News

Government leaders held a second consecutive press conference (Thursday, 9 September 2021). Their purpose this time was to reassure people that health authorities are continuing contact tracing, after two cases of community transmission of COVID 19 were detected. One individual has been placed in quarantine and the other admitted to hospital.

They also encouraged people to refrain from public gathering for at least the next 24 hours, if not 48 hours, out of an abundance of caution. Persons were also urged to follow established COVID-19 safety protocols such as mask wearing, social distancing and frequent hand-washing particularly if they are vulnerable individuals.

In attendance at the press conference at the GIS Studio in GAB were His Excellency the Governor, Mr. Martyn Roper, Premier, Hon. Wayne Panton; Health Minister, Hon. Sabrina Turner, Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly as well as Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee, Commissioner of Police Mr. Derek Byrne, HSA CEO Ms Lizette Yearwood and Medical Director Dr. Delroy Jefferson. Rev. Jerome Small of St. George’s Anglican Church led prayers at the start.

Contact tracing by Public Health officials of persons who had contact with the two individuals is actively underway. The results of further tests on the two individuals and from the contact tracing will be shared with the nation in another press conference today (Friday, 10 September).

However, they reiterated that Government authorities have the current situation well in hand, as well as being adequately prepared for dealing with the risks of the disease possibly.

Additionally, the nation was advised that negative test results were returned for two Clifton Hunter High School students, who are contacts of the two local COVID patients. However, out of an abundance of caution, the two students have been placed in 14-day quarantine. (See separate Government release titled: “Clifton Hunter High School (CHHS) Activates COVID 19 Response.”)

Once again, those not yet vaccinated were strongly encouraged to get the double jabs to ensure they and the community are better protected from the risk of COVID transmissions.

Other takeaways from the press conference include:

· Regulations in place will be enforced by the Police in place in relation to quarantining including breaches. Prosecutions will be diligently pursued, where warranted.

· All should do their part to practise preventive protocols including mask wearing wherever currently required such as in healthcare centres, omni and school buses, maintaining social distancing and frequent handwashing.

· The Flu Clinic, the Flu Hotline and the Respiratory Care Unit at the CI Hospital are reactivated. The Flu Hotline is now open at 947-3077 or 1-800-534-8600 or by email at flu@hsa.ky. The Flu Clinic starts on 13 September and will be open Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm. It will be located at the far left of A&E at the CI Hospital with parking available for it at the Seventh Day Adventist Church parking lot.

· A lockdown will be a last resort. However, to avoid a lockdown, all should do their individual part to help diminish possible community spread.

Recent breaches of quarantine were by locals interacting with travellers in isolation.

· Visitor restrictions in the in-patient sections of the CI Hospital are underway.

· Despite the worrying news of the two cases of local transmission, Cayman Islands is in a safe position.

· Newest Mu variant recently confirmed in Jamaica has not manifested in the Cayman Islands.

The link to view the press conference on CIG YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO8P_cL65g0.