by Linda Straker
- Grenada’s security is compromised by Covid-19
- Mandatory 24-hour curfew from 7 pm on Monday, 30 March 2020
- Every person shall remain confined to their place of residence (inclusive of their yard space)
Health Minister, Nickolas Steele, said Grenada’s security is compromised in a way that it has never been before, by Covid-19, the coronavirus currently responsible for thousands of deaths worldwide.
As part of measures to reduce its spread in the country the island will be starting a 7-day mandatory 24-hour curfew from 7 pm on Monday, 30 March 2020.
“Lives are at stake. Your life is at stake. Your grandmother’s life is at stake. Your father’s life is under threat. My life and that of my family are under threat, and so is my neighbour’s. Whole families stand to be wiped out. From the halls of the palace to the seat of prime ministers, to the village slums, Covid-19 has shown that it respects no one,” Steele said in an address to the nation on Sunday night.
The mandatory curfew will be imposed beginning from 7 pm on Monday, 30 March and ending at 7 pm on 6 April 2020. During this period, every person shall remain confined to their place of residence (inclusive of their yard space), to avoid contact outside of their household; except as provided in the regulations or as may be authorised in writing by the Commissioner of Police.
Grenada as of 28 March, had 9 positive Covid-19 cases. Three were traced back directly to a Virgin Atlantic flight which arrived from the United Kingdom on 16 March. Five of the cases are persons who were exposed through one of the UK cases, while one is imported-related through relatives who arrived from New York on 17 March.
As of last week Wednesday, Grenada, acting with guidance from the 1987 Emergency Power Act declared a limited State of Emergency and gazetted the 2020 Covid-19 regulations which among other things, provides for a curfew from 7 pm to 5 am.
However, in his emotional address, Steele disclosed that several persons have not been complying with the regulations which were designed to convey the seriousness of the health threat about the coronavirus. Police to date have arrested persons for violating different sections of the regulations which on summary conviction is liable to a fine of EC$1,000 and to imprisonment for 12 months.
“Every time you break or ignore guidelines to quarantine when you have been exposed, you are potentially taking the life of one of our citizens. Maybe you are prepared to take the gamble, but unfortunately, it’s not only to your detriment. You are endangering the lives of each of us,” he said before announcing the new measures that the government is to enforce.
Point out the ruling New National Party administration is not in the business of gambling, Steele who also served as Minister responsible for Social Security, said, “Everything else pales in comparison to the health and wellbeing of a nation. This is not about economics. It is about saving lives. It is about public health, public safety and public order.”
He then announced that beach parties, bar gatherings and boat parties must end. “The crowded buses will be parked up. Everything that puts our lives and livelihood at risk, ends. Fellow citizens, as a result of the inability of some of you to follow the guidelines designed to keep you safe, the government is now revisiting the measures from last week, with a view to escalating them,” he promised. “This will give our medical authorities the necessary mechanisms to contain the very real possibility of a community spread of this Covid-19 virus. It will also ensure that there is proper maintenance of supplies and services.”
7 days shutdown is not enough time to stop the spread, if the virus takes 14days to reveal itself then the country should be shut down for at least 14 days so that all who is infected will be showing the symptoms within this period then you quarantine all those with the symptoms and all spreading will stop.
I agree, we all have to do our part. The politicians could donate this 1 month salary to the citizens most in need and the churches could also chip in with generous donations. The Lord will bless them. Let us see happen!
The government needs to shut everything down and give the people sone money to stay home every grenadian should get some money to stock up on necessities
This virus is lethal it’s spreading it’s killing people all over the world so please follow the instructions that were given to you by your PM and your health minister.
There is no other positive leadership expressed during this time, than those words I have just read in this article by Health Minister Nickolas Steele. Leaders, stop gambling with our lives. On my bended knees I thank God for your strength and wisdom.
We need this type of enforcement here in the UK. People are not listening and are behaving as if there is no virus. It needs to be drummed home that we are all at risk globally and that they need to adhere to what is expected of us.
Will doctor’s surgeries still be open?
It had to happen sooner or later. This is serious people!!! Mr Steele has appeared with these updates and stressed the seriousness of this disease time and again. We are going to die and because of people’s stupidity. STAY HOME!!!
A bell-shaped distribution of responses to the Limited State of Emergency (Wednesday 03/24/20) was expected. There’d be a left tail of extremely compliant people, who realize the seriousness of the virus and follow every instruction; a big bell of a middle, who more or less comply (they’re staying indoors, but they aren’t washing their hands as prescribed, and they’re touching their faces); and a right tail of extremely noncompliant citizens, who openly flaunt the law. It is important to know how gender, social class, income, employment, level of education, etc stratify these three populations. Generally, however, involving individuals tends to increase their compliance. There is a need for squads of volunteers, possibly recruited from among the noncompliant and dressed in protective gear, to go about spraying disinfectant in local communities, identifying and helping senior citizens, safely easing self-isolation and quarantine, and performing other such community work. If universal testing is implemented, these erstwhile partygoers could be trained to administer it. We’ve got to get everyone on board, otherwise we face horrible consequences.
Wawww! I can’t believe there are people in Grenada behaving like that. Breaking quarantine should be imprisonment right off the bat. Beach parties etc going on. They don’t understand the seriousness of this virus. Maybe they want to die. THAT IS IGNORANCE, No brains people. If they have brains between their ears they would not behave like. Either they are illiterate or they from some brush that is not part of society that don’t know how society works.
Kudos to you Nikolas Steele. Extend the curfew! They too damn STUPID!