Last Updated February 27, 2023, 11:00 AM

 

Financial Assistance

If your income has been affected due to COVID-19, you may be eligible for financial support from the Government. Click the links below to access the relevant section.

If you fit the following categories, you may be eligible for ongoing assistance from the Needs Assessment Unit (NAU):

  • Caymanian or Cayman Status Holder
  • Combined household income of less than $3,000 per month
  • You have neither withdrawn nor are asking to withdraw from your pension funds

To register for NAU support, visit https://www.nau.gov.ky/ 

For further information call the Unit at 946-0024 (GC) or 948-8758 (CB).

 

Elderly & Vulnerable People

This guidance is for carers, friends and family members of elderly and vulnerable persons who are at higher risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-19.

Those affected also include residents of long-term care facilities for the elderly and people with special needs, as well as:

  1. Organ transplant recipients
  2. Cancers patients:
    1. undergoing active chemotherapy
    2. with lung cancer undergoing radical radiotherapy
    3. with cancers of the blood or bone marrow e.g. leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma in treatment
    4. having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments
    5. having other targeted cancer treatments affecting the immune system, e.g. protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
    6. who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last six months, or are taking immunosuppression drugs
  3. Those with severe respiratory conditions e.g. cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  4. Those with rare diseases that increase the risk of infections (e.g. severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and homozygous sickle cell)
  5. Those on immunosuppression therapies which may greatly increase the risk of infection.
  6. Pregnant women who have significant heart disease, congenital or acquired.
  7. Others identified as being at higher risk of becoming severely ill if they get COVID-19. (NB: GPs and hospital clinicians have guidance to support these decisions).

Disease severity, history or treatment levels will also affect those in this group. If you require more information on risk levels, please contact your GP or hospital specialist.

People who are at higher risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-19 must take further preventative measures to avoid contracting the virus. The more people you interact with, the more closely you interact with them, and the longer that interaction, the more likely you are to get or spread the virus that causes COVID-19.

If you are vulnerable, it is strongly advised that you get vaccinated when possible as the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age and with comorbidities.

View the latest vaccination schedule here.

  • get vaccinated against COVID-19 – find out how to get your vaccination here.
  • meet people outside if possible and maintain physical distancing
  • open doors and windows to let in fresh air if meeting people inside.
  • wear a mask or face covering when it's hard to stay away from other people – particularly indoors or in crowded places
  • ask friends and family to take a rapid lateral flow test before visiting you
  • limit the number of people you meet and avoid crowded places
  • wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day
  • If you start showing symptoms of COVID-19, contact the 24-hour Flu Hotline on 1-800-534-8600 or 345-947-3077 to inform the Health Services Authority and seek medical advice
  • If you need emergency help, call 911 right away.

If you are caring for someone vulnerable, here are some simple steps you can take to protect them and to reduce their risk:

  • do not visit or provide care if you are unwell, make alternative arrangements for anyone you care for
  • only provide essential care
  • wash your hands when you arrive and often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser
  • cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
  • bin used tissues immediately and wash your hands afterwards
  • tell the person you are caring for about who they/you should call if they feel unwell
  • look after your own well-being and physical health.

COVID-19 Testing and treatment

This section covers questions relating to the testing and treatment of COVID-19 in the Cayman Islands

If you suspect you may have COVID-19, or have been in contact with an individual who may have COVID-19, you should take a Lateral Flow Test (LFT). 

Vaccinated & Unvaccinated COVID-19 positive persons will isolate for 6 days and leave isolation on day 7 as long as you have no symptoms.

The day of your original positive LFT test is considered Day 0.

 

Certified LFTs are Lateral Flow Tests which are required to be administered and subsequently certified by a healthcare professional. 

There are many certified LFT clinics across the Cayman Islands. All locations can be found here.

Public Health Department has announced that effective 1st March 2023, confirmation PCR testing for positives will no longer be required and COVID testing centres will cease operations on all three islands. 

LFT positive online reporting will also no longer be required.

The test will show only whether you are currently infected with the COVID-19 virus. It will not show whether you had the virus in the past.

Many people who contract COVID-19 will experience mild illness have a mild case and will recover within two weeks. However, elderly people and those with underlying health conditions are vulnerable to further complications and may require additional medical care if they contract the virus.
 
The Public Health Department will keep in touch with you if you have COVID-19 and they will monitor your symptoms. Should you require medical intervention they will let you know and make all the necessary arrangements for you to get care in a way that is safe for everyone.
 
If you think you have COVID-19 you should call the 24-hour Flu Hotline on 1-800-534-8600 or 947-3077 (Digicel), or email flu@hsa.ky for advice and:
  • Do not visit a medical centre or hospital unless it is an emergency, for example if you are having trouble breathing
  • Do not go to work
  • Do not use public transport
  • Do not use taxis
  • Do not go to school
  • Do not be in public areas

Antibiotics do not work against COVID-19 as they work against bacteria and COVID-19 is caused by a virus.

However, antibiotics may be prescribed for some people with COVID-19 because there’s a risk the virus may make them more likely to get a bacterial infection as well.

Treatment aims to relieve the symptoms while your body fights the illness and supporting bodily functions.

 

Advice For Parents & Guardians

Children can be infected with and transmit COVID-19. While children’s symptoms of COVID-19 are generally less severe than adults, protecting children is important for their households, schools and communities.

Typical Symptoms Of COVID-19 Are:

  • fever
  • a persistent cough
  • a loss or change to smell/taste

If You Suspect That Your Child May Have COVID-19:
  • have them tested by a trusted medical professional
  • consider having yourself or other members of your household tested, especially if you live with an immunocompromised person
  • keep children home from school while you wait for results

Managing Your Child’s Symptoms

  • discuss your child’s symptoms with their paediatrician or GP to determine what level of care they require
  • treat child with over-the-counter medication for flu symptoms
  • consider having one caregiver designated to take care of the child to limit exposure by other members of the household
  • if your child is over the age of 2 and can wear a mask, have them wear one while with their caregiver
  • all members of the household must practice hand hygiene
  • sanitise all high-touch areas (i.e. remotes, light switches, toys, electronic devices) daily

 

If Symptoms Worsen, Contact Your Primary Healthcare Provider Immediately.

Consider Vaccinating Your Child

The Pfizer BioNTech vaccine (Comirnaty) is available in the Cayman Islands for children ages 5-11. The children’s COVID-19 vaccine is proven to reduce COVID-19 infection by ninety percent.

To view the current children’s vaccination schedule, please click here. Appointments are required.


For more on the COVID-19 vaccine for children.

Anyone who feels unwell, whether they are a student, staff member or parent/guardian, should not attend an educational institution.

We advise anyone who has questions to call your GP or the 24-hour Flu Hotline on 1-800-534-8600 or 947-3077 (Digicel), or email flu@hsa.ky

If you suspect you may have coronavirus (COVID-19), you are advised to take the following additional precautions:
  • Do not visit a medical centre or hospital; if it is an emergency like you are having trouble breathing, call 911
  • Do not go to work
  • Do not use public transport
  • Do not use taxis
  • Do not go to school
  • Do not be in public areas

Teachers are not mandated to be vaccinated at this time. However, the Department of Education Services within the Ministry of Education will continue to follow the advice of the Public Health Department.

Anyone, whether they are a student, staff member or parent/guardian, that becomes exposed to the COVID-19 virus should not attend an educational institution. 

We advise anyone who has questions to call your GP or the 24-hour Flu Hotline on 1-800-534-8600 or 947-3077 (Digicel), or email flu@hsa.ky

If you suspect you may have coronavirus (COVID-19), you are advised to take the following additional precautions:
  • Do not visit a medical centre or hospital; if it is an emergency like you are having trouble breathing, call 911
  • Do not go to work
  • Do not use public transport
  • Do not use taxis
  • Do not go to school
  • Do not be in public area

The Ministry of Education has provided all students enrolled in Government schools with digital devices (such as laptops or iPads), procured a variety of learning software and made LTE modems available for those most in need of this assistance to facilitate a smooth transition to remote learning as needed. However, students who are unwell and at home are not expected to continue with learning until they are feeling better.

This means your child was exposed to someone with COVID-19. When your child is identified as a close contact, your child needs to follow testing and quarantine guidance from the local Public Health department via your school. Quarantine is a very important public health tool used to stop many kinds of infectious diseases from spreading including COVID 19.

It depends – your child is safest when your school is using layered prevention strategies and if you are able to also use these strategies at home such mask wearing, screening for illness every day, staying at home when sick, cleaning and disinfecting frequently and practising proper hand hygiene.

One way to help protect everyone is to make sure that all adults and eligible youth in a household are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

In addition to screening, the Public Health Department (PH) will also use the lateral flow tests to implement serial testing daily regimes for the primary contacts of any child who tests positive for SARS-CoV-2, as an alternative to isolation for those primary contacts who initially test negative. Primary contacts are considered persons within the classroom group, work group or household of an individual who tests positive.

This will help to limit wide-scale disruptions to in-person learning for children in the Cayman Islands. PH may also use lateral flow tests in the event of an outbreak of cases in schools, to successfully assist in quickly identifying potential positive cases in the school environment and within families.

 

Types Of Tests To Be Used

The selection and use of lateral flow tests for the purpose of screening at ECCE centres and schools must comply with the criteria established in Control of COVID-19 (Testing) Regulations, 2021 under the Public Health Act (2021 Revision) and with the guidance provided by the National Policy on the Use of AntigenDetecting Rapid Diagnostic Tests (“Lateral Flow Tests”) in the Cayman Islands.

 
Who Will Be Screened

In order to prevent additional spread of the virus within the ECCE centres or schools, screening is intended to identify persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 who have either no symptoms or mild symptoms and who might otherwise go undetected. Unless otherwise guided by Public Health, the recommended age for persons to be screened with LFTS is 2 years and older.

Note: Screening is not intended for persons who are symptomatic. In line with Public Health advice, persons with symptoms should stay home when sick. Any person with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 disease should contact their local healthcare provider or the Flu Hotline to seek advice on the best next steps. The Flu Hotline can be reached on 1-800-534-8600 or 947-3077 (Digicel), or email flu@hsa.ky

Screening is not intended for persons who have recovered from laboratory confirmed (via a PCR test) COVID-19 within the past 90 days and are asymptomatic. To avoid false positive test results, they should follow the advice of the Public Health Department on how to conduct future testing (including screening tests).

Find LFT Guidance for Early Education

Yes, they should stay home.
 
They should also get tested for COVID-19.
 
It is very important that your child not attend in-person school when they have signs and symptoms. With symptoms, your child should also not gather in public places, play sports, participate in extracurricular activities, or socialise in-person with people who do not live in your household. This is also true if your child is showing any symptoms of other respiratory illnesses, such as the flu. Ask your school about online learning options during quarantine and isolation.

The best way to keep children safe is about prevention. The primary goal is to prevent as many infections as we possibly can.  Making sure your children have clean hands by washing their hands with soap and water. Where water is not available, you should encourage your children to use an alcohol-based rub (hand - sanitizer). Make sure that your children also practice proper hygiene where they sneeze or cough into their elbow. These are good habits to be forming for children as they get older. Make sure that if they're age appropriate to follow the local guidance to wear a mask appropriately.

The safety protocols for schools (public or private) are included in the Ministry of Education’s COVID-19 Guidance for Educational Institutions here.

Educational institutions include: public or private schools; early childhood care and education (ECCE) centres; and other institutions providing education (e.g. alternative education placements, tutoring centres, post-compulsory educational organisations, colleges/universities, etc.). 

The Ministry of Education is committed to the health and safety of students and continue to follow the advice of the Public Health.

The following measures have been implemented to provide a healthy environment for our children:

  • COVID-19 Guidance for Educational Institutions. Available here
  • Facilitating updates to schools’ Continuity of Operations Plan
  • Regular cleaning and sanitation in schools
  • Procurement of masks for students and educators and
  • Mandating that students wear masks while on the school buses 

Schools will soon update their COVID-19 protocols based on the Ministry of Education’s most recent guidance document dated 10 September 2021. This is available here.

The Ministry of Education has prepared a guidance document for Educational Institutions that includes several health and safety measures, including:

  • Cleaning & disinfection
  • Social distancing
  • Transportation
  • Hand hygiene
  • Respiratory etiquette
  • Routine care
  • Visitor access
  • Drinking water

If a suspected case of COVID-19 is identified in your child’s school/institution, the school/institution will:

  • Notify Public Health of a suspected case of student
  • Separate the student from the main student body in a secure and comfortable environment until released to the parent/guardian
  • Ensure the student is supervised at all times in line with child protection  guidelines
  • Notify the Director of the Department of Education Services (DES) or Ministry of Education
  • In the case of a member of staff, the individual will contact Public Health and self-isolate as a precautionary measure.

Routine cleaning takes place in high-touch surfaces and spaces within Government schools throughout the day to ensure that transmission risks are reduced. Ventilation and air-conditioning systems are also regularly maintained.

Parents, guardians and carers of children with complex medical needs (including but not limited to underlying respiratory and cardiovascular conditions) should seek advice from the child’s health practitioner to support informed risk assessment and decision-making about whether onsite education is suitable.

Parents, guardians and carers of children of compulsory school age (ages 5 – 17) who are out of school for an extended period for medical reasons should electronically submit documentation to the child’s school.

wORC

Yes, all persons applying for a work permit grant or renewal are required to show proof of vaccination when submitting the work permit application.

Customers can submit proof of vaccination with their application in person at Apollo West building or via WORCPermitSubmissions@gov.ky.

No.

The law can be found by visiting the Cayman Islands Gazette website or by clicking here.

No, persons applying for RERC as the spouse of a Caymanian are not required to show proof of vaccination when submitting the RERC application.

The C-19 Declaration Form can be found by clicking here. Or can be found by navigating to www.worc.ky and under the tabs Applications > Forms > then scroll to Miscellaneous Other Forms.

Persons seeking an exemption on medical grounds will need to obtain a letter from a physician in the Cayman Islands (if applying locally) or from a Physician from the country of origin (if applying overseas). The medical certificate (letter) will need to be provided to the Health Services Authority to be reviewed and approved by the Medical Officer of Health. This exemption letter can then be included in the work permit application submission.

  • Persons applying for work permit grants (WP) or renewing work permits, this includes temporary work permits (TWP) applications and renewals
  • Persons making amendments to a work permit to add dependants
  • Persons applying for a Certificate for Specialist Caregivers
  • Persons applying for Permanent Residence (persons legally and ordinarily residents in the Islands for at least 8 years)
  • Persons applying for Residency Certificates for Persons of Independent Means, and holders of this certificate who are applying for permanent residence
  • Surviving or former spouses or civil partners and adult dependents of holders of
  • Residency Certificates for Persons of Independent Means or holders of Certificates of Permanent Residence for Persons of Independent Means, who are applying for such a certificate/permanent residence in their own right.
  • Persons applying for Certificates of Direct Investment, or surviving/former spouse or civil partner applying for such a certificate in their own right
  • Holders of Residency Certificates (Substantial Business Presence)
  • Spouses, civil partners and dependents of people holding Residency Certificates for Persons of Independent Means and Certificates of Direct Investment
  • Those receiving entry permits approved by Cabinet

Yes, you will need to provide proof of vaccination when submitting the Global Citizen application.

Visit www.worc.gov.ky or contact the Customer Care team:

 

More Questions?

Please contact the Flu Hotline at 1-800-534-8600 or 947-3077.