GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands – The government of the Cayman Islands has announced plans to scale back on a proposal to re-open the territory next month.
“McLaughlin”According to Premier Alden McLaughlin, with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic still raging around the world and the high level of active cases in Florida, United States, the phased re-opening will begin with property owners or visitors with access to a home in the Caribbean nation from countries less impacted than the U.S.
Speaking late last month at the first press briefing in more than five weeks, McLaughlin outlined how the government will tackle the increasingly controversial issue of re-opening Cayman to visitors. He said a huge team across government had been considering how to tackle the re-opening, given that Cayman is now COVID-19 free “while the virus rages all around us.”
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The premier said that the Oct. 1 is still the start of the phased re-opening but the goal now is to allow a limited number of people to come to Cayman, quarantine in more acceptable circumstances than the mandated government quarantine, and ensure they stay put.
He explained that visitors will be tested before they arrive and need a negative test before they can board a plane for Cayman.On arrival, they will be given a bio-button, but they will be expected to isolate for at least eight days before they are given a test in Cayman.
These visitors will also be required to wear a geo-fence tag and government will be employing more public health officials to monitor the individuals to ensure that they do not leave the condos or holiday homes where they are in isolation until officials are sure they do not have the virus.
