by Linda Straker
- Incubation period for Covid-19 is 2 to 14 days
- Virus showed up on day 11 in case of country’s first death
- Release from quarantine before day 14 does not give right to mingle with citizens
- First death acknowledged as an imported case
Dr Shawn Charles, Chief Medical Officer of Grenada, has advised that when an incoming passenger is released from quarantine before the 14th day, that clearance does not give them the right to mingle with otheres.
“When you’re released from quarantine, it does not mean that everything is okay. It means that you have to continue observing the public health measures to ensure that if you do start displaying symptoms later, you are not a danger to the public; or, if you do become sick, you reach out to your healthcare provider so that you can be taken care of,” he said on Tuesday, 5 January, during the first post-cabinet briefing for 2021.
“There is a perception that as soon as you are released from state-quarantine, everything is good. I can tell you that is a false perception – educate yourself. Do not look for others to protect you and look after you. You must educate yourself.”
“It’s been over a year since this virus has been discovered. No one should be ignorant of the facts of this disease… the incubation period for Covid-19 is 2 to 14 days. I don’t think that there should be an individual on this earth that does not understand that by now,” Charles said as he called on citizens to educate themselves about the virus which as infected and cause the death of millions globally.
Incoming passengers to Grenada must have a PCR negative test done within 3 days before entry, and after entry, all visitors will be tested on the 4th day. A person who is negative will receive medical clearance to leave quarantine, but that person must avoid mingling and/or have limited interactions with persons until after 14 days.
Dr Charles reminded journalists that the incubation period for the virus is 14 days, and while some who are positive can get an early result, there are people who are diagnosed later. “In the case of our first death, it showed up on the 11th day,” he said.
On Sunday, health officials announced the island’s first Covid-19 related death. The person was a 72-year-old male who arrived on the island on 16 December with his wife and 3-year-old grandchild. His death will be regarded as an imported case.
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This government is very irresponsible, they are sending a very mixed messages here to all Grenadians.
You cant tell visitors they have a quarantine period
and then say, well actually, it is 14 days, so the MOH informs the the visitor, they are released into the general community, after 6/7 days, but this Dr Charles, is sending a completely different message out. This is just a stupid statement by this Dr Charles, what is the MOH position on this…????
This is another attempt to blame grenadines for the spread. That 4 day quarantine was a stupid idea from the onset. Our government has made a mess of this situation and still have no idea what they are doing.
Why is this so difficult to understand. Being in quarantine for 14 days can have a detrimental mental health effect on those placed in prolonged isolation. What the Doctor is saying just because you test negative one day doesn’t mean that you can’t test negative the next day. He stated that those given the release from quarantine are informed that they should still adhere to the protocols. That they should be mindful that the virus has an incubation period.
So, looking at it logically, if the MOH is serious about avoiding community spread, why is quarantine not 14 days?
How stupid is this? If you are in 14 days of quarantine then there is NO SUCH THING as letting someone out of quarantine before the 14 days have passed. Not for any hotel, resort or anything else. I had to stay in my home, my yard, no visitors, others bringing my groceries and hanging them on my gate so there would be NO CONTACT WITH ANYONE until the QUARANTINE period was done. Stop all this changing of regulations. If you travel into Grenada it doesn’t seem to matter if there is a NEGATIVE PCR test as we are seeing persons come positive AFTER their arrival. It all depends on when the test is taken in the infection cycle as scientists have proven. If the disease hasn’t progressed far enough then you can test NEGATIVE but end up POSITIVE days later. No clear answers here. But STOP letting anyone out of Quarantine early. Also, anyone who has isolated accommodations they have booked and paid for does NOT need to be in an expensive “govt appointed” hotel that is far too expensive. Just like I quarantined in my own home. You have an opportunity for jobs with Monitors to check on compliance, others can shop for and deliver groceries to those in quarantine.
Let me get this right: you can be released after about seven days (with a negative test result) but your actual virus infection “could” show up on Day 11 or 12? And so what we “could” have is people WITH the virus in “personal quarantine” – whatever that is?
Is the MOH for real? Such a policy literally guarantees that the virus will spread in Grenada. A rediculous plan, is the only way to describe this!
Well spoken, no room for misinterpretation!
