One-Minute Reads ... News from around the region

Cayman Islands will reopen borders in September

The Government of the Cayman Islands will reopen its borders to international travel starting September 1.

Deputy Premier and Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell who made the announcement on Friday said the reopening will come in phases.

Some of the measures that will be taken once the borders reopen include having passengers take a COVID-19 test 72 hours before entering the territory, approved passengers arriving at the Owen Roberts International Airport must adhere to the facility's new social distancing protocols, and visitors will receive a health monitoring device upon arriving in the Cayman Islands.

Visitors will also be taken to a monitored self-isolation facility for five days, following which they will be given another COVID-19 test.

If negative, they will be permitted to leave, but with a monitoring device.

Kirkconnell said visitors will also need to pay a flat registration fee that would help cover the cost of the monitoring device and other costs incurred with the reopening protocols.

Bermuda to lift COVID curfew today

Bermuda is to lift its coronavirus (COVID-19) curfew today, but premises with a liquor licence must close at midnight, the government has announced.

Public Works Minister David Burch said the decision to end the midnight to 5 a.m. (local time) curfew would be reviewed on a weekly basis.

It was also revealed that two new cases of the disease had been reported - taking the island's total to 152, including nine deaths - and that one had broken quarantine restrictions and gone to work.

Six cases - all returning residents - have been recorded since the airport was reopened on July 1. Five have been on Delta Air Lines' flights from Atlanta and one from Toronto.

The government also unveiled new legislation in the House of Assembly last Friday to include a US$25,000 fine and/or six months' imprisonment for a breach of the requirement for travellers to quarantine as they waited for the result of the mandatory airport COVID-19 test.

"The ending of the curfew not only represents a major landmark in the reopening of our economy, but it will also create more opportunities for employment," said Premier David Burt, adding "this is something that many of us will welcome, but it must not be taken as a licence to lose our minds. Simply put, as I said before, please don't tear it."