ANNOUNCEMENTS
- The Public Health (Prevention, Control and Suppression of COVID-19) Regulations, 2020 came into effect at 5:01 am on Saturday, 28 March. These regulations allow reasonable movement during the daytime to purchase groceries and essential supplies, access pharmacies and banks, or exercise alone or with one other person. These regulations are currently set to expire at 5 am on Tuesday, 7 April but may be extended.
- The daily "hard" curfew in effect from 7 pm in the evening until 5 am in the morning is in addition to the Shelter in Place "soft" curfew and other regulations. This curfew is reviewed every 48 hours and will expire at 5 am on Friday, 3 April unless it it is extended. The RCIPS will monitor the streets and use common sense and fairness in strict application of the order. Persons stopped will have their names and addresses taken with a view to prosecutions to proceed.
- From Wednesday, 25 March, all non-essential Cayman Islands Government offices are closed. Civil servants are to work remotely and essential staff are to attend the workplace only if they are unable to work remotely.
- From 9 pm Tuesday, 24 March public transportation services (buses) are suspended for two weeks. Taxis will continue to operate only outside of curfew hours and with a two passenger limit.
- From 11:59 pm Sunday, 22 March to 11:59 pm Sunday, 12 April Owen Roberts International Airport in Grand Cayman and Charles Kirkconnell International Airport on Cayman Brac are closed to all international passenger flights, including private aircraft. Cargo flights, couriers and air ambulance services continue to operate as usual. Travel to the Sister Islands is restricted to residents and essential persons.
- From Thursday, 19 March only returning residents are allowed to enter the Cayman Islands.
- From Monday, 16 March, all persons entering the Cayman Islands and their household contacts must strictly practice self-isolation for 14 full days.
- From Monday, 16 March all cruise ships and private yachts are banned for an initial period of 60 days. Cargo ships continue to operate as usual.
- From Monday, 16 March to Monday, 27 April all educational facilities are closed as a precautionary measure.
- Read more about Government's response to COVID-19 and policies in action.
NEWS & UPDATES
►March 28 Government Update: Too many non-essential people out and about in the community, in violation of the Shelter in Place (soft curfew) requirements. Read more.
► Supermarkets Prepare to Welcome Shoppers on Saturday, 28 March. Read more.
► Attorney General Details New COVID-19 Regulations, Including Shelter in Place. Read more.
► LSD Operational Changes Allow Video Verification, Extensions, Digital Lodgments. Read more.
► NAU Revises Opening Hours, Customers Allowed Monday to Thursday, 8:30am to 1:00pm. Read more.
► DLP Reminds Employers of Provisions for Terminations, Temporary Lay-offs Due to Coronavirus. Read more.
► Friday, 27 March Government Update: Two Curfew Regimes Going Forward from Saturday, 28 March. Read more.
► Changes to External Examinations Scheduled for Secondary Students. Read more.► Cayman Islands Public Library Service Announces Online eBook Service. Read more.
► Essential Services from Ministry of Home Affairs Continue. Read more.
► Thursday, 26 March Government Update: Extended Curfew Working Smoothly, Robust Local Testing Sees 48 More Negative Results. Read more
► DEH Issues Detailed Advice on Coronavirus and Hygiene for Food Handlers, March 26. Read more
► Donation to Returning Students in Facility Provided by Government for Self-Isolation, March 26. Read more
► Annual Fee Obligations Deferred for Corporate Entities till 30 June, March 26. Read more.
► Department of Agriculture Updates Operational Hours, Suspends Certain Services, Closes Reception and Shelter, March 25. Read more.
► Deadlines for Annual Returns and Economic Substance Notification Filings Extended, March 25. Read more.
► Wednesday, 25 March Government Update: Extended Curfew in Effect, Shelter in Place Imminent, Daily Press Briefings to Continue. Read more.
► Immigration Appeals Tribunal and Refugee Protection Appeals Tribunal Suspend New Appeals, Manual Submissions, 25 March. Read more.
► Cabinet Office Suspends Manual Processes Tax Undertakings, Applications and Renewals Still Available Online. Read More.
► DEH Revises Landfill Operating Hours, Maintains All Collection Services. Read more.
► Tuesday, 24 March Government Update: Staying Home Saves Lives, New Preliminary Test Results Include One Positive With No Travel History, Shelter in Place Delayed, Curfew to Proceed, Civil Service Moves to Next Level in Pandemic Response Plan, Funeral Provisions. Read more.
► DCFS Works Remotely from 25 March for Critical Services, Maintains Staffing at Residential Care Facilities. Read more.
► CIGOUK Focuses on Caymanians in the UK, Urges Registration on New Online Portal . Read more.
► Emergency Travel Hotline Launched for Persons with Urgent Need to Leave the Cayman Islands. Read more.
► NAU Issues Preparedness List, Amends Customer-Facing Hours to 8:30 am to 1 pm, Mondays to Thursdays. Read more.
► Monday, 23 March Government Update: Two Positive Results, Curfew Exemptions, Public Gatherings Further Restricted, Travel Helpline to Launch.
► District Administration Update on COVID-19 Lists Changes to Operations in Cayman Brac, Little Cayman. Read more.
► Governor Announces Daily Curfew to Begin 24 March (Note: See Above for Further Curfew Developments). Read more.
► WORC Details Changes to Operations, Cancellation of Training & Development Workshops. Read more.
► Public Warned About Account Impersonating Minister, Offering Cash Grants. Read more.
► Chief Medical Officer Orders 14 Days of Self-Isolation for All Persons Arriving in the Cayman Islands from 16 March. Read more.
► Judicial Administration Details Provisions for Essential Court Services, Modified Business Processes. Read more.
► Updates from Ministry on Measures Taken in Education, Agriculture and by Water Authority - Cayman. Read more.
► Chief Medical Officer Issues Statement, Urges Social Distancing and Hand Hygiene. Read more.
► Extension of Support For Non-Caymanians Actively Explored by Ministry of Community Affairs. Read more.
► Student Taken from Isolation Facility for Assessment on 20 March. Read more.
► Revised Sister Islands Flight Schedule from Cayman Airways. Read more.
► Friday, 20 March Government Update: 23 New Negative Results. CMO Requires Returning Residents Self-Isolate. New Mental Health Hotline. Read more.
► RCIPS Business Centre at Windjammer Plaza Introduces Changes to Processing of Applications. Read more.
► DVDL Introduces Additional Precautionary Measures, Encourages Online Renewals. Read more.
► DOA Implements Operational Changes, Reduced Hours. Read more.
► Centre for Business Development to Open 23 March, Focus on Business Continuity. Read more.
► NAU Food Stipends for Caymanian Families Whose Children Received School Lunch Assistance. Read more.
► Education Minister Outlines Plans for Schools' Distance Learning. Read more.
► Governor Confirms British Airways Flight Will Depart London for Grand Cayman Sunday 22 March. Watch here.
► Thursday, 19 March Government Update: Two Positive from 40 New Results. Plans for Returning Students, Certain Essential Staff. Read more.
► Two Test Positive in Preliminary Results of 40 More Local Tests. Patients Doing Well, Remain in Isolation. Read more.
► DCFS to Implement Social Distancing, Maintain Client Contact by Phone, WhatsApp and Zoom. Read more.
► Wednesday, 18 March Government Update: No New Test Results. Additional Control Measures and Economic Support Announced. Read More.
► DLP Outlines COVID-19 Preparations and Implementation of Social Distancing. Read more.
► DCS COVID-19 Preparedness Brings Operational Changes. Read more.
► Tuesday, 17 March Government Update: 20 More Local Tests. Some Businesses to Close or Adjust Offerings. Emergency Stipends. Read more.
► Department for International Tax Cooperation (DITC) Activates its Business Continuity Plan, March 17. Read more.
► Visitor Extension Process Varied by CBC to Assist Persons Departing the Cayman Islands. Read more.
► Clarification on Self-Isolation. Who Should Self Isolate? Read more.
► HMCIPS Takes Steps to Protect Prisoners and Staff against COVID-19. Read more.
► DCR Adapts Services to Limit Office Visits and Group Programmes. Read more.
► CIPS Suspends International Mail from 23 March as Precautionary Measure. Read more.
► Cayman Islands Regiment Officers Assisting HMCI. Read more.
► DCFS Suspends All Social Visits to Group Homes. Read more.
► Monday, 16 March Government Update: Premier's Statement Includes International Travel Updates. Read more.
► HSA Introduces Local Testing for COVID-19, Significantly Reducing Waiting Period. Read more.
► RCIPS Helicopter in Life Saving Mission to Stricken Cruise Ship. Read more.
► HSA Expands, Relocates Flu Clinic at George Town Hospital, Promotes Flu Hotline. Read more.
► NAU Revises Existing Clients' Service Delivery to Support Preparedness Measures. Read more.
► HSA restricts all visitors from 14 March to protect patients and community. Read more.
► First COVID-19 Patient Passes 14 March. Officials Extend Condolences. Read more.
► Governor's Statement on COVID-19 13 March Urges Coming Together. Read more.
► Public Gatherings of More Than 50 People Restricted Effective 13 March. Read more.
► First Case of COVID-19 Confirmed in the Cayman Islands 12 March. Read more.
► CIGOUK Acknowledges UK Prime Minister’s Latest COVID-19 Announcement. Read more.
► First Five Samples Sent to CARPHA for COVID-19 Testing 9 March. Read more.
► Cruise Line Cancels Call to the Cayman Islands 9 March. Read more.
► The Cayman Islands Prepares as Regional Cases of COVID-19 Confirmed. Read more.
► Travel Restrictions and Advice Issued by the Cayman Islands Government 25 February. Read more.
► Health Precautions at the Border and Immigration Advice 3 March. Read More.
► Ministers Attend a Special Meeting to Discuss Ways of Protecting the Region from COVID-19. Read more.
► Cruise Ship Denied Entry on 26 February. Read More.
► Cayman Islands Government Places COVID-19 (Coronavirus) on Schedule of Notifiable Diseases. Read more.
Watch all Cayman Islands Government Press Conferences and Interviews on Coronavirus (COVID-19) here.
Read more Government news in our Press Room and follow all updates from the Health Services Authority at www.hsa.ky/news_events.
USEFUL INFORMATION ON PREVENTION
Coronavirus spreads person to person. Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others. People who are not yet sick but have contracted the virus seem to also spread this illness.
Because it's a new illness, we do not know exactly how coronavirus spreads from person to person but similar viruses are spread in cough droplets. With this in mind, when it comes to prevention of spread there are several things you can do to help stop the virus spreading. These are:
- Frequently wash your hands with soap and water. If you do not have this then use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
- Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. Use tissues. Do not use your hands. If you have no tissues, use your elbow.
- Avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.
- Avoid travel if you have a fever, cough, or flu-like symptoms.
The best way to protect yourself and others from the spread of this virus is to practice these three tips:
- Catch it. Catch a cough or sneeze in a tissue. If you have nothing to use, use your elbow and not your hands.
- Bin it. Bin the tissues after use. Viruses can live for hours in tissues.
- Kill it. By avoiding close contact with those suffering from acute respiratory illness, avoiding travel if you have flu-like symptoms (or a cough or a fever) we can help kill the virus.
