reality that many of them are living right now. If we can relieve ju a lile bit of these children’s ress by providing them one meal a day, then it is worth it. It is only with generous support, like Massy United Insurance, who has regionally decided to support the mo vulnerable families and are taking care of their community when they need it mo that we can make this a reality. Kiwanis is so grateful for Massy United’s support, and we wish them continued success in all they do”, said Kadi Pentney of the Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman as she thanked Massy United Insurance. Massy United Insurance is one of the leading insurance companies in the English- and Dutch-eaking Caribbean. We oer a comprehensive range of general insurance produs and services to cuomers in more than 19 dierent territories, through our branch and agency network. As a financially rong and reliable company, we have maintained a rating of ‘A-’ (Excellent) by A.M. Be for 14 consecutive years. Massy United Insurance has partnered with the Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman to provide further support for the Homeschool Lunch Initiative for students in need. We recently donated to Kiwanis towards the purchase of supermarket vouchers to support the initiative. This gesture ensures these vulnerable students continue to receive meals for 23 weeks, until the end of the summer! This donation in the Cayman Islands forms one small part of our regional community outreach initiative to support families impacted by the Covid-19 Pandemic. Massy United Insurance is invested in enhancing lives in the communities where we operate. Through this initiative we aim to assist vulnerable families across the region to ensure the well-being of our children, especially as the hurricane season begins. “When the plight of these students was brought to our attention, we could not say no. The well-being of our youth has always been of key importance to the Massy United Insurance family and we are happy to know that we have been able to reduce the impact of the pandemic in some way in this market,” stated Winsome Gibbs, Cayman Executive for Massy United Insurance. While Kiwanis provided free breakfasts for countless children at the local primary schools for many years, recent developments brought an enormous increase in the need for free meals. “When Kiwanis (along with The Department of Education Services and Feed our Future) took on the Homeschool Lunch Program for 465 students at 13 of the Government Schools in March, we had no idea how much of a need there was. It has been humbling witnessing firsthand the reality that many of them are living right now. If we can relieve just a little bit of these children’s stress by providing them one meal a day, then it is worth it. It is only with generous support, like Massy United Insurance, who has regionally decided to support the most vulnerable families and are taking care of their community when they need it most that we can make this a reality. Kiwanis is so grateful for Massy United’s support, and we wish them continued success in all they do”, said Kadi Pentney of the Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman as she thanked Massy United Insurance. Massy United Insurance is one of the leading insurance companies in the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. We offer a comprehensive range of general insurance products and services to customers in more than 19 different territories, through our branch and agency network. As a financially strong and reliable company, we have maintained a rating of ‘A-’ (Excellent) by A.M. Best for 14 consecutive years. Video services expanded but public access remains tenuous KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky Social distancing and public- health measures have forced most institutions to re-evaluate community interactions and access. For the Cayman Islands courts system, that has meant an expansion of digital proceedings, with defendants, lawyers and judges often communicating over Zoom video calls, rather than face to face. The transition to online hearings has not meant just anyone can log onto or broadcast court matters, however. While the www.judicial.ky website provides links to live court streams, those interested in following particular cases should be aware that proceedings are rarely available for viewing on the site. In April, a practice direction issued by Chief Justice Anthony Smellie indicated most proceedings would be streamed live over the website, but this has not been the case. That release also called for recordings of open-court proceedings to be published on the site for 30 days after the conclusion of the spring session. Those recordings are not currently posted online. The Judicial Administration had not clarified by press time if and when live streams would be made available on its website. So, how can a court case be viewed? Viewing of most court matters will take some pre-planning. To guarantee access, most individuals will still need to venture downtown – although they won’t be sitting in the standard courtroom viewing gallery. For members of the public, hearings for cases that would normally include a public gallery will be live streamed at Constitution Hall, previously called Town Hall, in George Town. Public-health protocol has been established at the location, including distancing and frequent cleaning of chairs. Attendees are also asked to wear a mask inside the hall. For the media, remote access has been provided through Zoom links, which are provided by email upon request. While up to two journalists may be allowed to enter a courtroom to observe proceedings in person, members of the media must first register with the Judicial Administration to be approved for online access. Requests for access may take several hours or an entire working day, so journalists who would like to guarantee access to a case should plan ahead and request a link in advance. Journalists who have requested same-day registration and access have encountered delays. Recording or re-broadcast of live streams is prohibited. “Where parties or the press are allowed to observe a hearing remotely, they are reminded that it will be a contempt of court to make unauthorized recordings of the proceedings or to use or to allow the use of such recordings to interfere with the administration of justice,” Smellie’s 5 May practice direction reads. Can the court deny remote access? Judges and magistrates hold the power to determine whether a hearing should be held in private, if they feel such a measure is necessary to ensure proper administration of justice. Much of the Cayman Marl Road harassment case, for example, was kept offline and restricted by judge’s order this month, while the court heard evidence considered sensitive for broadcast. Family matters will also be kept offline. “In particular, recognizing the sensitivities of such cases, the usual practice in Family and Children Law proceedings will be to not broadcast those proceedings and in criminal proceedings the broadcast may be suspended to prevent transmission to subsequent witnesses,” reads the 5 May practice direction. Which other ways can courts be accessed? Members of the public have a right to request hearing transcripts, audio recordings and notes from the courts. Transcripts may come with an expense, however, and access to court files relies on approval by the judge. Audio recordings are made available for listening in a court building. Items such as cause lists, practice directions and unreported judgments, can be viewed on www.judicial.ky. Court access in times of pandemic cayman compass 3 N news FRIDAY, 5 JUNE 20201234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Dissenter from dogma (7) 5 Insipid (5) 8 Dominance (5,4) 9 Cancelled (3) 10 Brass wind instrument (4) 12 Official public statement (8) 14 Method (6) 15 Comfort in distress (6) 17 University teacher (8) 18 Consider (4) 21 Young goat (3) 22 Angry (2,1,6) 24 In good time (5) 25 No longer existing (7) DOWN 1 Place much frequented (5) 2 Sharp blow (3) 3 Change course of (4) 4 Group of hired applauders (6) 5 Ill feeling (3,5) 6 Reversal of opinion (5-4) 7 Vindication (7) 11 Onlooker (9) 13 Rashness (8) 14 Scintillate (7) 16 Sorcerer (6) 19 Virtue (5) 20 Grumble (4) 23 Write (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16397 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. TODAY'S SOLUTIONS Puzzle 16397 ACROSS: 1 Heretic, 5 Bland, 8 Upper hand, 9 Off, 10 Tuba, 12 Bulletin, 14 System, 15 Solace, 17 Academic, 18 Deem, 21 Kid, 22 In a temper, 24 Early, 25 Defunct. DOWN: 1 Haunt, 2 Rap, 3 Turn, 4 Claque, 5 Bad blood, 6 About-face, 7 Defence, 11 Bystander, 13 Temerity, 14 Sparkle, 16 Wizard, 19 Merit, 20 Beef, 23 Pen. I have seen a few stories about landlords trying to work with some tenants during this time. However, what about the landlords who fail to return security deposits to former tenants? This is something that many landlords do when the tenant has left the island. I have a $1,500 deposit that is not being returned by one of your Caymanian property owners. Her reason for not returning the deposit is because she cannot find a new tenant! How ridiculous! I wanted to bring this situation to light, as I am not the only person to be a victim of this practice. I am currently looking for an attorney to settle this issue. Jeffrey Raikes Special Report: Hunger, humility and hope amid humanitarian crisis This is a heart-wrenching story, so glad it’s being told. The Cayman Islands is not a third-world country and yet reading this makes one wonder. The government with its large reserves and ability to borrow is not taking care of its people. Shouldn’t that be the first government priority? To paraphrase the government, “Dead citizens don’t make good voters.” It’s amazing that the private sector, including a lot of expats, are stepping up but the government must provide funding to people. Cayman residents should not have to wonder day by day if they or their children will eat today. Deplorable situation. – Michael Allen This crisis has brought the appalling fact into sharp focus that the public domain does far more for the needy than the government entities that should be handling this situation do. – Tracey Kline It would be great to have the opportunity to help out where possible once the border reopens. – Aaron James West Well, it would be nice if the government actually gave the money they said they would to help with groceries. – Phaide Maxim-Hatch And the government just said they got this! What kind of hypocrisy is this? – Joan Walter This article speaks of the power of community and civic- mindedness. What is not mentioned in this article and what very few people know about Beto [Anglin] is that he is a survivor of a massive heart attack. But that has not stopped Beto from playing his role in helping others through this desperate time. I’m not advocating that everyone who has an illness should still get out there and do jumping jacks and backflips in order to help in the community, but that those who are able to apply as much adamancy about helping as Beto Landlord not returning security deposit What they’re saying cartoon Get Set - By Caymanman has shown, in the way they can. With much gratitude to everyone who is playing a role in helping the community at this time. We’ll get through this by the help of God and love for our neighbours. God bless the Cayman Islands. – Kattina Anglin Getting to know you: Dr. John Lee Wonderful article on a wonderful man – thank you, Dr. Lee, for your guidance to us all. – Monica Lee Rivers Always looking forward to his briefings... true ‘celebrity’ in Cayman! – Kasia Kiel Lovely interview – thank you so much, Dr Lee. You are such an asset, we are so lucky to have you as chief medical officer during this crisis. – Rachel Osborne Dr. Lee is well loved by all! We truly appreciate the work he has put in to help keep everyone safe. Thank you for sharing a more personal view of the man behind the numbers! – Krista Vaicaitis Ombudsman recommends disciplining officer over dirt-bike chase The cop used necessary force to protect the innocent people on the roads. – Jason Michael Clayton Moir As should be; the rider was definitely in the wrong, but as for somebody whose job is to uphold the law, that was definitely not the way to have dealt with the situation. I’m sure had the boy been killed (God forbid) y’all thoughts would’ve been different, though, right? Open your eyes, people, look at what is going on around the world. The police are not God! And they sure as hell shouldn’t get to decide the consequences of the apprehended. After all, that’s not their job. – Cidni Jacques How police officers behave and react says a great deal about who is leading them. They constantly need to be reminded that their primary job is to ‘serve and protect’ and not to use their position to ‘intimidate, scare and kill’. It is vitally important that they are held responsible for actions at all times, otherwise we change from a democracy into a one-party state. A policeman or woman that doesn’t want to be filmed by the public is clearly doing something wrong... and they know it themselves. – Sally Brooker Be careful about wishing away law and order, you might get what you wish for. – David M Acton RCIPS has a lot more to answer for! Hope we see wha’ goin’ on, and act on it! Whispers and talking not getting things done! But hey, it could be worse, right? Yeah, let’s sit around for it to get worse before it gets better! See how much better it is then! – Cameron Castillo Letters Online cayman compass 4 news N news FRIDAY, 5 JUNE 2020cayman compass 5 FRIDAY, 5 JUNE 2020 Tel: 640.6272 / 922.9711Email: carclinic.ky@gmail.com Oil & Filter Service + 26 POINT INSPECTION OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE Mon-Friday 7:30am - 5pm Saturday 9am -12pm. Auto Care Center diagnose the problem and fix it right the first time. We have certified licensed technicians. We diagnose and test your vehicle so we will NOT charge you for a FULL SERVICE if it’s not needed - NO HIDDEN FEES. FREE QUOTE. 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Kirk Motors Building ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Outdoor restaurants and bars will start reopening as soon as Sunday, providing that they meet the necessary safety requirements. “From 7 June, 2020, in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, restaurants and bars will be able to serve customers on any patio or other outdoor area which forms a part of the premises of the bar or restaurant,” Premier Alden McLaughlin confirmed at last Friday’s COVID-19 press briefing. For Christopher ‘Jiffo’ Robinson, who owns and operates two bars and a restaurant on Grand Cayman, the announcement is welcomed news after having enduring more than two-and-a-half months without sales. “No money being made, bills to be paid, I don’t know what we are going to have to do to get through this, but it is not going to be easy,” said Robinson, who runs the Jungle Bar and Lounge, Jiffo’s Bar and Lounge, and Jiffo’s Restaurant. His uncertainty is shared by other restaurant and bar owners, like Markus Mueri, the proprietor of Deckers, Abacus, and Karoo. “Not operating for two, three months comes with a lot of extra costs. Our freezers are full of food, our coolers, our wine rooms… we still have to pay utility bills and medical insurance for our employees, so it comes with a cost to close down,” said Mueri. “[The reopening] is a major step in the right direction for our economy coming back. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to shine and create confidence for our society. It is immensely, immensely important for Cayman.” Mueri, who is part of the Independent Restaurant Coalition – an unofficial grouping of restaurants and stakeholders in the food- and-beverage industry set up in response to the coronavirus crisis – is one of several people who were instrumental in helping to develop new COVID-19 safety guidelines for restaurants, allowing them to reopen as restrictions are relaxed. The coalition has been working with the Cayman Islands Tourism Association. “We have come up with priorities, with training, with pre-opening tests, and floor-plan recommendations,” said Mueri. “The Cayman government has been very, very helpful, with everybody working together. We have created procedures to [go] by.” Those procedures include a six-person-limit per table – and unless customers are from the same household, social-distancing guidelines apply. Tables must be at least eight feet apart. No person is to be seated at an indoor bar. Guests are encouraged not to leave their table to talk or mingle with other patrons, and when away from their table, they should wear a face mask. Only the outdoor areas of bars or restaurants will be open to customers for sit-down drinks or dinner. The coronavirus has resulted in the collapse of the tourism industry, and subsequent spike in the number of unemployed, estimated to be more than 10,000 people. This harsh reality is something Mueri said restaurants will have to bear in mind, if they want to survive in a post- COVID-19 market. “Everybody needs to scale it back a little bit, and everybody will make less money,” he said. “We do need to control the costs, how much it costs to go out for dinner because people don’t have a whole lot of money in their pockets. It is a luxury, going out for dinner.” Mueri said all restaurants should strive to make it to December – a sentiment echoed by John Ebanks Sr., a night manager of the Mango Tree Restaurant and Bar. “It has hurt real bad financially, because we kept all 14 staff on payroll,” said Ebanks. He said he hopes to reopen the bar in phases, with the first step being the reopening of its outdoor section. “We are hoping [to be open] from Sunday morning, from 11 o’clock till 9 o’clock, to give people a chance to get home by 10[pm],” said Ebanks. Until social-distancing guidelines are further relaxed, Robinson is urging patrons to understand that the post-COVID-19 bar service will not always mirror how it used to operate. “These are different times now; we have to bear in mind now this COVID-19 is a serious thing, so let’s keep preaching and pushing for social distancing,” he said. “So you can’t hug and kiss the girls on the cheeks, we have to maintain social distancing; the longer we can do that, the longer we will be able to stay open.” Visit caymancompass.com to see a list of restaurants that are expected to reopen next week. Outdoor bars and restaurants to reopen next week Deckers on West Bay Road is one of the many restaurants that will be reopening. Christopher ‘Jiffo’ Robinson outside his Jungle bar.cayman compass 6 N news FRIDAY, 5 JUNE 2020 Promising research on blood-plasma transfusions JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Blood-plasma transfusions could soon be used to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients, doctors at Health City Cayman Islands believe. The method, which has been used effectively in limited trials, is thought could provide an emergency treatment option for the coronavirus until a vaccine is found. The process involves transferring antibodies from an individual who has recovered from the virus to someone suffering serious symptoms. Doctors at the East End hospital have the equipment and the capacity to perform the procedure and are hopeful that blood- plasma transfusions can be made available for COVID-19 patients in the Cayman Islands once further research is completed and the process is approved globally. The hospital now has an antibody test, which will be used to help determine how many people in the territory have had the virus. Doctors believe these people will have developed a degree of immunity and would be candidates to be blood-plasma donors. “The basic principle is that if you get an infection, antibodies develop in the body,” said Dr. Dhruva Kumar, medical director at the hospital. “Those antibodies will fight with the virus and prevent complications and symptoms.” Patients fighting a virus develop two types of antibodies. The most effective antibodies are typically only found in the blood post-recovery, but they stay in the body for months, even years, after and provide some immunity against reinfection. Preliminary research positive Kumar said preliminary research, including a joint study by, among others, Johns Hopkins and the Mayo Clinic in the US, had demonstrated that transfusing these antibodies into critically ill patients could work. Initial results from that study, involving 5,000 patients, suggest it is safe in treating severely ill patients. Research into its effectiveness is ongoing. “For COVID-19 it has been tested with some promising results,” Kumar said. “If we take the plasma from the blood and give it to the patient with advanced disease, those antibodies in the plasma can fight with the virus.” The transfusion effectively “buys time” for the patient to develop immunity naturally. he said. “They will generate their own antibodies eventually.” Kumar said the process – known as convalescent plasma therapy – has worked in previous outbreaks, from the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic to the SARS outbreak in 2003. He said recovered patients effectively “shared their immunity” with people who were sick. Antibody testing crucial Knowledge of the coronavirus is still developing and it is not yet clear that someone who gets the virus once can’t be infected a second time. Health City’s Roche analyser machine can only indicate if antibodies are present in the blood. The samples would have to be sent to Miami to determine the amount of the relevant antibodies, before transfusion. “This is a must for potential plasma donors because we should know whether the antibody is there in their blood and in what quantity,” said Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil, the hospital’s clinical director. Research suggests enough antibodies can be drawn from one patient to treat two others. “You are giving to a patient with severe disease the ready- made plasma full of antibodies that will start fighting with this virus,” he said. “The research on this from other parts of the world is encouraging, especially from patients that are very critical.” Dr. Jadiyappagoudar Jyoti, pathology specialist at the hospital, said further study was needed to determine the guidelines for using transfusions for the coronavirus. “Many studies have been conducted, but still more studies have to come and details and guidelines established,” she said. “Once the guidelines are in, we should be able to do in-house convalescent plasma therapy.” Testing could begin as early as next week Health City hopes to begin testing patients in Cayman for COVID-19 antibodies within the next week. Shomari Scott, director of business development at the East End hospital, said the new tests could be used to establish how many people had contracted the virus without even knowing it. “A lot of times you hear people saying, ‘I had the worst flu ever in December, I think I had it’ or ‘January I couldn’t breathe, I know I had it’,” he said. Establishing if that is the case is not just a matter of curiosity. Scott said identifying past infections of COVID-19 could help inform decisions about how and when different sectors of the economy open up and may even allow for a controlled resumption of tourism. Health City hopeful over immunity transfusions Blood plasma transfusions share antibodies from a patient who has recovered with someone who is ill. The process involves transferring antibodies from an individual who has recovered from the virus to someone suffering serious symptoms . 5,000 The number of patients who took part in a joint US study into antibody transfusions From left, blood bank technologist John Miller, Dr. Dhruva Kumar and Dr. Jadiyappagoudar Jyoti with the new machine.A pair of turtles mate just off the beach at Boggy Sand Road in West Bay last Friday. 7 news N news NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee indicated this week that divers may be allowed back into the water later this month. Lee, speaking at Tuesday’s COVID-19 press briefing, referenced a story that had appeared in the online version of the Cayman Compass on Monday which featured a number of people from Cayman’s diving community urging government to reopen the dive industry. Lee said he recognised the concerns raised by divers and planned to recommend that those who use their own scuba gear be allowed to dive under the next revision of COVID-related regulations, which are expected to be updated on 22 June. Divers had criticised the government’s rationale behind the continuing ban on scuba diving at a time when many other recreational activities, such as tennis and golf, and a large number of businesses were allowed to reopen. Premier Alden McLaughlin had said last week that as diving involved “saliva” and “touching”, it was considered by Lee and public-health officials to be a risky activity through which the COVID-19 virus could be transmitted. Both operators and recreational divers pointed out that many of the divers who remain on island own their own equipment and would not be sharing it with others, unlike visiting tourists who often hire their gear. Ash McKnight, the water-sports representative for the Cayman Islands Tourism Association, said the reasons government gave for not allowing this activity were bizarre and, among other things, highlighted that very few divers use spit to clear their masks, as defog liquid is widely available on dive boats and at popular shore dive sites. Lee said the arguments made by the local dive community in requesting that diving be allowed could translate to a number of other activities. “I seem to have said ‘no’ an awful lot of times in 2020,” he said. “I’m sure all of you will know how much easier it is to say yes. It’s even more difficult to say no when you’re taking a view that’s different to [that of] articulate and rational people.” He said public-health officials used a variety of sources in order to form an opinion that is then provided to government to help make decisions to keep the community safe. “It might be from scientific literature, it might be from expert opinion, from major public-health organisations around the world, it might be from a specialist industry or an interest group such as the Divers Alert Network, and also it may well be from local medical opinion.” Lee conceded that “people using scuba diving equipment which is their own probably offer no risk, provided you’re following all the other recommendations – social distancing and so on. So, I will be making a recommendation that when the next change in regulations happens, that scuba diving for people using their own equipment is permissible.” He also urged people to be patient, saying, “It is not yet business as usual… let us not run before we can walk.” RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Sharp-eyed observers recently have been spotting sea turtles mating just offshore at several spots throughout Cayman. While there has been a proliferation of turtle sightings from land, Department of Environment Deputy Director Tim Austin is urging people not to disturb the animals. “Anybody that sees a turtle in the wild needs to really keep their distance from it,” he said. “They are a protected species, very culturally important, and they’re easily disturbed, particularly if they are mating. Do not approach.” The turtle mating and nesting seasons are under way. Austin said that during those periods, turtles often can be seen on local beaches and near the shore. He said though their behaviour may be “fascinating” to observe, people should stay away from the turtles. He also urged boaters to watch out for the animals at sea, but not to go near them. “Typically, they [mating turtles] will remain locked together for several hours. So, if they get disturbed, then suddenly the reproductive event may not be as successful as it should have been. We encourage people to stay away. It is against the law to harm or to approach or to do anything that disturbs the turtle,” he said. Similarly, with turtles nesting on a beach, he said, people should keep their distance so the animals can lay their eggs. “If you’ve come across a turtle on the beach at night, you’re advised to keep the lights off of it, stay away. Let us know where you’re seeing it and we’ll come and check it in the morning. But again, please keep a long way away,” Austin said. Turtle-mating season under way Lee: Diving may be permitted this month Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Leesophisticated, but the underlying message may remain hidden. Unease may be expressed through complaints of a stomach ache, avoidance of schoolwork or over-excitement. For parents who are already juggling work and home-schooling demands, stress management has become increasingly important. The physical absence of teachers, coaches and other adult figures has underlined the role of primary caregivers in guiding mental-health outcomes for young people. “We dictate where the pattern of stress comes in, whether you shift them into more resilience,” Lam said. “You modulate their stress level. You create a structure, a predictable environment, and you kind of reassure them that there is an end to this.” Parents assume the role of framing the situation for their children, Lam explained. In an ideal scenario, that would mean communicating that the situation is controllable, has a level of predictability and will eventually come to an end. Stress management during a pandemic is no easy task, however, and Lam recognises that parents are facing a difficult job. The crisis has meant unemployment and pay cuts for many families. Paired with the added roles of teacher and 24-hour caregiver, parents are understandably tired. For Karla Austin, a single parent of a 6-year-old, the lockdown has required her to take on an extensive list of responsibilities with very little support. Austin and her daughter moved to Cayman just six months ago, providing them little time to form friendships or establish a network before the crisis took hold. “The longer it goes on, it becomes more and more challenging,” Austin said. “Because, as parents, and then now as a single parent, you’re asked to do so much. Essentially, you are everything now for this child. You are the teacher, you’re the playmate, hair services, the chef.” Before, if she needed a break, Austin could call a sitter or she could plan an evening out to Camana Bay, where her daughter could play. Neither of those outlets are available to her anymore. Even something as simple as making a grocery run has become complicated. While parents have been encouraged to leave children at home during shopping trips, for a single parent that may not be an option. Austin has discovered that parenting during a pandemic comes with an array of logistical challenges. “If there’s something that pops up and I may need to step out to the local mini- mart or the gas station, that’s where you’re considering, ‘OK, can I park the car here where I can see her and quickly run inside and get what I need and come back?’” Austin said. “I have to be more planned now, more scheduled now.” The complications that come with meeting essential life demands, such as providing food and shelter, have forced schoolwork and other activities onto the back burner for many families. Michele Ebanks is one of many parents who has assumed the role of substitute teacher, but the feasibility of home schooling, alongside a full-time work schedule, varies widely from day to day. The day’s events rely largely on the mood of her 5- and 9-year-olds, who have grown tired of learning from mom. “It’s been 11 weeks and you don’t even know what they’re really learning and if they’re really absorbing what you’re teaching them,” Ebanks said. “And we haven’t had communication from the education department. We don’t know how they’re going to integrate these kids back in September.” The uncertainty of the school situation has made the crisis much more difficult to manage, she explained. With no end in sight, parents are struggling to manage expectations and plan for the coming months. “It takes everything in your power to get to the end of the day,” Ebanks said. With summer break just weeks away, she said, parents still don’t know if they’ll be able to send their children to camp, how year-end exams will be handled, or if their children will ascend to the next grade level as planned. Providing guidance and clear communication, however, could go a long way to improving the mental health www.puritan.ky puritangc@candw.ky 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Mondays to Saturdays Savannah, Countryside – 946-1884 Arboretum Plaza, Elgin Avenue – 949-2452 (Saturday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm only) These hours will be in place while we monitor customers demands after reopenning. Also, seamstress on duty to do your repairs and adjustments. Also note our main store 337 Eastern Avenue, George Town will be opened from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Mondays to Saturdays. Puritan Cleaners, Eastern Avenue – 949-7104 We also offer 10% off prepay or 7% off pickup within 7 days on order’s $17 and up on all wearing apparel including wedding dresses & household items. “I’VE GOT SOME BEAUTIFUL CLOTHES I KNOW JUST WHERE THEY GO PURITAN CLEANERS” PURITAN CLEANERS IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE OPENING AND CLOSING HOURS OF THEIR TWO (2) BRANCHES. Any input from our customers will be much appreciated. You feel good when you look good KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky During the early days of Cayman’s coronavirus lockdown, Phillippa Miller’s 4-year-old son became fearful of going outdoors. While he wanted to play with friends, he became anxious about the virus he knew was making people sick outside his home. These days, Miller said her son has overcome his fear of the outdoors but now his anxieties emerge in other ways. There are tantrums and crying, refusals to go to bed at night and anger when devices, such as tablets, are taken away. With his normal outlets, such as playing and learning with other children, gone for more than two months now, the stress has become apparent. “He wants to be physically active and wants to play and climb and run, but we can’t provide that to him in the amount that he needs,” Miller said. “We’re seeing frustrations and tantrums almost on a daily basis, which before would only occur if he was really tired or sick or something.” For a 4-year-old with emerging language and social skills, tantrums are a way of communicating distress and an indication of the impact the crisis is having on people of all ages, explained clinical psychologist Dr. Erica Lam. As the human brain develops, so do the tools available to communicate stress and anxiety, noted Lam, who works with trauma and childhood mental health for Aspire, a specialist psychological health provider in Cayman. By elementary school age, children’s expressions of anxiety become more Clinical psychologist Dr. Erica Lam Parents have found themselves taking multiple roles during the COVID-19 lockdown, including teacher, chef, hairdresser and playmate. Parents, children feel mental toll of crisis PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9» cayman compass 8 news N news FRIDAY, 5 JUNE 2020By now, we are familiar with the concept of ‘flattening the curve’ – practising preventative health measures, such as social distancing and handwashing, to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. But psychologists are also concerned with the stress curve, which indicates the impact of stress management on resiliency. Child psychologist Dr. Bruce Perry explains how self-regulation and stress patterns influence mental- health outcomes. Chaotic, severe and prolonged stress pushes the curve towards vulnerability, while predictable, moderate and controllable stress moves it towards resiliency. Factors that encourage greater resiliency include daily structure, family meals, limiting media intake, exercise and a positive, future- focussed attitude. Factors that encourage vulnerability include minimal daily structure, emotional isolation, sleep disruption, and rumination on negative thoughts. The Family of the Late Rodney Ebanks regrets to announce his passing on Tuesday, 26 May 2020. He is survived by his children Caleb, Ambuyah, Candace, Jonathan and David, along with his grandchildren, Skye, Emery, Wren, and Gabriel The family will hold funeral services privately. Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservice.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page The Family of the Late Olive Hilda Miller regrets to announce her passing on Tuesday, 19 May 2020. A private service will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2020 at the Elmslie United Church at 3:00 p.m. The service will be live streamed on CIG TV & Elmslie United Church You Tube Channel. In lieu of flowers dona�ons can be made to the NCVO, The Pines, The Girl's Brigade or The Pink Ladies c/o P.O. Box 717, KY1-1103 Interment will follow in Prospect Cemetery. Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservice.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page Community Announcements Managing Stress: Shifting Your Pattern Chaotic Severe, prolonged Uncontrollable Predictable Moderate Controllable Daily structure Family meals Limited media Exercise Reach out Help others Sleep 'hygiene' Positive, future focused Pattern of STRESS VulnerabilityResilience Managing Stress: Shifting Your Pattern Chaotic Severe, prolonged Uncontrollable Predictable Moderate Controllable Pattern of STRESS VulnerabilityResilience Minimal daily structure 'Comfort' eating Too much media Minimal exercise Emotional isolation Self-focused Sleep disruption Negative, numinative Managing the stress curve of families and the long-term development of children, Lam explained. While public messaging so far has focussed on health threats and the need to remain vigilant, leadership must also consider the tone of messaging moving forward, she said. “During this time, the message that we’re sending to our community, to our young people is that in order to protect yourself, you need to wear a mask. You need to keep your distance. Don’t share anything,” she said. “But we need to really look after our young people and think about the message that we’re going to send after COVID-19.” Young children’s brains remain malleable, Lam explained, so the messages sent by role models can have an important impact on development. Whether the crisis moves children towards resilience or vulnerability depends on the guidance provided by adults. “I think as a society, as community leaders, as adults,” Lam said, “we have a responsibility to think about the message that we send to our young people.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 cayman compass 9 news N news FRIDAY, 5 JUNE 2020Next >