(CMR) With two more confirmed cases of COVID-19 announced today the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) has now confirmed that Cayman has local community transmission of the novel coronavirus. This is the first time that the CMO has possibly confirmed that we now have local transmission and brings the total confirmed cases to 14 infected persons.
Local transmission is defined as cases that are locally acquired with no travel history with the passing of the virus in the local community. The danger of local transmission is that these cases can spread quickly in clusters.
The police report was mostly favorable with some persons being warned for prosecution for being in breach of both the soft and hard curfew. He stressed that there should be no marine active at all during this time and struck enforcement will be deployed.
In his address, the premier clarified the purpose of the UK air bridge is not to bring people back to Cayman but instead is designed to bring in much-needed emergency supplies and allow persons who wish to leave the ability to leave.
He shared that the announcement yesterday of the incoming air bridge has caused him a great deal of distress after concerned citizens expressed their concerns to him. He also stressed that no one coming in on the plan will be allowed to go into their homes. Instead, they will be placed in mandatory isolation in a location other than their homes under strict government controls.
He further stressed that he wished for persons to “stop obsessing” about the persons coming into Cayman on the air bridge cause they are more likely to be infected by “running into your friend at the grocery store.” He cautioned people to act as though their lives depended on it “because it does”.
The governor stressed that with confirmation of community transmission is serious but we remain in a good place to tackle any cases that emerge but all of us need to limit human contact. He also stressed the importance of the air bridge and how it will help some persons to be able to return home. The flight will take place either Monday or Tuesday and come in via Bermuda and then leave Cayman and pick up some persons in the Bahamas before returning to the UK.
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