Premier's notes read at Friday (29) Press Briefing

Good Day,

Today we are at another significant
milestone as we maintain our efforts to respond to the Covid 19
Pandemic yet moving closer to the Recovery and Rebuilding of our
economy. Our testing results continue to indicate that whilst the
virus is still amongst us, because of your efforts, and sacrifices,
we have so far been winning the fight against it. Because of the
efforts of all of the people of these Islands we are able to slowly
emerge from our homes and to move about and feel a bit safer in doing
so. We have all sacrificed, from the eldest to the very young, and it
has been hard and continues to be hard. But there is hope.

We are currently operating at
suppression level 3, at this suppression level the mission has been
to get our society and economy moving safely by allowing outdoor
recreation and economic activity. It is widely known that the COVID19
virus spreads more easily in enclosed environments and therefore
increases rate of transmission so this heavily guides decisions made
at this level. This is why indoor venues including places of worship
and school buildings remain closed at this time with church services
and classroom teaching happening online.

As a Country we have a lot to be
thankful for as we approach an enviable position of being able to
relax restrictions with no hospital admissions and no further loss of
life. It has always been our primary goal to save lives and we will
continue this approach as a priority.

So, I come back to hope.

As I have said
from the beginning, we must preserve life and health and then look to
rebuild. I will forever remember the many messages of support for
what we were doing and the many messages that showed me clearly that
our people never lost hope. To paraphrase the great Martin Luther
King Jr, there are times when as a people we must accept finite
disappointment, but we never lose our infinite hope. It is that
spirit of hope and the strength of our Islands and of our people, all
of our people, which will pull us through.

It is why today I am pleased to
announce an expansion of allowed activities within the current Level
3 Moderate Suppression phase which will allow for more outdoor
recreational opportunities, limited gatherings with friends and loved
ones in public places, carefully managed additional economic activity
such as outdoor dining and other business which will safely help our
country reunite and get back to work. That said, our private homes
have been and should continue to be the safest place for us to be and
so gatherings in or visits to other households are not permitted.

Alongside the careful reopening of
the country while maintaining physical distancing requirements and
other measures to help keep us safe, we will also continue our
testing and will carefully monitor the spread of the virus in the
community to ensure that community transmission continues to be low.

All of us, however, have a part to
play in this and we must remain vigilant and continue to keep
yourself and others safe by practicing physical distancing,
maintaining face and hand hygiene, and carefully considering if and
when to participate in optional activities outside the home. We
cannot become complacent – the virus is still amongst us.

If we continue to have the success
we are having to suppress the virus then the plan is for us to move
to Level 2 Low Suppression on the 21st of June which will then see a
further easing of restrictions and continued expanded provisions
under the guidance of the level 3 mission and of course the advice of
our medical experts. We hope to reach a critical threshold of 25% of
our population being tested. We are currently at around 16%.

We anticipate that at Level 2 Low
Suppression, the risk of the virus will be low enough that there
will be an unlocking of high-interaction and high-touch businesses
and services, a gradual increase in public gatherings and, perhaps
most significantly, the return of external childcare in the home. I
am sure this will come to the relief of many parents and guardians
who have been working at home while homeschooling – I am sure many
children who will also be very excited to see their nannies and
helpers again.

Also, in Level 2 Low Suppression, we
can also look forward to the possibility of changing our everyday
environment by supporting or domestic tourism industry with
staycations. Over the next few weeks, these and other activities will
be reviewed to ensure that when the public health situation permits,
we will be ready and able to move forward.

Thank you.

PREVENTION, CONTROL AND SUPPRESSION
OF COVID-

CHANGES FROM 1 JUNE 2020

So the basic premise underlying the
need for these Regulations remains the same – that is, in to
prevent, control and suppress the spread of the virus, persons should
remain at home, unless you fall into one of the exempted categories
that allows you to be out and about and undertake certain activity.

However, as you heard, there are some
further softening of some of the restrictions – some starting on
1st June, 2020 and others starting on 7th June, 2020.

These are as follows —

CHANGES TO TAKE EFFECT ON 1st JUNE,
2020

(a) From Monday
1st June, 2020, all construction businesses may fully operate,
subject to any conditions which may be imposed by the Competent
Authority and persons observing the social distance requirements.

(b) All retail
and real estate businesses will be able to fully operate and must all
observe the social distance requirements and enforce the wearing of
masks by customers.

(c) Persons will
be able to exercise in any public place including Government walking
tracks. Also, persons will be able to engage in open air non-contact
sports, such as tennis and golfing, but no more than two at any time
may engage in such sport and this will be subject to any conditions
which may be imposed by the Competent Authority as well as persons
observing the social distance requirements.

(d) Persons will
be able to travel to convenience stores, minimarts or gas or
refilling stations on a Sunday. However, the surname restrictions
will not apply to these Sunday visits.

It should be noted that in Grand Cayman
notwithstanding the gradual opening of more businesses, those
businesses which are not exempted or specified in the regulations
shall remain closed. However, where possible, their staff can
continue to work remotely from home.

(e) Travel between the Islands
continues to be subject to the same restrictions as before.

There is however a minor change in that
persons who provide security services between the Islands will now be
classified as providing essential services for the purpose of travel
between the Islands.

CHANGES TO TAKE EFFECT ON 7th JUNE,
2020

(a) From Sunday 7th June, 2020, hard
curfew will be from 10 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.

(b) The definition of “public meeting” will change in Grand
Cayman and gatherings of up to six persons will be permitted. In
Cayman Brac there has been no change and twenty-five persons or less
will continue to be able to take part in the said activities. The
social distance requirements will continue to apply.

This
does not relate to Little Cayman which has no such restrictions.

However,
social distance requirements and the wearing of masks indoors public
places

continues
to apply to Little Cayman

(c) From 7th June, 2020, in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, restaurants
and bars, will be able to serve customers on any patio or other
outdoor area which forms a part of the premises of the bar or
restaurant.

However, the following conditions will
apply —

(i) no more than six customers at a table, and unless these customers
all come from the same household, social distance requirements must
be observed;

(ii) each table must be at least eight
feet apart;

(iii) no person shall be seated or
served at an indoor counter in a bar or restaurant; and

(iv) any other conditions which may be
imposed by the Competent Authority.

Further,
restaurants and bars will be able to open for such services until 9
p.m. Therefore, persons who travel to restaurants or bars to collect
their food or to dine outdoors now have until 10pm to return to their
homes. The restaurants can continue with delivery of food until 11 pm
which will be one hour later.

(d) From 7th June,
2020, persons employed by businesses other than restaurants will be
able to deliver until 11 p.m.

(e) In relation to
exercise- a person will be able on and after 7th June to exercise
with five (5) other persons who are not members of the person’s
household up for no more than 2 hours per day, between the hours of
4:45 am and 9 p.m. This includes engaging in open air non-contact
sports, subject to any conditions which may be imposed by the
Competent Authority.

Also persons will
be able to exercise on a beach, swim in the sea and fish from the
shoreline on any day. Persons must however continue to observe the
social distance requirements when exercising.

(f) On and after
7th June, 2020, in Grand Cayman, a person may use a boat between the
hours of 4:45 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on any day only for the purpose of
fishing in the waters, subject to the following conditions —

(a) no more than six persons shall be
on a boat; and

(b) no person shall travel for pleasure between the Islands to visit
Cayman Brac or Little Cayman; and

(c) a person may operate or manoeuvre a boat so as to congregate or
gather with any other person on any other boat or vessel provided
that the number of persons gathering does not exceed six persons.

The prohibition on
boating activity in certain areas will continue. Thus, persons are
still not permitted to congregate or have boats remain in Starfish
Point, Rum Point, the Sandbar and Stingray City.

(f) In Cayman Brac, on and after 7th June, 2020 a person may, on any
day, continue to use a boat to travel for pleasure, including for
fishing in the waters and will be permitted to have six persons on
board at any one time.

The Regulations
will last until 22nd June, 2020 or until such later date as the
Cabinet may specify.