by Linda Straker
- Quarantine Covid-19 regulations amended to remove term “Caricom Bubble”
- Minimum number of entry quarantine days increased to 7 for all incoming passengers
- Leader of the Opposition supported amendment
Health Minister Nickolas Steele said that community spread of Covid-19 in a number of Caricom member states is responsible for Grenada amending its Quarantine Covid-19 regulations that will legally remove the term “Caricom Bubble” and at the same time, increase the minimum number of entry quarantine days to 7 days for all incoming passengers.
“The Caricom Bubble has burst; it’s not what we will like it to be,” Steele told members of the House of the Representatives after presenting the amended resolution for approval during the Friday, 30 October session.
In September, Grenada gazetted regulations providing for nationals from Caricom states to enter the island with only a negative PCR test and no quarantine period required. However, Steele said that in recent weeks several regional states began experiencing community spread of the virus.
The change to the entry protocol for Caricom states is part of measures aimed at controlling and containing the spread of the Covid-19 in the island. Worldwide, Covid-19 has infected and caused the death of millions. There is currently no vaccine for the virus which was discovered in the latter part of 2019.
“There is community spread in some islands and we are unable to find a common entry protocol,” Steele said, pointing out that some countries have entry protocols than are stronger or weaker when compared to what is in effect in Grenada.
“We are making adjustments to the protocols based on current science,” Steele told the House. At present Grenada has 3 active Covid-19 cases, but recorded 28 laboratory-confirmed cases since the first person was diagnosed in March. The island is one of 6 regional islands classified by the US Centres for Disease Control (CDC) as having a very low risk of Covid-19 transmission.
Tourism Minister Dr Clarice Modeste supported the amendment to the regulations while her expressing her disappointment that Caricom cannot agree to a common protocol for all the islands as part of the new normal created by Covid-19. “This will no doubt affect the tourism sector…but we have to protect our people,” she said.
Tobias Clement who is presently the Leader of the Opposition, also supported the amendment describing it as in the best of the nation’s health.
Steele said that there will continuous assessment and review of the islands based on cases and those with less than 20 cases per 100,000 population in 14 days will require PCR test and quarantine for a minimum of 7 days. The in-island PCR test will continue to be done on the 4th day.
Previously the minimum number of entry quarantine days was 4 days.
Really? – which islands in the bubble are experiencing an explosion of cases? As a unit the OECS islands have contained the virus pretty well. This is just going to keep away more tourists from other islands and keep the economy down…I think the bubble should have been continued, just add that persons must test before coming here..
14 day quarantine is on effect for nationals returning to Canada. I feel Grenada should go back to this condition and protocol. Keep people safe. I spent my quarantine at home because I live alone. Same conditions should apply in Grenada. Don’t be pushed into allowing people in without testing upon entry and 14 days quarantine. Better to he safe.
This is Crazy… We overseas praising Grenada plan calling it simple, safe and effective only to read this nonsense…Leave us to wonder, who is preasuring the Govt of Grenada into making this unbalance, unvistior friendly and unbusiness friendly change..The Keith I know cant be pushed around, so, this is puzzling…
To answer your question Leroy. It is the people of Grenada who want this SIMPLE, SAFE and EFFECTIVE measure.
Well done Nicky Steele.
Keep us safe !
Grenada’s handling of the virus this far had been outstanding. Continuing to make sensible decisions to protect your people is not only the right thing to do but in the long run it is the best thing you can do for the economy. Kudos to Health Minister Nickolas Steele for his thoughtful leadership.
When does this proposal go into effect? I say “proposal” as at the time of writing this comment (Saturday afternoon 31st) the Ministry of Health Grenada protocols website, which has been updated Oct 30th still refers to the Caricom bubble and states entry within 7 days of a PCR test and no quarantine. So when does it come into effect?
America and Europe are also experiencing frightening increase in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in the last week and the situation threatens to become much more dire in subsequent months. Incoming traffic from there should be halted at once.
We are also in the States and have been trying to return to get our boat which is stored in Grenada. We would welcome the ability to have our anchored boat act as our home-stay quarantine. I think it would arguably be safer than us staying in a hotel in close proximity to other people.
Yes you can
You need okay from ministry of health
This is considered same as home quarantine
Email to this address: [email protected]
We are in the States now and want to come back to Grenada since our boat is stored there. My question is can we quarantine on our boat if we have it launch in the water before we arrive in Grenada.
Yes you can
You need okay from ministry of health
This is considered same as home quarantine
Email to this address: [email protected]