*   Grocery stores and supermarkets will re-open on Saturday, 28 March, in line with the “soft curfew” hours of 5a.m. to 7p.m. The hard curfew hours of 7p.m. to 5a.m. will remain for the next ten days. Non-essential persons flouting the curfew will be punished to the full extent of the Police Law.
  *   RCIPS will be working collaboratively with the supermarkets during their opening hours on Saturday to ensure smooth operations throughout the day. Store hours include early hours for vulnerable individuals and/or other accommodations.
  *   Supermarkets assure the public that food supplies are not running short. Only essential trips by one member of the household should be considered, and children should stay home. Supermarkets are undertaking other specific measures to ensure a healthy shopping environment.
  *   Our core message remains: #StayHomeCayman  #stayhome #savelives

Grand Cayman (GIS) – After the “around-the-clock” curfew of the past three days, supermarkets and a limited number of establishments (including banks, pharmacies and gas stations) will re-open tomorrow, Saturday 28 March. This in line with the Attorney General’s regulations outlined at today’s press conference (see below for details).

RCIPS will be working alongside supermarkets and their private security companies to ensure the safe flow of traffic, a smooth flow for customers, as well as the prioritisation and protection of vulnerable individuals. In support of tomorrow’s efforts, RCIPS Commissioner Derek Byrne issued a statement to news media, accompanied by a video for social media and a message on Radio Cayman. Byrne stated:
“The RCIPS is working in partnership with the supermarkets and retailers to deploy extra uniform patrols at various supermarket locations around the island on Saturday March 28th to create a more positive and safe environment for persons to move around and conduct their business all in compliance with the new Public Health Regulations passed on Friday March 27th.

“Please be assured that the major retailers are well stocked to meet the demands of the community.  We remind all members of the community that we are operating in a soft curfew period between 5:01 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. each day for the next 10 days starting Saturday March 28th.  Hard curfew from 7:00 p.m. each night continues as previously advised.

“The RCIPS is out to assist and provide public reassurance during this extremely challenging period.  We thank the community for their cooperation and continued support as we work through this difficult period to contain COVID19.”

Mr. Byrne references new regulations that were passed on Friday, 27 March – the Public Health (Prevention, Control and Suppression of COVID-19) Regulations, 2020 which are available online athttp://www.gov.ky/coronavirus. The aim of these measures is to ensure that community spread of COVID-19 within the Cayman Islands is thwarted for the longest possible time. (Community spread means patients have no travel history and no contact with persons that do.)
Regulations are available at: http://www.gov.ky/portal/pls/portal/docs/1/12940549.PDF

For information on various retail establishments, including banks and pharmacies, the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce has launched a new website – http://chambercovidupdates.ky
Going forward, this website will be updated daily in line with the private sector response to government’s announcements and changes in policy.

Supermarket hours in the curfew period are as follows:
Cost-u-Less     8AM-6PM, Monday through Saturday
Dedicated shopping hour for vulnerable: 7AM to 8AM

Fosters            6AM-6PM, Monday through Saturday
Dedicated shopping hour for vulnerable: 6AM-7AM

Hurleys            9AM – 6PM for the general public
Dedicated shopping for elderly/vulnerable, HSA staff and first responders: 7AM- 9AM

Kirk Market      6AM-6PM, Monday-Saturday, for the duration of the curfew
Dedicated shopping lanes for elderly/vulnerable individuals