13 new positive cases of Covid-19 have been diagnosed in Grenada in the past 36 hours, and all infected individuals are in quarantine in state facilities, or at home, where they are being monitored.
The current Covid-19 epidemiological situation in Grenada is outlined as follows:
- 9 of the new positive cases are concentrated in one household.
- 12 of the new cases are related to the outbreak cluster, previously announced.
- One new case is imported. A 37-year-old female traveller who arrived in Grenada from St Vincent with a negative PCR test result, went directly into quarantine in keeping with the entry protocols, and tested positive on Day 4.
Grenada now has 54 active cases of Covid-19.
As per the guidelines of the world’s governing health organisations, the Ministry advises that a second test must be conducted on all positive individuals between 12 and 14 days after their first test, before they are granted medical clearance. To that end, commencing later this week, a second PCR test will be administered to all positive individuals from the cluster, as per the epidemiological period of the disease, before they can be medically cleared and released from quarantine.
All individuals who tested negative but were exposed to the cluster will also be retested in the coming week to ascertain their status. These individuals must remain in isolation until the second test, to avoid exposing other individuals and broadening the cluster.
The Ministry of Health seeks continued patience and understanding, as the testing teams work to clear all backlogs in pending tests and results. Assurance is given that by late Sunday evening, all pending test results will be communicated to both locals and visitors. Laboratory technicians are working diligently toward that goal.
The Ministry also advises all incoming travellers that there will likely be delays in their testing and clearance, given the current epidemiological situation in Grenada, as the recent spike in cases has necessitated a significant increase in the number of tests being conducted.
The testing and contact tracing teams continue to exercise due diligence in sourcing contacts and diagnosing positive cases, while the security teams are working diligently to enforce quarantine compliance as best as possible. The Ministry acknowledges that it is challenging, given the number of locals, who, of necessity, must remain in home quarantine for specified periods or until medically cleared. In an effort to guarantee a higher rate of compliance, some individuals have been moved to state facilities in the past week, to allow security teams to better monitor their compliance.
The Ministry cannot stress enough how necessary it is for individuals who have been exposed or who have tested positive to strictly obey the quarantine and isolation rules. In the past week, there has been a high degree of transmission within households in Grenada.
There are currently 2 instances in which more than 10 people in the same household have tested positive. Please be reminded that if you have been exposed to the virus, or if you have tested positive, you must quarantine or self-isolate, as mandated, so as not to endanger the health or lives of your loved ones. The Government, in turn, will continue to work toward increasing the current capacity of state facilities for quarantining and isolation.
The upcoming days are crucial in curbing this upward spiral in Covid-19 cases here in Grenada. Public cooperation and compliance are critical if we are to give ourselves a chance of beating this disease.
So too, is public information. Please note that the Ministry of Health is your official source of information as we battle this deadly disease. All information should be verified with health officials before being communicated to the public, so as to prevent unnecessary panic, fear, prejudice and anxiety. The Ministry of Health will continue to be timely, transparent and accountable in communicating with the public.
The Ministry reminds everyone that masks must be worn at all times when in public spaces, and must cover the nose and mouth. All social gatherings must be limited to no more than ten people, and everyone must adhere to physical distancing of at least 6 feet away from others. We also urge everyone to practice good hygiene and to be your brother’s keeper. Look out for neighbours in quarantine but do not visit them. Violators of the quarantine and isolation order will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Do not endanger the lives of your loved ones and neighbours.
If you believe that you have been exposed to the virus, or you are displaying symptoms consistent with those of the coronavirus, isolate yourself immediately, and contact the Covid-19 Hotline at 473 538 4787, or your nearest health centre.
GIS
Test on arrival and again on the 7th day not within 4 days. Use the traffic wardens to assist in monitoring those who are are in quarantine whether home or otherwise. Those who break the law use the full penalty. If no money, imprisonment. Follow the example of the Cayman Islands. Regarding locals charge them a fee especially those refusing to wear masks in public and below the nose. Start with police officers, nurses all in public service. Time to get serious. Bus drivers refuse to wear masks. What’sgoing on.
Grenada Covid is real. It does not respect person or place. All of us have a responsibility to do the right thing. I am not saying don’t go to church but please don’t go there and do poor social distancing. Please don’t wear your mask under your chin and then sing like you all are the best singers in town. We all in this together.
Grenada Covid is real. It does not respect person or place. All of us have a responsibility to do the right thing. I am not saying don’t go to church but please don’t go there and do poor social distancing. Please don’t wear your mask under your chin and then sing like you all are the best singers in town. It’s total madness.
First, It’s beyond unbelievsble that we are not stopping UK flights into Grenada when ALL European countries have decided to do so. Looks like we WANT this new more lethal strain of the virus to come here. Why are we “inviting” it in?
Second, all the “testing and quarentining” does not guarantee that we would have “caught” all of the possible carriers of the virus. Thirteen more could be 20 more. We just don’t know.
Third, if we are continuing with Government’s bizzare policy of letting tourists in without checking them, then we be continuing to cut off our noses to spoil our faces – which, it seems, we are intent on doing to “protect” the tourism industry.
These inconsistent policies will only lead to continued proliferation of the virus.
It is always easy to say to someone you must do this because if you don’t the repercussions are deadly but unless they have to deal with that side of it,they just ignore things until it hits them.
Grenada has not had any deaths so far so the public is not scared and they will continue doing what they are use to .
Close the borders, stay-at-home lockdown, rigorous contact tracing, testing, quarantine. Universal testing of the entire population is also recommended. Put in the order for vaccines. Let’s use all the tools we have.
I believe it’s time for the closing of borders.
The UK have discovered a variant in the strain of COVID-19 which is 70% more infectious/contagious than the former. With this being said, countries within the EU have put a ban on British travellers and most of England have now entered into a tier 4 system (similar to their original lockdown) because they are unable to cope with the rapid increase of cases with this new strain.
God forbid this new strain of the virus, that they cannot control in the UK, meet here on the island with us.
Respectfully speaking, the government messed up by allowing those who were staying in resorts such as sandals and who were not leaving the resort for the duration of their stay, to only test prior to entering and not again on day 4 like other persons staying elsewhere. Admit it, clean it up and move on.
Grenada getting this virus is a problem in itself but can you imagine Carriacounians and those in Petite Martinique get this thing.
We need to get it right and we need to do it fast.