COVID-19 In The Cayman Islands

Latest Figures On COVID-19

 

 

Worried You Might Have COVID-19?

Start a confidential COVID-19 self-assessment.

 

Need To Apply For An Exemption?

Apply for an exemption from soft curfew using our online form.

 

Latest Advice

There are 5 levels of suppression

The details are are unique to each island, and two islands may be on the same level at the same time but have different provisions. See below for the specific details.

WhatsApp Image 2020-05-17 at 7.28.43 PM

Grand Cayman

Grand Cayman is operating from suppression level 3 as of Tuesday, 19 May. Download more details.

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Cayman Brac

Cayman Brac is operating under suppression level 3. Download more details

Little Cayman

Little Cayman is operating under suppression level 2. Download more details

Grand Cayman

On Tuesday, 19 May, the Prevention, Control and Suppression of Covid-19 (Grand Cayman) Regulations, 2020 came into effect for Grand Cayman, easing certain restrictions on movement during the soft curfew period. There is also a daily hard curfew from 8pm-5am in accordance with the Police Law (2017 Revision).

Residents are reminded that staying home, practising social distancing, and frequent hand washing will reduce the potential spread of COVID-19. Physical distancing and wearing of masks or cloth face coverings in public places is legally required.

Read our Curfew & Social Distancing page to understand what is permitted.

 

Cayman Brac

The Prevention, Control and Suppression of Covid-19 (Cayman Brac) Regulations, 2020 apply to Cayman Brac. There is also a daily hard curfew from 8pm-5am in accordance with the Police Law (2017 Revision).

Residents are reminded that staying home, practising social distancing, and frequent hand washing will reduce the potential spread of COVID-19. Physical distancing and wearing of masks or cloth face coverings in public places is legally required.

 

Little Cayman

The Prevention, Control and Suppression of Covid-19 (Little Cayman) Regulations, 2020 apply to Little Cayman. There is currently no hard curfew or soft curfew, though physical distancing and wearing of masks or cloth face coverings (if physical distancing is impossible) in public places is legally required.

In public places you must maintain six feet or two metres of distance from other people and wear a face mask or face covering when in public enclosed or indoor spaces.

No more than two people may gather in public unless they live in the same household and private parties that include people from more than one household are banned at all times and in all places.

In Grand Cayman, you may exercise indoors in your private property and in your private yard space at any time. You may exercise outside your property for up to two hours a day between 5:15am and 7pm. The only exceptions are for fishing (which is not allowed on Sundays but has no time limit within the hours of 5:15am and 7pm) and exercising on the beach or swimming in the sea (which is restricted by surname and not allowed on Sundays). You may drive to your place of exercise. Read more.

Workforce Opportunities & Residency Cayman answers frequently asked questions on 15 April 2020. Read more

The Office of the Ombudsman is aware of concerns that individuals are seeking to identify, and even publicly expose, people who are infected with COVID-19. Aside from the moral, ethical and societal implications surrounding the stigma associated with naming and shaming another human being, there are legal implications if sensitive personal data is made public. Read more

Persons over the age of two must wear a face mask or face covering when in most public enclosed or indoor spaces as well as while in taxis or omnibuses or waiting for public transportation in a semi-enclosed space. There are limited exceptions. Read more.

Covering your nose and mouth in this way can only work in combination with frequent handwashing with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub and social distancing, which includes staying home as much as possible.

Individual businesses across all three Islands may have their own rules and refuse entry to customers that do not comply.

See also When & Why To Wear A Mask In The Cayman Islands.

If you have an urgent need to travel between the Cayman Islands and any other destination, please click here to submit your information using our new online tool. Alternatively, contact 244-3333 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm or email emergencytravel@gov.ky

Stay home as much as possible and only leave for essential trips in accordance with restrictions on movement by curfew and by surname in Grand Cayman. Local supplies are not running short. Only essential trips by one member of the household should be considered and children should stay home. Read more

 

Policies In Action

The "hard" curfew remains in effect in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac every day from 8pm in the evening until 5am in the morning each day.

Persons are required to remain in their homes and premises during these hours unless the Commissioner of Police has exempted them from doing so in writing. 

In Little Cayman there is no hard curfew in effect at this time.

Grand Cayman

Referred to as "Shelter in Place", the daytime "soft" curfew in Grand Cayman allows reasonable movement of persons between 5am and 8pm for essential activities.

Access to pharmacies, healthcare facilities and restaurants to collect food is not restricted by surname. However, adults with surnames beginning in A through K are only allowed to conduct other essential travel to public places - including supermarkets, banks, post offices, money remittance facilities, retail businesses, and beaches for exercise - on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Adults with surnames beginning in L through Z are only allowed to conduct such essential travel on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Individuals with hyphenated or multiple surnames should use the first letter of the first surname.

You are also allowed to exercise outdoors - including walking a pet - for up to two hours between 5:15am and 7pm either alone or with other people who are members of the same residence. You may drive to your exercise location.

Read more on Curfew & Social Distancing

Cayman Brac

New Regulations came into effect on Thursday, 7 May 2020 for Cayman Brac. Read more in our COVID-19 FAQs: Cayman Brac.

Little Cayman

New Regulations came into effect on Tuesday, 5 May 2020 for Little Cayman. Read more in our COVID-19 FAQs: Little Cayman.

On Grand Cayman, persons are only to leave their homes for essential purposes or in the case of an emergency. 

Only essential establishments, institutions, businesses, organisations and offices are allowed to be open and operate under a number of restrictions.

Read more on Curfew & Social Distancing

Grand Cayman

No more than two persons are allowed to gather in public for any reason. While in a public place, stay at least six feet or two metres from any other person who is not a member of your household, including while exercising outdoors. Private parties which include any person from outside of the immediate household are banned and strata gyms and all playgrounds are to remain closed.

Most essential businesses are exempt from the ban on public gatherings. However, the owner or operator must restrict the number of customers in order to maintain physical distancing. 

Weddings are not to include 10 or more people other than the bride, groom, official witnesses and the marriage officer. Funerals are only allowed to be attended by up to 10 members of the immediate family, 6 pallbearers, at least 1 officiant, and essential mortuary staff. 

While workplaces are not considered public places, only essential operations are open and even essential staff must work remotely at home if they are able.

Cayman Brac

No person shall hold any procession or festive ceremony until further notice. Public meetings may not include more than 25 people, including gatherings in any public place for parades, sporting events, concerts, conventions, conferences, graduations and fundraisers.

Inside public places, the owner or operator must restrict the number of customers at any one time so that each customer is able to distance himself or herself at least six feet or two metres from any other person. 

People are required to maintain a distance of six feet or two metres from any other person in a public place. Masks or cloth face coverings are required indoors in public places for persons over the age of two years.

Little Cayman

Inside public places, the owner or operator must restrict the number of customers at any one time so that each customer is able to distance himself or herself at least six feet or two metres from any other person.

If you are indoors in a public place, you must maintain a distance of at least six feet or two metres from another person unless you live in the same household. If unable to maintain a distance of six feet or two metres from every other person in a public place, masks or cloth face coverings are required indoors for persons over the age of two years.

Airports are currently closed to international passengers except for emergency flights, all cruise ships and private yachts are banned, and travel to the Sister Islands is restricted to residents and essential personnel. Read more.

Amendments to the National Pensions Law were passed in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, 23 April 2020 to provide for a pension holiday from 1 April to 30 September 2020 or such later date as may be appointed by Order made by the Cabinet. Qualifying pension plan members may also withdraw funds from their account subject to certain provisions. Read more.

Apply Now

In addition to the establishment of the Cayman Islands Centre for Business Development, Government has implemented a number of measures to support local business and commerce. These include financial assistance for small and medium businesses and the transport industry, temporary waiver of Trade & Business Licensing fees, extension of the temporary layoff period for most industries, virtual conduct of notarial acts, and others. Read more.

 

 

We Work With

What is COVID-19?

The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus, which was first identified in Wuhan City, China in 2019. The COVID-19 virus (which is called SARS-CoV-2) is a member of the coronavirus family (a group of viruses) that has never been encountered before. 

 

What Are the Symptoms?

The virus most commonly causes:

  • coughing 
  • fever
  • tiredness
  • breathing difficulties
  • loss of smell and taste

These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually but commonly occur within 1-10 days after a person has been exposed.

Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell. Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. 

 

How Do I Get More Information?

This official Cayman Islands Government website includes a lot of helpful information that is constantly being updated, including a detailed explanation of the Daytime "Soft" Curfew and Nighttime "Hard" Curfew that are in place, answers to Frequently Asked Questions and details of Policies in Action. We also have a list of helplines for critical services.

If you have medical questions, many resources are available on this website and at hsa.ky/coronavirus. If you can't find what you're looking for or have a question about your specific situation, contact your General Practitioner or the 24-hour Flu Hotline on 1-800-534-8600 or 925-6327 (Flow) or 947-3077 (Digicel) or email flu@hsa.ky . If you have a medical emergency dial 911.

If you have a non-medical question and can't find the answer on this website, contact the National Emergency Operations Centre hotline on 1-800-534-6555 or email NEOC@gov.ky.

 

Cayman Islands Community & COVID-19

We may be limited in our physical movements by practicing social distancing to stay safe. What you can still do is stay connected to your Cayman Community. Learn about what's happening with your neighbours and the community at large here.

 

Regional Tracker & WHO Situation Reports

Get updates from the Pan American Health Organization here. Get global updates from the World Health Organization here.

 

COVID-19 Latest Live Update

household guidance

Guidance for households with possible COVID-19 infection. Read more

vulnerable people
Information for vulnerable people at high risk and their carers. Read more
business guidance

Information on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) including guidance for businesses. Read more

education guidance
COVID-19 information for schools and other educational settings. Read more
travel advice

Travel advice and restrictions from the Cayman Islands Government. Read more

mental wellbeing
Information on maintaining your mental well-being and safety. Read more
latest news

Information for the public, including on the current situation in the Cayman Islands. Read more

public health info

An explanation of how COVID-19 is spread and how to avoid catching or spreading the virus. Read more

resurces and downloads

Download our graphics, videos, informational booklets and other resources on COVID-19. Read more

frontline staff

Information for front-line and essential workers on COVID-19 in Cayman Islands and information on policies. Read more

policies in action

Information the public on COVID-19 policies in Cayman Islands. Read more

get help

Information the hotlines and contact details to get information and support in Cayman Islands. Read more

COVID-19 FAQs

 

What is COVID-19? 

The information and studies we are receiving on COVID-19 grow by the day, and so does the understanding. The advice from our Chief Medical Officer is that shared by national public health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control in the USA, Public Health England and the World Health Organization. Read more.

 

What Suppression Levels are We On?

We are currently on the following suppression levels for the Cayman Islands. Each suppression level and guidance is specific to each island:

Grand Cayman, Suppression Level 3
Cayman Brac, Suppression Level 3
Little Cayman, Suppression Level 2

The latest suppression information for the Cayman Islands can be found here.

 

What should I do if I think I have COVID-19?

If you are having a medical emergency, including difficulty breathing, dial 911. Unless you require emergency medical care, stay home. Do not visit a medical centre or hospital. Call your General Practitioner or the 24-hour Flu Hotline 1-800-534-8600 / 925-6327 (Flow) / 947-3077 (Digicel) or email flu@hsa.ky for advice. You can also take our online COVID-19 self-assessment here to determine if you may need care.  Read more.

 

What should businesses do?

The Cayman Islands Government issued advice on how to prepare ahead of a potential community case. We are also keeping this website updated to reflect the latest policies, advice and Government relief measures for businesses. Read more

 

View all of our frequently asked questions on COVID-19 here.

Prevention Tips

 

The best way to protect yourself and others from the spread of COVID-19 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.

 

Cayman Prepared

Hazard Management Cayman Islands has overall responsibility for the national Comprehensive Disaster Management programme, including preparedness, response, mitigation and recovery.

HMCI is responsible for the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), which is activated to direct and coordinate the response to national threats. Read more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Press Room

 
Dr. Lee's COVID-19 Testing Update. Read more
 
Tuesday, 19 May Government Update: 17 positive results out of 1,182 results screened over the long weekend, screening of frontline health workers is complete and testing of other frontline workers is well underway, Cayman has tested 10% of the population ranking eighth in global testing per head, government strategy for reopening the economy proceeds carefully. The public is reminded to continue COVID-19 prevention practices including regular handwashing, social distancing and wearing masks in public enclosed spaces. Read more
 
HMCIPS Confirms Two COVID-19 Cases. Read more
 
CIFS Equipment Supports COVID-19 Efforts. Read more
 
Friday, 15 May Government Update: One positive result and 557 negatives were reported, relaxed restrictions to take effect on Tuesday, 19 May allowing; limited beach access, fishing and swimming in accordance with regulations, easing of hard curfew, and the reopening of some businesses. An evacuation flight to the Philippines is also scheduled for Saturday, 23 May. Read more
 
Isolation Policy Update for Returning Work Permit Holders. Read more

Amendments to Traffic Law Approved. Read more

Caymanians Supported Overseas During COVID-19. Read more

Thursday 14 May Testing Update: a further 449 COVID-19 tests have been completed over the last 24 hours. Of these 449, seven people have tested positive for COVID-19. Read more
 
 

More Information

Why & How Are We Screening The General Population For COVID-19?

In the Cayman Islands we have begun wider screening for COVID-19. Here's what that means:

Learn More >>

Improve Your Productivity While Working From Home

Working from home can be a welcome change of scenery, but some will find it challenging to stay focused and stay on top of their workload. If you’re finding yourself getting distracted, unable to focus or are generally not as productive as you used to be, these tips can help you refocus and get...

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How Does COVID-19 Testing Work?

Here's how testing for COVID-19 works in the Cayman Islands. 

 

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Flatten The Curve: Public Gathering Bans & School Closures Slow Spread

A number of proactive measures have been taken in the Cayman Islands to slow the spread of coronavirus disease that causes the virus know as COVID-19. Alongside these announcements comes the closure of all education facilities as of Monday 16 March through to the end of the 2019/2020 academic...

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How To Exercise At Home During COVID-19

You don’t need a gym to stay in shape. You can stay home and stay fit during curfew with some creativity and modifications to your current exercise plan.

Learn More >>

Government School Staff Going Above and Beyond

Feeding the Mind, Body and Soul of our Future

 

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CAYMAN ISLANDS HEALTH SERVICES AUTHORITY (HSA)

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USA CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL & PROTECTION (CDC)

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PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND (PHE)

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WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)

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CARIBBEAN PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY (CARPHA)

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