COVID case appears to be locally transmitted

(CMR) Exclusive CMR sources have indicated that today's positive case appears to be locally transmitted among a Caymanian family. Sources have shared that an entire extended family now must be tested in addition to the students at Red Bay Primary; in an attempt to isolate how the 6-year-old child would have been exposed to the virus.

The impact is already being felt throughout the local Cayman community with several businesses have to shut down entirely. There is no recent travel history for the child's immediate and extended family. In addition, the Needs Assessment Unit (NAU) sent their staff home earlier this afternoon soon after the case broke.

Sources indicate the agency has been shut down in order for contact tracing to begin at that location as well. The facility will be closed until at least late next week in order to carry out deep sanitation of the facility. Another child in the family also attends a local pre-school and measures are now being taken to isolate and test the young children at that facility.

Sources indicate that the father of the child has tested negative but many children and adults in the large close-knit family now must be tested. One exclusive source indicates that the mother has also negative. We expect these details to be confirmed later this afternoon by the government.

All early indications are that this is definitely a case of local transmission and dozens of people will now need to be tested as a result.

Speculation is running rampant that others may be at risk; particularly children in government schools. Meanwhile, Red Bay Primary students and parents are having to wait for their rest results to be available around 10:30 p.m. tonight. Other parents have decided to take their children to a private facility to be tested out of an abundance of caution.

We expect the government will be clearing up these various rumors this afternoon at the emergency press briefing at 4 p.m. to discuss this case further.

NOTE: CMR has confirmed the identity of the family involved but in keeping with professional reporting standards we have withheld certain details to protect those involved. The public should be mindful that this virus is obviously still in the local community and each person and family should take all necessary precautions to protect themselves.