by Linda Straker
- Incoming passengers must present a negative Covid-19 PCR no less than 3 days before travel
- CDC placed in Grenada category one travel advisory as of 18 March 2021
- Someone fully vaccinated may have a significantly reduced quarantine period
Health authorities in Grenada are considering changing the quarantine period for all incoming passengers who are fully vaccinated with one of the vaccines approved for emergency use by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The idea is for fully vaccinated people, meaning that they have had both doses for the vaccines that require a double dose or the single-dose of those the vaccines that are single dose, to mingle with the citizens quicker.
At present, all incoming passengers must present a negative Covid-19 PCR no less than 3 days before travel. Upon arrival in Grenada, the person will head straight into quarantine and then be tested on the 5th day. Once a negative test is obtained, the person will be medically cleared to leave quarantine. Under the new travel protocol that is under consideration, fully vaccinated people with proof will see changes.
“If someone is fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca, with Pfizer, with Moderna, then you don’t have to or will have a significantly reduced quarantine period when coming into Grenada,” Health Minister Nickolas Steele disclosed during Wednesday, 17 March 2021 during the weekly post-cabinet briefing.
As of 18 March 2021, Grenada became one of the 7 Caribbean destinations that the CDC placed in category one in travel advisory. The lowest level one indicates that all travellers should wear a mask, avoid crowds, stay at least 6 feet from people who are not travelling together, wash hands often, use hand sanitisers and watch their health for signs of the illness.
The CDC’s new ranking comes less than 2 weeks before Sandals, one of Grenada’s all-inclusive properties, resumes operations after a 3-month closure. The hotel was linked to the island’s December cluster.
“As part of our campaign to reopen, all our travel agents are now encouraging clients to become vaccinated,” said Peter Fraser General Manager. “So, if persons who are fully vaccinated will have reduced quarantine, we will welcome this positive news.”
As part of the reopening protocol, the management of the hotel has established a quarantine area for any guest who is tested positive on the island.
Tourism Minister Clarice Modeste is pleased that the island is now categorised by the CDC as a level one, but is concerned that more tourism workers are opting not to become vaccinated. She also confirmed that health authorities are having a discussion about changing the protocol for entering the island.
“Something will be announced in the coming week but there is a better chance of us heading in that direction if more of our tourism workers are vaccinated. There are one or two properties that have confirmed a high percentage between 80% and 100% of the staff taking the first dose of the vaccine, but most properties are reporting that less than 50% of the staff have taken the first dose of the vaccine that is available here,” she said.
Fraser confirmed that his property is one that has less than 50% of staff vaccinated.
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What rubbish: the CDC has said that you can still get the virus if you take the vaccine – and that you can then pass it on to others. Therefore Minister Steele’s suggestion that Government is considering allowing visitors who have taken the vaccine not to quarantine is reckless madness at best and highly irresponsible at worst. Either way you look at it, the obsessive and addictive and irrevocable commitment by our country to the poverty-inducing tourism industry will kill us for sure. Urhhh! Utter nonsense.
My wife and I will be fully vaccinated tomorrow, we would like to come home in April or May and are happy to quarantine in our home if necessary. They are finding vaccinated people do NOT spread the virus and may not spread the mutations either especially if masking is continued.
Employers in the hospitality industry have a viable solution. Make getting the vaccine mandatory for employment. No jab = No job!
Unfortunately no Canadians under 80 will be able to visit until at least July 2021, as our government has deemed that we cannot get the second jab before 4 months after the first jab. The only people possibly fully vaccinated likely are not potential visitors. It’s a shame that Canadians will be left out of the restart of tourism on the island. Oh yeah, there are no flights to the island from Canada until at least April 30th, and upon return to Canada you are put in a “hotel jail” for 3 days, at a cost of up to $2,000. I don’t see this protocol being removed any time soon, our Government has said DO NOT TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY, and they are making it very miserable if you do.
Who said that when you are vaccinated that you cannot contract it or pass it on? Caution is still needed.
Absolutely. Getting vaccinated only hopefuly protects you from being too sick and requiring hospitalization/death.. That is why mask mandate and some degree of social distancing is necessary To the foolish naysayers of the vaccine. Until herd immunity is achieved either thru personal infection or vaccine , deaths will continue. Grenada has done a remarkable job with only one death. If this is to continue, residents need to be vaccined for protection, otherwise you can’t open up the country ,as vistors , who may be vaccinated can still transmit the virus!!
Interestingly, my comment is not visible here. Does that mean the regulators of this medium do not want readers to make well-informed decisions from reading facts? This is the second time I have posted comments on this medium and the regulators failed to reveal them to readers.
Holding facts from your own people indicates your intentions. Keep the people ignorant and you keep being in control. Note that nothing lasts forever. Grenadians will soon discover truth.
Yes, we should trust science and do our own thorough research, BUT the latest research from today March 19th shows that the Astra Zeneca vaccine is safe. The worry about blood clots linked to the vaccine was disproven, and shown to be less than would be expected in the general population during the same time period. The vaccine actually decreases the chance of blood clots, because COVID-19 causes blood clots. COVID-19 can destroy communities, not just in the short term, but has many long term implications. Please inform yourselves, and consider not the choice of the vaccine versus no vaccine, but rather, the choice between the vaccine and COVID-19. When seen in this light, the choice is clear, that the risk of the vaccine is less than the risk of COVID-19.
As soon as this is made official you will see an increase in visitors to
Grenada…including vaccinated members of my family
Myself and family are fully vaccinated and ready for the “reduce quarantine requirements”… and please everyone, “get the vaccine”.
Yessss!!! Finally!!
That’s the only way forward right now, and I am really glad to see that the authorities are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!
People (especially those of vulnerable age or medical condition) please take the vaccine! You will be protecting yourself and those around you.
I say do not take the vaccine until you do proper research, check out government website in U.K. and see the figures of adverse reactions and deaths due to the vaccine, check out how many countries in Europe has suspended the vaccine roll out. Do your own research first, do not rely on the lame stream media to make your decision or anyone else
Check out the latest information from the EMA today which states “currently no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions” and countries will roll back on their suspension of the roll out of this vaccine. Does that mean its 100% safe? no, of course not… but then the virus isn’t 100% safe either. So surely your choice needs to be binary – either take the vaccine or accept you’re likely to get the virus. Flip you coin and take your chances.
Well said Dee…the so call vaccine is not yet proven to protect you or anyone else around you. Please do your research and stop being fooled by politicians especially the Car-salesman turn expert on health matters.
Rubbish! Take the vaccine so you are protected from a bad course if you get infected. The sooner everyone gets vaccinated, the sooner we get back to at least semi-normal way of life. Only time will tell however, not doing something is way too risky. Kudos to Minstry of Health considering decreasing or discontinuing quarantine for vaccinated individuals. This will boost the economy.
No deaths due to the vaccine have been reported in the UK