Flu season has begun, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee is urging all members of the public to take precautions to minimize the spread of the winter illness. Because cold and flu symptoms resemble the symptoms of COVID-19, these measures are particularly important this winter.
At a recent COVID-19 briefing, Dr. Lee advised anyone who has a cough, a fever, or other cold symptoms to take care to isolate themselves until they see a medical professional. Because the symptoms of cold, flu, and COVID-19 are indistinguishable from each other, the first sign of a cold or the flu could indicate the novel coronavirus.
The recommendation to self-isolate is intended to preserve the health of people who are at higher risk for the flu and related complications.
Flu symptoms sometimes take the form of respiratory symptoms like shortness of breath and cough, which are often early indicators of COVID-19. The fever that sometimes accompanies the flu is also a telltale sign of the coronavirus.
Dr. Lee encouraged people with symptoms to call the Health Service Authority’s 24-hour flu hotline for advice before going to the hospital. They can be reached at 947-3077 or 1-800-534-8600.
Already, in September, 97 cases of the flu were recorded with the Health Services Authority. Dr. Lee predicts that this year’s flu season will be as active as last year’s, if not more so.
Last year, a total of 6,474 flu cases were reported by the end of December 2019. In January 2020, the Cayman Islands had 816 more flu cases. The lowest number of cases per week recorded was 50, while the highest weekly number was 224. The weekly numbers varied from week to week.
Last July, the HSA closed the flu clinics that had been opened in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac to meet the needs of people stricken by the flu and to contain the spread of the coronavirus. At the time, between 170 and 200 patients were seen.
Now, anyone needing help can call the advice line and then go to the Acute Care Clinic in the George Town General Practice Building. The Accident and Emergency Departments in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac are also open 24 hours a day.
The Health Services Authority will begin distributing educational information regarding the flu shot, which will become available in the middle of October. Flu shots are administered at no cost to all residents of the Cayman Islands.
The flu vaccination is recommended for anyone who is older than 6 months. The flu shot, when combined with effective personal hygiene practices like frequent hand-washing and wearing a mask, minimizes risk for individuals and the community at large.
Though Dr. Lee acknowledges that COVID-19 risks are low here on the Cayman Islands, the risk does still exist. Inbound travelers from abroad have tested positive for the coronavirus, so public health authorities continue to encourage social distancing practices as well as other protective measures to keep residents as safe and healthy as possible.
