(CMR) Little Cayman has reported its first four community cases today among the 123 community transmission cases reported today. Over the weekend CMR reported that a Little Cayman resident has been placed in a government facility after testing positive when attempting to return to the sister islands. A number of firemen, PWD workers, and customs officers on the Brac and Little Cayman are now confirmed as being COVID-19 positive.
The Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee, reports that as of 8 a.m. Wednesday, 27 October, there have been 1,350 PCR tests since the last report on Tuesday, 26 October. There are three positive travelers totaling 126 for the past 24 hours.
At least three schools today also found out that their students or faculty were positive also.
Despite the rapid increase in community spread, Dr. Lee encouraged people to remain calm reassuring them that most people will have mild symptoms that can be managed at home. He noted that:
“You’ll all be aware that the number of positives is rising quite sharply now and not only in Grand Cayman but in the Sister Islands as well. It's a concern for all of us and my thoughts are with everyone who is positive or who may have loved ones that are positive and are naturally worried about the outcome.”
The high number of tests conducted meant that all testing facilities were inundated with requests resulting in long lines in Cayman Brac and Grand Cayman. One person shared that Doctor's Hospital reportedly ran out of test tubes at both testing locations in Grand Cayman. They are expected to be fully stocked again Thursday.
The Chief Medical Officer also addressed public concerns about the time frame for receiving test results and announced a change in the reporting process.
He said, “I know that some people are somewhat disgruntled that they have not received tests as quickly as they would like. Public Health did aim to phone everybody that's positive within 24 hours, however with the growing number of cases it's becoming increasingly difficult.”
Dr. Lee has encouraged people to be patient and indicated that instead of delivering results via a phone call, they will now seek to email persons instead. He shared the new procedure being:
“A new process is going to be instituted whereby people who are positive will be sent an email just like those who are negative and along with that email will be instructions that anybody who is a new positive need to isolate and continue to isolate. Those who are vaccinated for 10 days and those who are unvaccinated for 14 days.”
The government continues to encourage people to get vaccinated.
To date, there have been 113,448 COVID-19 vaccinations given in total in the Cayman Islands. Of these, 56,365 (79% of 71,106) have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 54,136 (76%) have completed the two-dose course. Additionally, 2,947 (representing 15% of those over the age of 50) have had a third or booster dose.
Of the total number vaccinated, there is the following age group breakdown for the first dose of which 49% are female:
- 78% 12 to <18 years of age
- 83% 18 to <30
- 89% 30 to <40
- 95% 40 to <50
- 98% 50 to <60
- 99% 60 and over
Dr. Lee also advised people to be prepared in the event that they are required to go into isolation as if preparing for “any disaster that's approaching such as a hurricane.”
All households are reminded that they must continue to isolate at home, whether test results have been received or not until they are advised they can leave by a Public Health official.
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