The Cayman Islands moves to extended curfew

he Cayman Islands Government will implement a curfew for all three Islands from 7pm tonight (Wednesday, 25 March 2020) until 5am, Saturday, 28 March. 
 
The extension of curfew measures prohibiting movement outside the home by all but essential personnel, comes in the interest of the public health and the welfare of the community. Health officials also today reported that another two persons, both with travel history, have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. 
 
Urging Caymanians and residents to strictly abide by the curfew, Premier Alden McLaughlin, said the decision to extend the curfew was taken as an immediate solution in the interest of the health and welfare of the community, to suppress transmission of COVID-19 as quickly as possible. 
 
Officials are still working out the details of a shelter in place order as the initial number of requests for exemption (850 requests for a total of 20,000 workers) would have negated the public health benefits of such an exercise. A list of all currently exempted persons can be found on www.gov.ky/coronavirus. 
 
During the curfew period Government will continue to develop the details of a shelter in place order, allowing reasonable movement of persons for essential activities such as access to supermarkets, pharmacies, banks or exercise in groups of one or two. A plan is expected to be presented to the community later this week. 
 
“We understand how restrictive the current measure is and fully appreciate the impact it will have on people and on economic activity”, commented His Excellency, the Governor Martyn Roper, “but we believe it is absolutely necessary given the public health emergency the world is facing”. 
 
Premier McLaughlin concluded on a hopeful note, “With our borders having been locked since last Sunday, if our strategy is successful in suppressing community spread, in a matter of a few weeks we may be able to relax these restrictions and return to some level of normalcy”. 
 
RCIPS will actively be enforcing the curfew, and has already implemented significant community patrols. Anyone with enquiries as to whether they are an essential business and how they can be so designated should contact [email protected]. 
 
Government’s daily press briefings will continue through the extended curfew to provide vital information to the community.