Grand Cayman – Public Health has issued the COVID-19 Situational Report for Epidemiological, or Epi., Week 20, (15 – 21 May), today Thursday 26 May. This is the final situational report, as the Ministry of Health and Wellness will transition to a weekly newsletter on communicable and non-communicable diseases effective 1 June. Daily COVID-19 updates will continue, and the newsletter will also include epidemiological information on COVID-19.

During Epi. Week 20, there were a total of 833 new cases of COVID-19 reported by Public Health. This was 62 cases less than what was reported in the previous Epi. Week (8 – 14 May 2022), and the first decrease in cases since the current wave of infections began in mid-March.

More tests were conducted in Epi. Week 20 at 2,691 compared to 2,585 tests in Epi. Week 19, and to 2,185 tests in Epi. Week 18. 

The test positivity rate was at 31 percent for Epi. Week 20.

During Epi. Week 20, there were 15 inpatients admitted to hospital. Of these, 60 percent were vaccinated (two doses) and 20 percent had received third doses/boosters. Five patients were admitted to hospital during this Epi. Week, but it is important to note only one of five arrived to hospital for symptoms of COVID-19. The remaining four came for other medical reasons and were discovered to be COVID-19 positive during routine screening. 

There have been 284 COVID-19 patients admitted since March 2020 to 21 May 2022.