The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Monday dismissed as FALSE, a social media article posted by The New Today Newspaper, on 21 February 2020, that claimed a plane carrying Chinese Nationals landed at the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA) in the wee hours of Friday morning.
Health officials, port health, immigration and airport authorities all confirmed to the GIS that a private aircraft did land at the airport around 1 am but there were no Chinese nationals on that aircraft, contrary to a false report by the local newspaper in its e-publication.
Keville Frederick, the Public Information and Communications Officer at the Ministry of Health, told GIS that the multi-stakeholder response team at the airport followed standard protocols, which are aligned with the government’s efforts, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), surveillance and monitoring protocols in response to the coronavirus (COVID19).
“The flight in question did not originate from China, and all of the passengers and crew on board that aircraft were screened, interviewed and had their travel history checked and verified by the relevant parties managing the response,” explained Frederick.
“We have absolutely nothing to hide because our protocols are approved and sanctioned by the WHO, PAHO and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (Carpha)” said Frederick.
“So to say that a plane carrying Chinese nationals landed at our airport in the wee hours of the morning amounts to rumour-mongering: And listening and reading public comments tells me that the article did, in fact, stir unnecessary public fear,” said Frederick who is the Carpha/PAHO Risk Communication Focal Point on the island.
Since the Grenada Government activated its response protocols in reaction to the COVID-19, there has been ongoing communication with various stakeholders in Grenada and the region.
Meanwhile, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Francis Martin reiterated that the risk to Grenada and its citizens like other countries in the region remains LOW.
However, Dr Martin used the opportunity to address the issue of discrimination. “This virus epidemic is not about Chinese people, but exposure to the virus by travel.”
GIS
ExCUSE ME? Dr Martin this is ALL ABOUT CHINESE PEOPLE, the VIRUS stated with them, when it was EBOLA, all the African countrites was discriminated against, Chinese did not want any of them in their country, What the Chinese have on the leadership in Grenada only God Knows, BUT what is in the Dark will come out in the light soon.
This virus has reach pandemic stage, Dr. Martin needs to read or look at the overseas press to know what is going on,covid-19 is out of control ,a million Chinese people affected ,over three thousand died so far in one area alone.
There are several countries reporting the virus world wide,
Sad that racism is part of the concern… it will level the playing field as more of us humans have the experience of racism we will learn to accept and respect each other as Humans and not by race. Lesson to learn.