Cayman Islands COVID Restrictions: Exit Testing No Longer Required After Completing Isolation Period
Public Health has said that effective 30th June 2022, people who have tested positive for the Covid–19 diseases and have completed the required isolation period, which is six days for vaccinated people and nine days for unvaccinated people, now do not need to undergo exit testing at all.
According to the Medical Officer of Health Dr. Samuel Willian Rodriguez, the isolation period is one of the most effective and important periods in order to control Covid-19. Moreover, it also reduces the risk of transmitting the disease.Â
The requirement for exit testing has been removed, and people are being trusted to continue to follow all the regulations and protocols the Government and Public Health have outlined. People who test positive for Covid-19 still need to report their results and complete a confirmation PCR test at the HSA testing clinic.
With the decision to remove exit testing and with most of the countries dropping pre-arrival testing, the timings for Covid-19 testing centers have changed. These are:Â
- Bodden Town Civic Center, which will be closed from Tuesday 5th July 2022
- Ed Bush Sports Complex, which will be closed from Tuesday 5th July 2022
- 131 Center McLendon Drive will be closed for Covid-19 testing from Tuesday 5th July
- Truman Bodden Sports Complex drive-through from 8 am – 10 am
- Cayman Brac Monday to Friday from 9 am – 10 am
- Little Cayman Clinic Monday to Friday 1 pm – 2 pm by appointments only
Ending Isolation for Individuals Who Had Covid and Symptoms
If you tested positive for Covid-19 and had symptoms, you should isolate yourself for at least five days.Â
In order to calculate the five-day isolation period, day 0 is going to be the first day you get symptoms. Day 1 is the first full day once your symptoms develop. Your isolation will be over after five full days.
Your isolation period will end after five full days if you are fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications and if your other symptoms have gotten better. One thing to keep in mind is that loss of taste and smell can go on for weeks or months after recovery, so there is no need to delay the end of your isolation period.
It has also been reported that you should keep wearing a well-fitting mask around others at your home and in public areas for five more days. This will be day six and day 10. If for some reason, you cannot wear a mask around others, you need to keep on continuing to isolate yourself for a full ten days. You should avoid people with a weak immune system and those who are likely to get a lot of sick from Covid-19, nursing homes, and other high-risk areas for at least ten days.
Moreover, if you have a fever or your other symptoms have not improved after a five-day isolation period, you need to wait and end your isolation until you are completely fever free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications until all your other symptoms have improved. Make sure you do not go to places where you cannot wear a mask, such as restaurants, gyms, etc. Avoid eating around others until ten days are complete after the first day of your symptoms.
Ending Isolation For People Who Tested Positive For Covid-19 But No Symptoms
If you tested positive for Covid-19 but never had any symptoms, you must isolate yourself for at least five days. Day 0 is going to be the day you tested positive, and day one is going to be the first full day after the specimen was collected for your positive test.
- If you continue having no symptoms, you should end isolation after five days.
- Continue wearing a mask around others and at home. If you cannot wear a mask, you need to isolate yourself for ten days.
- If you start developing symptoms after testing positive, your 5-day isolation period should start over. Day 0 will be the first day of your symptoms.
If someone has access to a test and wants to test, the best way to do that is with an antigen test towards the end of the 5-day isolation period. If your test result is positive, then you need to isolate it until day 10. You should continue testing daily, and if the test result is negative, you can end your isolation; however, make sure you continue wearing a mask.
Ending Isolation For People Who Were Moderately or Very Sick From Covid-19 or Had a Very Weak Immune System
Individuals who are moderately ill from Covid-19 and are going through symptoms that affect the lungs, such as shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, need to isolate for ten days and also follow other isolation precautions.Â
If you are not sure whether your symptoms are moderate or not, then you need to talk to a healthcare provider who will guide you further.Â
Moving on, people who are extremely sick from Covid-19 and are hospitalized or require intensive care or ventilation support and who have a weak immune system need to isolate themselves for a longer period. These people will also need a viral test in order to determine when they can be around others. CDC has recommended that an isolation period of at least ten and up to 20 days is required for people who are extremely sick from Covid-19 and the ones who also have a very weak immune system. You also need to make sure that you consult with your healthcare provider regarding when you can start being around other people.Â
Do not forget to get yourself checked by a healthcare professional. The doctor is going to make sure to guide you with what you need to do and how to take care of yourself.
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