The Ministry of Health informs that a cluster of 26 positive Covid-19 cases has been diagnosed, originating from the Sandals Resort. The positive cases include guests and employees, as well as their contacts. The discovery was made following proactive testing of employees and guests on Friday and Saturday, as part of the Ministry’s continuous testing of frontline staff in sectors directly related to tourism, travel and health.
Given the health emergency that this situation warrants, the Government of Grenada, through the Ministry of Health, has deployed all efforts, including personnel and resources, to address this grave threat to public health, safety, order and the maintenance of medical and other supplies and services essential to life in Grenada. Unprecedented, aggressive efforts have been taken to further contain this outbreak of Covid-19.
The Sandals Resort has now been deemed to be a place of screening and assessment. Entire households related to the confirmed cases have also been quarantined, and contact tracers are actively working to source other potentially exposed people in other areas of public life and activity.
This is a rapidly evolving situation and health officials will continue to update the public as circumstances warrant. In the coming hours and days, the Ministry anticipates a further tightening of measures related to activities and daily life in order to protect public health and safety.
The Ministry has been consistent in urging the public to maintain vigilance in daily life, as a virus outbreak was always probable in Grenada — just as elsewhere around the region and world.
Nevertheless, throughout this pandemic, there has never been a greater need for public cooperation than now. The Ministry is again calling on all citizens and visitors to join the effort in observing the health and safety protocols, including exercising enhanced caution in daily activities, especially when using public transportation and participating in social activities.
The Ministry of Health cannot stress enough the magnitude of the problem that Grenada is currently confronting. This is about public health and safety and we urge the public to be extremely careful and to do its part in helping to curb this outbreak.
In consideration of the current grave situation that we face, the Government of Grenada, through the Ministry of Health, must ask that members of the public limit all social gatherings. The Chief Medical Officer has also advised that permission previously granted to organizers for upcoming social events is under review. The Government’s first responsibility is to protect the lives of our people and we are resolute in taking all necessary steps to do so.
Everyone is reminded to adhere to the guidelines and mandates by wearing masks that cover the nose and mouth when in public spaces, practising good hygiene, and maintaining physical distancing of at least six feet from others.
This outbreak can be contained, if we all work together.
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 Hotline at 473 538 4787, or your nearest health centre.
The root causes of this ought to be from our (a) failure to abide with airport procedure. Preferential treatment given to tourists not surprising and (b) failure of screening, testing and quarantine protocol.
We are desperate for money because tourism is our only source of income. Some tourists attitude to these “small” countries are usually belittling. They usually think that they can “bypass “ out protocols because of the colour of their skin or their friends in “high places”.
This is not a total surprise.
Focus on the Swiss Cheese model of covid defense:Physical distancing, face masks, hand hygiene, proper ventilation ,disinfection, contact tracing and health screening/ testing and now the vaccine. Shutting down a country or a city may not help… Science is what will get us out of this.. enjoy the sunshine – the Vitamin D will help you on so many levels
Last week it was herbs and spices Today, you are talking about vitamin c. Trump wanted to give Americans bleach. What is the prescription from the minister of health
trump has proven to be a LOSER on ALL levels, using him in this context not relevant – listen to science and doctors. Vit D is a useful agent – Grenada has an abundance of sunshine – beyond that the Swiss Cheese model is an easy model to understand and follow
You need to be extremely brainy to be able to work out that if Grenadian workers go into a hotel, clean the human waste and change the contaminated bedding of untested guests from the most Covid 19 infected country with the most Covid 19 denyers in the world and then these hotel workers go home to their Grenadian families who then go into the community, including schools, that Covid 19 will spread into the population costing much more financially and in lives than the small fortunes the hotel owners will make.
Last week when I complained that the government should not be allowing so called tourists to come to Grenada…a few people disagreed. I thought that we could have a false negative test leading to an outbreak. My fellow Grenadains talked about money, people wanting to see family etc.
People COVID-19 is serious and this government should not allow persons from heavily infected countries to come to Grenada. The little money we have will now have to be spent on COVID testing and treatment for people.
Well, isn’t that convenient? Just when a vax has been approved, here comes the biggest outbreak yet. The truth is that if not for Grenada’s tropical climate the majority (who aren’t partially immune to corona viruses), would have already caught this virus and recovered from it. Instead by trying to contain the uncontainable, Grenada has played right into the hands of the pharma crime cartel. This biological warfare nonsense has been going on for 26 years inside the United States, and if anyone thinks that appeasing these people is going to work, I have bridge in NYC to sell you.
So for months we’ve sacrificed our freedom of movement and quality of life… for this?
As a guest currently at Sandals, I can confirm that all guests were required to show proof of a negative PCR Covid-19 test at a verified lab within 72 hours of flight (or 6 days with an exemption) in their home countries. We were thoroughly screened and required to show documentation of negative tests in our home airport, on the connecting flight to Grenada, and at the airport in Grenada. During the duration of our stay at Sandals, staff membesr we have encountered have worn a mask, and we as guests have been required to sanitize our hands and wear masks indoors per CDC protocol.
We again now, all have to be told what we can and cant do……due to the stupidity of this government.
Why the hell were Sandals employees, who were exposed to untested guest, allowed to leave this secure bubble that this government told us existed…..so stupid. Nicolas Steele said at the Covid 19 subcommittee meeting that if a Sandals guest was to take a PCR test and be confirmed negative. He could leave the bubble, but could not return there.
Yet is seems the employees, who are all exposed to these untested guests, were not put under the same restrictions. We are governed by money influenced idiots.
Any arrival on this island at least should have proof of a negative PCR, Sandals guests included
Totally agree with you sentiments. It could have been a false negative test. This government has lost control of the COVID 19 problem. They don’t have to travel on the buses and some of them have their money. Imagine the prime minister telling someone at his church.
If you look on the government site they changed the rules for entry into Grenada months ago. You must have a negative PCR test 72 hrs before travel and then send that certificate to the Grenada government to receive travel permission certificate before booking a flight. Also have to provide proof of a paid accommodation. You can pick up Covid during travel which is why following all protocols at all times is so important. We all got too confident on Grenada after no cases for a long g time. Lockdown again is good. Stomp on the transmission like you would cutlash one of those nasty centipedes. Canada opened up too much and now it is ravaging my home province. Hundreds of cases a day and 10 or more deaths a day in a city just twice the size of Grenada. A lockdown is worth your lives. WEAR YIUR MASKS. WASH YOUR HANDS. SOCIAL DISTANCE. USE YOUR BRAINS AND STAY ALIVE. It us only for a short time.
For pennies the entire nation is at risk. If Sandals is not penalized then all other Grenadians who were penalized and charged must be dropped and refunded if financially charged.
Sue sandals resort
There have been many reports that Sandals has been skirting the Covid19 protocols. It is important make an example of Sandals and their corporate greed. Don’t punish everyone else for Sandals bad behavior!