by Linda Straker
The week of 15 March 2020 saw the rise of Covid-19 cases in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, in particular the state of New York. It marked the turning point for most countries in the OECS countries, and by extension the members of Caricom.
From all indications, flights arriving at airports in the region came with passengers who had to clear Immigrations and Customs, but also sadly allowed entry to the islands with the permission of another immigration officer, the dreaded coronavirus which is causing the Covid-19.
Many will now question why our governments did not lock down ports of entry, and that itself has many arguments of economics, social and otherwise, but what is factual is that from all records, almost 80% of all index cases arrived in the OECS between 15–21 March. It was around the same time that the message of self-quarantine became the trend for all arriving passengers.
If the middle of March was our index week with self-quarantine, which few of these arriving passengers obeyed, that using a 14-day incubation period, it would be safe to say that as of 29 March 2020, Grenada and most other regional territories must be on the lookout for community transmission.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes community transmission as stage 3 of infection, and defines that stage as “when a person who has no travel history has contracted the infection through domestic sources.”
With all our ports of entry restricting the arrival of passengers, it will not be correct to describe future positive Covid-19 cases as imported (stage 1), import-related or local transmission (stage 2). Stage 4 of infection is when the disease is declared an epidemic.
Grenada should never reach stage 4, and for that to happen, we as a nation must comply with the Covid-19 regulations and stay in our homes.
More people need to be at home, which means we should not be expanding our essential service workers or giving special permission to any company to operate full staff for the next 14 days if we are to achieve this goal of NOT arriving at stage 4.
Maybe we have reached the stage where the regulations need to be updated and remove some of these essential workers from the list in the best interest of the country.
I cannot understand why restaurant workers are essential. We are home, so we should cook, and those who forgot how to cook or don’t know how to cook, call a friend on the phone and don’t be ashamed to ask for guidance. You will not die if you eat rice and chicken for 14 days. Throw in some peas, coconut milk, and other ingredients in the cook up.
Ask your grandmother or aunt how to make bakes. You don’t need bread from the bakery. Making such sacrifice is what is required of a patriot citizen so that we never reach Stage 4 of Covid-19.
Remember, Covid-19 entered the island without the permission of an immigration officer and it cannot be deported, but we can kill and bury it without a tombstone! Be patriotic. Kill Covid-19. Make the 14 days sacrifice for our future generations and the survival of this country.
The reason Restaurants are considered essential is mainly because there are thousands of medical workers working long hard hours and don’t have the time to prepare meals, so they relay on delivery or take out. Also, restaurants are the motor of local economy; if they all close their doors the local economy will not recover.
Mitchell played Russian roulette with lives.
With 25 test in total how do you do that?
Dominica can test 130 in a day. Grenada is one of the only islands waiting on a special plane to mass to take the one one teats they have to Trinidad.
Of course when PAHO/WHO was training and setting up localized testing operations one country was missing in action. Guess who?
What is the Government doing to help the vulnerable ? Please take care of everyone on the island, for not everyone have the luxury of having a car and is able to get food. Please deliver food and medicine to families in need they are counting on you!!
Please don’t leave them stranded!
PLEASE, PLEASE PEOPLE OF GRENADA,
LISTEN TO THE EARLIER POSTS. STAY INSIDE YOUR HOMES AND STAY SAFE. THIS VIRUS HAS NO DISCRIMINATION. YOU CAN DO YOUR MATH. YOU HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF INFECTED COMPARED TO UK PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU ARE A SMALL ISLAND BUT WHEN YOU WORK OUT THE PERCENTAGE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE HIGHER PERCENTAGE. YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO MIX WITH OTHERS. IT IS ONLY FOR A SHORT WHILE, IF YOU LISTEN TO THE ADVICE. IF YOU DON’T, THE ISLAND WILL BE OBLITERATED LITERALLY.
THIS DISEASE IS LIKE AN OUT OF CONTROL WILD FIRE. HOWEVER, IT NEEDS SOMETHING TO KEEP THE FIRE BURNING. IF YOU STAY OFF THE STREET YOU STOP IT FROM HAVING A HOST TO SPREAD ITSELF ONTO. THIS WAY, IT WILL DIE DOWN. GIVE THE MEDICAL EXPERTS ENOUGH TIME TO CREATE A VACCINE OR CURE. PATIENCE AND BACK TO BASICS WILL SAVE US. IGNORANCE AND STUPIDITY WILL FINISH US.
IN THE UK, I HAVE WITNESSED A FUNERAL WHERE ONLY 6 CLOSEST FAMILY MEMBERS CAN ATTEND (ALL HAVE TO STAND 6 FEET APART, NO COMFORTING). NO SERVICE, COFFIN IS BEING LOWERED INTO THE GROUND WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE GRAVESIDE, PSALM 23 AND LORDS PRAYER IS RECITED, YOU LEAVE WHILST GRAVE IS BEING FILLED IN. EVERYBODY HAS TO GO BACK TO THEIR CAR (2 PEOPLE TO EACH CAR) AND LEAVE CEMETARY. NO GATHERING OF MORE THAN TWO PEOPLE ON THE STREET, UNLESS THEY ALREADY LIVE WITH YOU. ONLY ALLOWED OUT FOR 1 HOUR PER DAY TO EXERCISE. NOT EXERCISING, NOT ALLOWED OUT.
I HAVE DUAL CITIZENSHIP UK/GND. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO RETURN TO GND TO SEE MY LAND AND FAMILY. PRAISE GOD, WE CAN ALL ACHIEVE THIS.
My husband & I love Grenada. We just vacationed there end of Feb thru beginning of March. The rumblings of covid 19 were just beginning when we returned home to the states. It breaks our hearts to know this horrible virus has come to you. Please stay home to help prevent community spread. It will help you. You don’t want to have happen there what USA is dealing with. Forget about loss of income just stay in place. Meanwhile thoughts & prayers from us. When this battle is won we’ll be back j to our favorite Carribean Island
Brenda, Grenada doesn’t have carnival in February, they have carnival in August. It’s Trinidad who have and had carnival in February.
Grenada sister island carriacou have carnival in February…brenda is right.
Why did you have carnival in February when you know that coronavirus was well around at that time yet you allowed so many foreigners into Grenada This virus can take weeks for someone to show symptoms some people are carriers and show no symptoms some are what is known has spreaders Are you trying to say that all the people that entered Grenada around that time did not have the virus . I say again you were wrong to hold that event knowing what was around
Brenda, Grenada doesn’t have carnival in February, thBrey Brenda, Grenada Brenda, Grenada doesn’t have carnival in February, they have carnival in August. It’s Trinidad who have and had carnival in February have carnival in February, they have carnival in August. It’s Trinidad who have and had carnival in February carnival in August. It’s Trinidad who have and had carnival in February
Mitchell chose to continue accepting flights into Grenada. Knowing full well the situation abroad. It was his call. Hope they remember this at election time.
I hope they will not reach stage 4. Pure ignorance it seems. These people behaving like that has no brains between their ears.
Restaurants are non essential. That’s very risky. Don’t know how to cook salt fish cabbage and rice together, corn beef and rice. bakes, brush tea. That generation has a curse. They are too lazy to cook They want things quick. Too much Tv and social media makes them loss in their sauce. Go back to basic, people survive. You can live without it. Have some humanity! Share and care about others. That’s how Grenada was…Do you want the island to wipe out! Maybe worst than Ivan! Wake up! Listen to the Government!
Is anyone actually listening to Dr Martin??? Bloody hell people think about your own safety and act wisely. Grenada should not be in this state.