CAYMAN ISLANDS
(March 13, 2020) – Health City Cayman Islands is reporting a
positive result for COVID-19 in a patient being treated in isolation
at the tertiary care facility’s Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU).

The 68-year-old
man is an emergency patient traveling on a cruise ship, who was
admitted to Health City in critical condition for lifesaving cardiac
treatment. On the way to the Cayman Islands, the patient had two
cardiac arrests and was resuscitated. He had a prior medical history
of cardiac issues.

On arrival in
George Town, he was rushed by ambulance to Health City.

The man embarked
on his cruise on February 25 and arrived in the Cayman Islands on
February 29.

He underwent
cardiac treatment, and began his recovery with no COVID-19 symptoms.
Over 30 medical professionals and staff members who would have come
into contact with the patient during this time are being quarantined
and tested for the virus. The number of staff members he came into
contact upon admission was limited as he was being treated in the
Intensive Care Unit, which is run according to strict infection
control guidelines for patients who are critically ill.

After
six days of his primary treatment, he developed a dry cough. Although
he had no other COVID-19 symptoms – such as other flu-like
complaints or a fever, based on World Health Organization (WHO)
guidelines, a sample was taken and sent to the Caribbean Public
Health Agency (CARPHA) for testing.

The sample was
sent for testing on Monday, 9 March and came back as positive on
Thursday, 12 March 2020.

“The patient
has been isolated and is receiving medical support having tested
positive for COVID-19,” Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil, Clinical Director
of Health City Cayman Islands confirmed at a press conference led by
Cayman Islands Government health officials on Thursday evening.

Dr.
Chattuparambil subsequently confirmed that any Health City staff
members that came into contact with the patient have been
quarantined. Samples are being taken and tested for COVID-19.

The wife of the
patient has also been quarantined and will be tested for the virus.

Dr.
Chattuparambil said, “Health City Cayman Islands would like
underscore that the cornerstone of our organization’s ethos is
keeping our focus centered squarely on our patients at all times.
Patient health and wellbeing is of the utmost importance to us in all
that we do.”

He continued, “We
would like to assure the public that all necessary precautions to
contain the virus have been put in place within our facility. It is
with this in mind that Health City Cayman Islands is taking the
extremely cautious measure of temporarily closing services and not
accepting any new patients for approximately two weeks. This decision
was taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our patients, the
community and our staff. ”

Dr.
Chattuparambil further outlined the hospital’s stringent quarantine
and infection control procedures.

“We are working
closely with the Ministry of Health and Public Health officials in
the containment of the COVID-19 virus in the Cayman Islands. As a
result, Health City has decided that for the next two weeks we are
quarantining all medical and hospital staff that came into contact
with this patient. In accordance with best international practice
regarding the containment of COVID-19, we believe this is vital in
order to absolutely ensure there is no local community spread of the
virus from this patient,” he said.

He continued, “We
have made these difficult decisions to ensure that we stay true to
our promise of health and safety to our patients and staff, as well
as the surrounding community. Our team will be contacting patients
with scheduled treatment and procedures to organize and ensure
continuity of care.”

Dr.
Chattuparambil also noted that Health City is working closely with
Cayman Islands Government health officials on daily updates regarding
the local COVID-19 situation and will issue further updates as soon
as any new information is available.

He urged the
public to take all necessary precautions against contracting the
coronavirus. The risk can be reduced by implementing personal
protective measures, such as frequent hand washing, covering nose and
mouth when coughing or sneezing, avoiding close contact with people
suffering from acute respiratory illnesses and avoiding large social
gatherings

For more information about how to protect yourself from acquiring COVID-19, visit http://www.hsa.ky/coronavirus and www.gov.ky/coronavirus.