Two test positive for coronavirus in Cayman

Health officials confirmed two new cases of coronavirus within the island at a press briefing Thursday. The two positive tests involved staff members from Health City who were exposed to Cayman’s first coronavirus patient – a 68-year-old heart patient who died from complications related to the virus.

A total of 30 people from the hospital were tested. All others came back negative. A further 29 people were tested through the Health Services Authority.

There are currently seven tests outstanding. All tested patients remain in isolation pending confirmation of the results by CARPHA.

Chief medical  Dr John Lee said the patients had not been severely affected in terms of symptoms.

He said all those who were being tested had been in isolation and he was reassured that there was no current evidence of community transmission.

He said the case involved two people directly exposed to a traveller and failed to qualify as local transmission claims involve situations that arise within the community where there was no evidence of travel or direct contact with a COVID-19 patient.

Dr Lee added that Cayman is well prepared and also the overwhelming majority of individuals on the island who get the virus would suffer only mild flu symptoms.

The main risk is to the elderly and vulnerable will be somewhat more severely impacted, which is why strict measures are put to stop COVID-19 from spreading.

Premier Alden McLaughlin warned that Cayman welcomed 2.5 million visitors last year which Caymanians who had travelled risked spreading the virus. “It is sort of inevitable that there'll be further people during this community who will test positive for COVID-19.

“That is why the protocols that we've got given about the way behaviour  in  this global health threat are so important. “If we are to contain this we've got ought to start taking the protocols very very seriously.”

He added that Cayman could still avoid the type of “meltdown” seen in other countries Bligh warned that might only be possible with changed emphasised.

He emphasised again the requirement for returning passengers to self-isolate for 14 days and for anyone who was connected with them to isolate also.