The Ministry of Health has confirmed community spread of Covid-19 in Grenada.
Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Shawn Charles said Friday that the patterns emerging from the current spike in Covid-19 cases point to community spread. He explained, “We are unable to link many of the cases to any defined cluster or traveller, hence the determination that we now have community spread.”
Prior to this, Grenada recorded specific clusters of positive cases which were either directly linked to an imported case or a traced contact of a confirmed case.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health show that a further 21 persons tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday. The total number of active cases in Grenada now stands at 126. Of this amount, 8 are imported, while for the remaining cases, the virus was transmitted locally.
Infected persons range in age from 4 to 71, and at present, there are more female positive cases than male.
Additionally, the vast majority of positive cases are unvaccinated persons, many of whom are exhibiting mild symptoms. The common symptoms being reported by Grenadians are muscle and body aches, runny nose, sore throat and congestion. Some are also reporting upset stomach, nausea and diarrhoea.
Dr Charles explained that infected persons usually develop symptoms within 2 to 14 days of exposure, therefore there should be no rush to test immediately after exposure as this could lead to a false negative. He further stated that based on the incubation period of the virus, testing is typically done between 5 and 7 days after exposure.
The public is reminded that there is no cost for Covid-19 testing conducted as part of measures to manage the public health crisis. Persons who have been exposed to the virus, should call the Covid-19 hotline at 538-4787 or 458-4787 or contact their nearest health centre.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health continues to encourage persons to get vaccinated. Grenada currently has 2 vaccine options, AstraZeneca and Pfizer, and to date, more than 24,000 have received their first dose, while more than 18,000 people are fully vaccinated.
The Pfizer vaccine became available in Grenada this week and already, in excess of 1,415 people have opted for this vaccine.
The Ministry of Health is continuing its vaccination clinics at the Kirani James National Stadium and at various health centres across the island. A number of pop-up vaccination clinics are also being held at strategic locations to make the vaccine more accessible to people within the community.
GIS
NOW Grenada is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by contributors. In case of abuse, click here to report.
It is not debatable that the No. 1 reason why we now have Community Spread is because the Government’s border protocols were so deficient that they allowed in vaccinated people who were carrying the virus. Indeed the first five cases found after we reopened our borders were fully vaccinated persons. But now the reports are that “most of the cases” are unvaccinated persons. But of course! 80% of the population is unvaccinated so the propabilty is much higher that they will catch the virus. But what is NOT being measured or reported is the number of vaccinated people who are catching the virus and the number of them who are transmitting it. Now that we know that Pfizer is ineffective against the Delta variant but are super-selling it to our innocent citizens, we will see vaccinated people transmitting the disease more and more over time.
It is so strange how suddenly, so many among us are experts and overnight scientists and super journals etc. While most, if not all of us have taken many vaccines in our lifetime, and those very vaccines have saved us from past diseases or pandemics. But we allow some disgruntled dude from the US to twist our brain and fry it for his dinner and many of us become brainless Q anon specialists without realizing it and have the answers to everything while becoming nuisences in society in this information age while we lack so much truth about most things. We must really stop that bs and remain in our section and allow the trained professionals to do their work.
The virus is out of control. Expect many more cases, hospitalisations and the inevitable deaths. New cases have quadrupled this week compared to last week… a much higher increase that at anytime in Europe. Many people will regret not having the vaccine. Four and a half milly deaths worldwide and only just now, the first POSSIBLE death from the Pfizer vaccine.
People that spread these lies have blood on their hands.
Exactly, Joe. Well said!
I feel people need to see deaths of loved ones for this to be taken seriously. Surely people must know family ànd friends that have had no problems from vaccines. All my friends have had it except for two. No one has has any problems. Save your lives!
Of course the founders of Pfizer have not been vaccinated, they founded the company in 1849 & will be long dead by now. If you mean the current CEO he is fully vaccinated.
This does beg the question why was the quarantine period was reduced for vaccinated visitors & returning nationals when MoH is saying test after 5-7 days from infection. It’s too late now. However the poison spouted by the antivaxxerrs is directly contributing to illness. If many are exhibiting mild symptoms that’s lucky but as the majority of Grenadians are not vaccinated it won’t be long before the hospitals are overwhelmed and some won’t survive. Please ignore the rubbish spouted against vaccines & get the shot. Horse tablets and bleach won’t save you.
It’s funny how they can verify that the incubation period is 5-7 days and that persons should not rush to get tested yet they are quarantining persons entering the country at the airport and releasing them on day 2. There own words and protocols are contradictions.