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Educational Institutions, Early Childhood Childcare Centres and Summer Programmes Set to Reopen
Further to the Premier’s June 17th announcement on the reopening of Educational Institutions, the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, Agriculture & Lands (MEYSAL) has provided detailed guidance on the reopening procedures for all Educational Institutions which have been closed since 16 March 2020.
Beginning on 5 July 2020, all Educational Institutions and Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE) centres can reopen physical facilities in compliance with current COVID-19 safety protocols and procedures. This includes facilities such as schools, tutoring centres, preschools, daycare and nurseries. Seasonal youth programmes such as vacation bible schools and summer camps are also permitted to operate onsite physical facilities.
It is important to note that schools will remain closed as scheduled for the Summer holidays and are currently set to reopen for the start of the 2020/2021 academic year.
The Cayman Islands has reached the Suppression Level 2 stage in its response planning to the COVID-Pandemic. At Level 2, borders and immigration remain controlled with mandatory quarantine requirements, the disease is contained and although the risk of community transmission still remains, positive cases are restricted to sporadic (single or isolated cluster) outbreaks due to household transmission.
At Suppression Level 2, all children can attend schools and ECCE centres. The only exceptions are children who are:
- Sick and are currently have any COVID-19 symptoms;
- In isolation and are subject to contact tracing;
- Waiting for the result of a test.
The Public Health Department will provide further guidance if necessary. Enhanced hygiene requirements will be required for all children for all aspects.
If suppression levels regress to level 3 or higher, the Government will make further directives as to whether to close educational institutions again and revert to distance learning or continue to keep them open under more restrictive conditions.
The guidance document which details all relevant information, conditions and procedures for the re-opening of educational institutions is available and accessible at www.gov.ky/coronavirus-education
