At a COVID-19 community update press conference, Premier Hon. Wayne Panton emphasised that Phase 4 of the reopening plan moves forward cautiously the Cayman Islands, which continues to be committed to reopen in a responsible and informed way.

Also addressing the conference were Tourism and Transport Minister, Hon. Kenneth Bryan; Health and Wellness Minister, Hon. Sabrina Turner as well as Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee. A demonstration on getting online documentation from Travel Cayman was provided by Chief Officer Wesley Howell. Prayer was led by Pastor Mitch Exctain.

Highlights from the Premier included:

· With a resurgence of COVID- 19 in a number of countries, which are reintroducing regulatory measures including restrictions on restaurants, bars and social activities, if the Cayman Islands waits to emerge into a world free of COVID -19, “we would never welcome tourists back to our shores”.

· Two sets of regulations - Control of Covid-19 (Travel) Regulations, 2021 and the Control and the Control and Management of Covid-19 (No. 2) Regulations, 2021 – are being implemented.

• Public Gatherings for now remain at 100 persons indoors and 250 persons outdoors. Going forward: If the venue can host an event splitting the number of persons indoor and outdoor then the event is allowed 100 persons indoors and 250 persons outdoors at the same venue.
• If it is an event at an outdoor venue that can be divided into 2 or more partitioned areas activities can simultaneously be held in each partitioned area not exceeding 250 persons in each area. These provisions do not include staff of the venue in the number persons allowed.
• One exemption allowed: in respect of premises which can exceed the gathering limits by the owner/operator arranging for approved testing of patrons with LFTs. These would need to be completed by a registered practitioner that verifies a negative result for all patrons and employees, no more than 24 hours before the gathering.
• The updates to public gatherings do not apply to the following:

1. Business or office premises
2. Educational institutions
3. Emergency shelters
4. Churches

· Churches and businesses should remember that at any time congregants and customers, who are not of the same household, should maintain separation of at least 6 feet.

· Boating rules remain unchanged.

· Who Can Travel to the Sister Islands rules remain the same.

• Face Masks rules remain unchanged.
• Ticketing of offences will be reintroduced for violations of these regulations. A total of 27 ticketable offences provide for a range in fines from $250 to $1,000.
• The regulations remain unchanged for restaurant and bars call for tables to be 6ft apart

To view the Premier’s pronouncements in the press conference, catch the CIGTV broadcast at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV6d-x8pBX0.

Tourism Minister Gives Updates on Travel for Phase 4

Grand Cayman, 18 November 2021 – Tourism and Transport Minister, Hon. Kenneth Bryan underscored the official re-instatement of tourism into the Cayman Islands from Saturday, 20 November 2021, which signals the move to Phase 4 in the islands’ COVID-19 measures.

At the press conference here today, Minister Bryan highlighted that updated sanitation guidelines will come into practice shortly for the entire tourism sector, including accommodations (hotels, guesthouses and apartments), attractions, car rentals, restaurants and bars, retail, public transport, tour operators, fishing, snorkelling and scuba diving.

The updated sanitation guidelines for the tourism sector are published on the DOT website www.ourcayman.ky which are intended to be a working document for businesses to enhance and customise to their specific operation.

Also, guidelines for large events will be incorporated into a national policy that will be released in the coming days.

Other highlights from Minister Bryan:

· It is strongly recommended that all tourism businesses implement a twice weekly lateral flow testing (LFT) programme.

· Testing capacity is being expanded to doctors’ offices to make certified LFT testing services readily available to all travellers across all three islands.

· If a traveller tests positive, they will be required to isolate; travel insurance is a requirement in phase 4 to help travellers cover unexpected medical and accommodations travel costs due to an extended stay.

· Minister Bryan reminded the private sector of Government’s ‘Caymanians First’ policy towards employment opportunities in the tourism industry. “With several thousand Caymanians currently unemployed and being supported by Government, it would be unconscionable to consider the granting of work permits while this situation remains.”

· Airline schedules will resume by all of the airlines previously servicing travel to and from the Cayman Islands between November and March 2022. Consequently, visitors will be able to connect to the Cayman Islands from over 21 gateways across the UK, USA, Canada, Jamaica and Honduras.

• In addition, to the twice weekly service from JFK, New York, JetBlue will relaunch service from Boston on 20 November and from Fort Lauderdale on 21 December.

· Air Canada is on schedule to be the first international carrier to resume service from Canada and will relaunch its Toronto service from 4 December, followed by WestJet on 16 December.

· Cayman Airways will also resume service to JFK starting from 16 December.

· In the first quarter of 2022, during January, Cayman Airways will resume service from Montego Bay, Jamaica.

· During February: United will resume service from Newark, Washington, Houston and Chicago on 12 February. American Airlines will resume service from Miami on 17 February.

· In March: Cayman Airways will resume service from Denver, Colorado on 5 March; Southwest will resume its operations from Fort Lauderdale on 10 March and Baltimore on 12 March. Delta will offer service from Atlanta on 12 March.

· In April: American Airlines will resume service from Charlotte, Philadelphia, Chicago and Dallas. The specific dates are still to be determined.

• Minister Bryan highlighted new and existing passenger pick-up and drop-off regulations. These include: a five-minute drop off zone has been created in the parking lot for offloading of passengers and luggage; drop-off is free for up to five minutes after which time the standard parking rates will apply.

• Phase 4 Specifics: The primary differences between Phases 3 and 4 are that:

• Fully vaccinated tourists will be welcomed back to enjoy an unforgettable Cayman Islands vacation with no quarantine.

· Travellers whose vaccination information cannot be securely verified, but who are travelling from a country with a first dose vaccination rate of at least 60% will not have to quarantine.

· Fully vaccinated travellers below the age of 18 who have received a full vaccine course as defined by the Country where the vaccine was administered can also enter without having to quarantine.

· All visitors must be covered by a medical insurance policy which covers COVID related expenses should they test positive during their vacation.

• However, quarantine restrictions do not entirely fall away in Phase 4. Travellers whose vaccine information cannot be securely verified, and who are travelling from a country with a vaccination rate below 60% for the first dose, will be required to quarantine for 10 days. Unvaccinated adult travellers or persons travelling with unvaccinated children will still be subject to 14 days quarantine. All travellers unvaccinated aged five and over will still need to provide a negative PCR result taken within 72 hours of travel, regardless of their vaccination status.
• Additionally, inbound travellers must also apply to Travel Cayman for a travel certificate, which is required for entry. Vaccination information should be uploaded into the Travel Cayman portal for verification and for the travel certificate to be issued. The steps for completing a travel certificate were demonstrated at the press conference. To view, catch the broadcast at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV6d-x8pBX0 or for details visit www.explore.gov.ky .

Health Minister Shares Upgrades

Grand Cayman, 18 November 2021 – Minister for Health and Wellness, Hon. Sabrina Turner, shared a number of upcoming and already completed upgrades to Public Health and Health Services Authority resources in the fight against COVID-19 at the press briefing on Thursday 18 November.

• The Flu Hotline has been expanded with additional staff and is operating from a new location. Waiting time can be up to five minutes given high demand.
• The Health Services Authority plans to expand the operating hours of its dedicated Flu Clinic.
• Additional isolation rooms have been stood up in the Accident & Emergency Department, to isolate and safely manage the care of persons who are confirmed to be COVID positive, while caring for other patients.
• The hospital has also converted significant portions of in-patient rooms to negative pressure for the safe management of COVID admissions.
• HSA is working to stand-up a field hospital at the Family Life Centre, which will be operational within the next few weeks. This facility has the capacity for 80 beds, but will be set-up in phases, with initial beds ready by mid-December. This will facilitate the care of less-severe COVID patients and enable the HSA to continue its elective work without interruptions. More severe COVID patients will continue to be cared for at the hospital.
• HSA is working locally and overseas to recruit individuals to staff the field hospital. Over 30 nurses will be starting in the next two months with more job offers and interviews still in progress.
• Fifty-two temporary positions have already been added to COVID response within the HSA and Public Health.
• The self-reporting of positive cases via lateral flow testing has been automated. To report positive results, individuals must use Public Health’s secure form at www.exploregov.ky/report-covid19-result.
• Work is underway to address the backlog of isolation letters. Within a few days Public Health will launch a new isolation request and release form which will expedite these requests. Persons with a positive PCR result from the lab can use this as an isolation letter for an employer and or to request the government stipend.
• Individuals previously positive, who test negative via PCR, can also use this as a release letter. Persons testing positive on LFT and unvaccinated household members of positives may still require letters and these will be addressed through the form.
• Due to the increasing number of community positive cases, public health is contacting persons the day before the exit test is due to be completed. Vaccinated individuals will be tested on day 11 and unvaccinated individuals on day 15.
• Over the past two weeks, Public Health has opened three exit testing centres across Grand Cayman. These are open seven days a week, 11am – 1pm at Ed Bush Sports Complex, South Sound Community Centre and Bodden Town Civic Centre. Persons without transport should contact the flu hotline to arrange for in-home testing.
• To accommodate increased demand for vaccination data, administrative staff are being redeployed to input this promptly. Individuals are encouraged to go to www.hsa.ky to sign up for the online patient portal or visit the dedicated patient portal officer in the atrium at the Cayman Islands Hospital Monday – Friday 8:30am-5pm.
• Meanwhile, Public Health continues to roll out its booster programme to persons over the age of 40, healthcare providers, teachers, uniform services and those who are extremely vulnerable. This initiative was recently enhanced by the arrival of nearly 12,000 additional vaccine doses from the United Kingdom.

(GIS)