by Oliver Benoit, PhD, MFA
Ongoing conversations on social media highlight the seriousness of the Covid-19 pandemic in Grenada and the catastrophic effects on the nation.
Within the last month, Grenada has confirmed over 4,000 Covid-19 positive cases and over 50 deaths. Covid cases and resulting deaths are expected to increase exponentially before the curve begins to flatten. The authorities have taken action to contain the spread; questions can be raised about the effectiveness of those measures to reduce the rate of transmission of the virus. Following the current trend in infection in Grenada, the likely outcome over the coming weeks is the continued exponential spread of the virus before any flattening of the curve and eventual decline in infection and rate of transmission. As this trend continues, increased demand for hospital care is undermining our feeble healthcare system. It is likely to undermine the healthcare system if it is not yet happening.
This present situation facing Grenada today could potentially be one of the worst crises in recent memory. Grenada is likely to see an increased death rate beyond the 147 deaths caused by Hurricane Janet in 1955. The island is likely to experience worsening economic, social, and cultural for many years to come.
As the crisis unfolds, Grenadians are inundated with information that is not always helpful in decision-making, particularly when confronting conspiracy theories, including anti-vaccination propaganda. It is worth noting that misinformation about Covid19 and anti-vaccine propaganda also spread exponentially throughout the population, encouraging people to make decisions detrimental to their lives and livelihood, as well as those around them, including young and elder dependents. The misinformation, sometimes spread through social media, essentially undermines the already weakened democratic institutions, making it difficult for the authorities to address the present crisis effectively.
The weakness in our democratic institutions may have been exposed by Covid 19. It is not the time to address these weaknesses when a crisis of this magnitude can threaten the existence of the nation. Grenada needs to examine the economic and political decisions and the socio-cultural environment fostered over the last 40 years, that, I contend, would have contributed to our failing institutions. That situation threatens the nation’s existence, particularly since nations are not necessarily a given — nations require strong institutions to maintain their integrity. Or, for that matter, we want to avoid Grenada being called a failed state.
Nevertheless, our immediate task requires all Grenadians to speak and act, with one purpose — to control the virus before it is too late. This means recognising that we are not just an individual, but more a social being; we have a social responsibility to ensure the well-being of others if we are to survive as a nation. That means we all must continue social distancing where possible and encourage others to abide by this principle. The wearing of a mask in any social setting is also necessary. Wearing a mask also provides good protection, but many Grenadians have not been wearing masks properly. Everyone should constantly remind each other that mouth and nose must be covered when near to others, particularly in enclosed public buildings.
Of course, the effort to achieve all the above requires institutional support and well-organised social infrastructure and personnel with knowledge of the health and social sciences. Addressing the present crisis requires frontline workers (Doctors, Nurses and Police Officers and other volunteers) to have the appropriate PPE gears to ensure safety. Planning is essential, and the people who are losing family members will require immediate psychological and possibly social and economic support.
I believe the authorities should do more to encourage more community interaction, as well as to encourage scientific thinking to solve the current crisis at hand. In this context, the MOH should disseminate through the various social media, a more easily digestible format of the scientific guidelines developed and used by scientists, biologists and virologists and health educators who are working with institutions like the WHO and PAHO. These are institutions charged with the responsibility to lead the fight against the virus. It is also important to remember that PAHO has historically supported Grenada in securing vaccines for its population. This support over the years has protected the population from many of the viruses around.
The COVAX arrangement has made the Covid-19 vaccine available to Grenada while other countries struggle to satisfy their vaccine needs. Scientific thinking should also consider the stratification system of Grenadian society and work out a system for serving households and communities affected by Covid-19. At this point in the pandemic, when our health system is badly stretched, communities and community leaders must step up to supplement the work of the MOH by strongly encouraging the protocols and getting tested and vaccinated. For example, fighting Ebola outbreak on the continent of Africa was only effective because there was a network of healthcare workers embedded within communities. How can we isolate an infected person within a large family in a small dwelling? What is an appropriate form of public transportation that can limit the spread of the virus? How can we step up surveillance by centrally reporting unusual symptoms or epidemiological patterns while performing routine tests? We should address these questions in the coming weeks, and hopefully, social media will pick us these ideas for immediate discussion and recommendations.
In the simplest terms, we must take personal responsibility for ourselves and the people around us. Mask, sanitise, social distance, and follow the health protocols. If we have symptoms, isolate and call the Covid-19 hotline.
Oliver Benoit is a sociologist in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at St George’s University
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The new strain is very serious! New York is really handling the new strain very well. Grenada is a holiday place with sandy beaches and warm sunshine so many people do not wear their masks or keep social distancing. They behave like the people who live in Florida and Texas. They think the hot sun can destroy the virus. There is worst to come and I truly expect this! Pressure must be put on the people to wear their masks and curfews must be maintained. Otherwise, a large percentage of the population could be wiped out!
Well said Dr. Benoit! All over the world we must take personal responsibility to alleviate the burden on the healthcare systems and our livelihoods. We have come to a place where we dont care about each other enough.
Mr. Oserver the people who are hospitalized for your knowledge quiet a bit have been fully vaccinated you don’t hear that, ok. The rest are those who when were tested positive was sent home to isolate with not instructions except to call the hotline when things gets bad . Then is much too late. We can go back and forth how much we want but until there is early treatment at the point of the covid test nothing will change.
I am guessing a lot of criticism is directed at people like myself, who try to give objective information that the Government and Establishment wilfully censor and deny.
Of course there are cranks on both sides, some who after the ebdless propaganda, are in a state of fear psychosis worrying over Covid and others who deny the virus is even real or exist.
However, despite this, most people are able to reason for themselves.
Its good to see people in the community relying on each other and sharing what works, otherwise many more would be dead.
This is a damn sight better than being told after testing positive, to go home and isolate for two weeks, and come back if it gets worse.
So in the meantime you are sitting at home doing nothing while 8-10 days the Virus enter your lungs and start reproducing like crazy.
Other than Hospital Treatment when you get seriously ill, nothing, no care package of medication is offered
But, ordinary people are not waiting on the government and have managed to figure out simple Treatment like Vit C, D3, Zinc, Saffron/Tumeric, Ginger, Garlic, Pepper, etc…that actually kills the SarsCov2 Virus.
What I detest, has been the one sided propaganda to Inject an Experimental drug, that never mention the Adverse Reactions and Death, but expect people to obediently follow and trust all they are being told. That is truly insulting.
If knowledge is power, then give the people all the knowledge and all the power so they can choose what is best for them and their family.
Vit C, D3 (for people who don’t get much sun), zinc and some natural herbs are beneficial, so long as they’re not taken in unsafe dosages. Along with good nutrition and exercise, they are good for the immune system. However none of that have been clinically proven to stop delta from taking down vulnerable people, no matter how much you want to insist it’s true. I live with a doctor who treats covid patients, this doctor had numerous hospitalized unvaccinated patients with severe illness who self-treated with all of those and more. Some still died. This doc has not yet had a vaccinated patient who died. In fact, there is hardly any vaccinated patients hospitalized for covid in the local hospital.
Who cares about you being personally insulted. You insisting on scaring people from taking extensively tested and fully approved vaccines, shown all over the world to prevent hospitalizations and death, is an insult to frontline workers everywhere who are struggling and working tirelessly to take care of increasing patient loads, in hospitals filled with people battling and dying from covid every day – most of whom are unvaccinated. You are being a hypocrite by saying give people knowledge and power to choose what’s best for them, while at the same time lying, twisting facts and pushing misinformation about vaccines.
Knowledge is out there, available from good sources and easily accessible. It’s people like you who misinform that get in the way and do more harm than good.
Absolutely fantastic post, Observer. Well done, that should be shouted from the rooftops.
Jackie
Thank you Mr Observer thank for giving this M/s Johnson facts..Personally I think she should behave yourself.
Observer..Exactly!!
you couldn’t have said it better, the vaccines have pros and cons, but anybody who mentions the credible cons becomes a spreader of fake news, please!
I am sure you had all your childhood vaccinations…the checks and balance that go into making a vaccine now is now 200% better. I am telling you facts here. It’s based on my knowledge…I think a lot of persons in Grenada is reading the rubbish you and others write on social media etc. and have become anti mask, antivaxx and anti government protocols. You and others are not helping to save lives.. people like you have your own crazy agenda.. I know you will be rude to me so before I leave let me tell you that I am not going to even read your response and I certainly won’t respond.
We all want a quick cure for this virus but a lot of our people are living below the poverty level and no seems to understand or acknowledge that fact.
The issue with this is the average household is made of 4 or more people living in very small areas and if one member of that family gets infected where can they quarantine for that 2 weeks?
The reality is it is not possible hence the high number of positive cases currently in Grenada.
Our government accepts the stimulus package for this but never use the money to assist the citizens who are now in real trouble.
If you get tested today at one of the test locations and is positive for covid,what is in place to assist you ?
I am sure there are so many questions that are not being answered.
A lot of anti vax comments in Grenada use religion as a spurious reason to not get vaccinated – God will save us, cover the island with the blood of Christ etc. Churches are in a position to counter these false hopes & should be doing so.
Any follower of the Catholic faith should read wisely the words of our leader the Pope. Please take it to heart, caring for your fellow man is the most noble calling and receiving the vaccine is exactly how to do that. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58573892
The Pope can go to hell.
Amen…. hahaha.
Well look at that. In the past using “God” as a reason for being anti-vax, invoking religion to appear saintly, and then telling the Pope to go to hell when you find out he supports vaccines. Lol.
Thank you Mr Benoit for your well articulated post. However, wearing mask in public should be the emphasis on everyone vaccinated or not vaccinated. I also like to add that the effort to distribute the vaccine can and should be more vigorously administered in the villages country wide. I will want to add that at this time and to a degree before now the existing Covid 19 Committee should be expanded to consist of the following: Civil Society, Council of Churches and TUC giving broad base representation in the dissemination of the messages in the communities. There has been to many scared tactics used during the period and as noticed the more threats and Condemnation that was thrown out there the more persons remained defiant to the call.