At a third consecutive press conference on Friday, 10 September 2021), Government leaders announced one more positive COVID 19 community transmission case diagnosed overnight. This brings the number of re-emerged local transmissions now to three.
The third individual who overnight tested positive is related to the other two persons who both have now been confirmed as having the Delta variant. No one is exhibiting signs of COVID-19 such as respiratory distress, including the one medically admitted patient. All three individuals are being monitored and all known contacts are in isolation. Further contact tracing will continue. So far, no child has tested positive.
Also, the Cayman Islands will be able to start a booster vaccination programme shortly, details of which will be announced when clearer information on current supplies and delivery dates is obtained. The prioritisation of booster recipients will be determined by levels of vulnerability, immuno-compromised conditions and seniority of years.
To assist the Government with their deliberations on the five-day quarantine and plan of action after 14 October, a conference call has been arranged with two leading medical experts from Public Health England.
Additionally, out of an abundance of caution, the Miss Cayman Universe pageant scheduled for Saturday, 11 September has been postponed to a later date which will be announced.
Following a breach in protocol on Thursday evening saw a traveller who tested positive for COVID-19 allowed to board a Cayman Airways flights, protocols are being tightened to ensure such a breach does not take place in the future. Further investigations are underway and consequent prosecutions are possible for those involved. The passenger and her companion are now in quarantine in Grand Cayman.
A further press conference will be held early next week to provide updates on all relevant matters.
Addressing Friday’s press conference, held at the GIS Studio in GAB, were His Excellency the Governor, Mr. Martyn Roper, Premier, Hon. Wayne Panton, Health Minister, Hon. Sabrina Turner, Tourism Minister Hon. Kenneth Bryan and Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee, by Zoom who is quarantining after returning from the UK recently.
Also answering questions were Cayman Airways CEO, Mr. Fabian Whorms and Medical Officer of Health Dr. Williams Rodriguez. At the start, Pastor Alson Ebanks of George Town Church of God (Chapel) led the attendees in prayer.
Expressing satisfaction at the growing numbers of those getting vaccinated, primarily first timers, the leaders urged every eligible person above age 12 to get vaccinated since it has proven to be the most effective in preventing deaths by COVID-19.
Underscoring that deaths by COVID-19 in two UKOTs - Bermuda and BVI - are predominantly among unvaccinated persons, the leaders again strongly urged all in the community to get vaccinated. There are currently adequate vaccine supplies for unvaccinated adults to get both jabs. However, should vaccine supplies run short, they would be replenished from the UK.
The leaders continued to encourage people to follow established COVID-19 safety protocols such as mask wearing, social distancing and frequent hand-washing particularly if they are vulnerable individuals. Also, there is no need for the panic buying of supplies which was witnessed over the last two days, they noted.
Other takeaways from the press conference include:
The three local transmissions have no history of travelling for at least a month.
Such transmissions reveal that anybody could be exposed to the virus at any time.
The Flu Clinic, the Flu Hotline and the Respiratory Care Unit at the CI Hospital are reactivated.
The Flu Hotline is accessible at 947-3077 or 1-800-534-8600 or by email at flu@hsa.ky. Those with flu symptoms are asked not to visit the HSA Hospital but to call the Flu Hotline or check with their own physicians.
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.
Vaccinations were encouragingly up today; in the morning alone at the vaccination clinic, 290 were vaccinated of whom 230 were first timers and 60 received their second jab.
The vaccination clinic will take place tomorrow (Saturday, 11 September) at the Camana Bay venue from 10am-2pm and again from 4pm-7.30pm.
There will be a vaccination clinic at Cayman Brac on Wednesday, 15 September at the Aston Rutty Centre from 9 am to 1 pm.
The link to view the press conference in full on CIG YouTube channel is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsgMdMnfddg .
(GIS)
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