The latest on "Sept 1"
Here is a summary of yesterday’s COVID-19 government briefing:
Comments from Dr. Lee, Chief Medical Officer:
There were 17 positive cases out of 1182 tests conducted over the past four days. All were part of a government initiated screening process of health and front line retail workers, and none were symptomatic. Of all tests conducted to date, 1.4% have been positive, and essentially all have been asymptomatic. Currently no one is in the hospital being treated for COVID-19.
Regarding travel, a pathway to visit or return to Cayman pre-vaccine, would probably require some form of a quarantine and testing process (this is the current protocol for citizens who have been returning to CI on government arranged flights). The currently proposed plan for returning workers who are neither a citizen or permanent resident, is that they must pay to stay under government quarantine in a designated hotel for 14 days ( costing about $3200, including meals and laundry service). Citizens and residents will not pay.
Comments from Premier McLaughlin:
CI will continue to use caution and open the economy slowly to avoid a recurring wave of virus. “Opening borders is something we are not contemplating doing any time soon.” The government is talking about how best to open the local economy safely to replace the anticipated ongoing loss of tourism revenue.
(A reporter asks about opening borders on Sept 1, as that is what is seeming being communicated to potential tourists planning to come here). The Premier replies, “We did not say, borders would open Sept 1. We stated it as, they will remain closed until the 30th of August. If the virus remains, how can we be expected to open the borders? It’s not looking good. Given what I am seeing in the US, a Sept. 1st opening date is not looking good.”
Comments from Governor Roper:
We are restricting the number of returning residents and citizens as the government quarantine facilities are full at the moment.
My comments: It appears that it will be a long time – almost definitely past September 1 - before the borders open. We are planning to return home sometime before the borders open on one of the repatriation fights to the US, and are hoping that they have some protocol in place for us to return next January. Hopefully we will be allowed to quarantine at home.
By the way, you all can watch these briefings on the YouTube Cayman Islands Government TV Live Stream channel. They are scheduled for 2 pm Mon/Wed/Fri, subject to change based on holidays and legislative activities.
CIG television
Meanwhile the beaches opened yesterday for use of up to 2 hours per day three days per week depending on the first letter of your last name (same for shopping days). After two months of being dry, we finally got into the water, snorkeled out 200 yards to a reef and saw fish!! Can diving be far off?