Grand Cayman, Thursday 23 December 2021 – Chief Medical Officer (Interim) Dr. Autilia Newton reported 60 new cases of COVID-19, eight in travellers and 52 from the community, on Thursday, 23 December. Public Health reported 544 PCR tests were conducted on the previous day.
               There were 18 newly suspected Omicron cases on Thursday, 23 December bringing the total suspected cases of the variant to 72. Genomic sequencing of potential Omicron cases is underway. The Public Health Department will provide the public with an update within the next few days. 

To date, there have been four confirmed cases of the Omicron variant found in the Cayman Islands.

These results left the number of active cases of COVID-19 in the Cayman Islands at 3,544 as of midnight (12am) on Thursday, 23 December.  Active cases are monitored by Public Health, and include both cases found in the community and linked to travel. The total number of cases recorded since the start of the pandemic stood at 8,386 at the same time.

The total number of persons in isolation linked solely to community transmission at midnight on Thursday, 23 December was 3,506. 

In addition, 6 COVID-19 patients were hospitalised in the Cayman Islands as at midnight on Thursday, 23 December. 

The Public Health Department also confirmed that on Thursday, 23 December the total positive lateral flow tests, since the introduction of the lateral flow test programme in the Cayman Islands, reached 2,204. These are included in the total positive numbers given above.

There were two new cases of COVID-19 in the Sister Islands. To date, there have been 125 total cases recorded in the Sister Islands, with 120 having recovered. Out of the total number of cases in the Sister Islands, 66 were fully vaccinated, six were partially vaccinated, and 53 were unvaccinated. 
                There have been 132,101 COVID-19 vaccinations administered in the Cayman Islands. To date, there have been 58,694 people (83% of 71,106) who had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, 57,039 individuals (80%) had completed the two-dose course.

Additionally, 16,368 people (representing 23% of the total population) had received a third or booster dose up to that point.