by Linda Straker
The week of 15 March 2020 saw the rise of Covid-19 cases in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, in particular the state of New York. It marked the turning point for most countries in the OECS countries, and by extension the members of Caricom.
From all indications, flights arriving at airports in the region came with passengers who had to clear Immigrations and Customs, but also sadly allowed entry to the islands with the permission of another immigration officer, the dreaded coronavirus which is causing the Covid-19.
Many will now question why our governments did not lock down ports of entry, and that itself has many arguments of economics, social and otherwise, but what is factual is that from all records, almost 80% of all index cases arrived in the OECS between 15–21 March. It was around the same time that the message of self-quarantine became the trend for all arriving passengers.
If the middle of March was our index week with self-quarantine, which few of these arriving passengers obeyed, that using a 14-day incubation period, it would be safe to say that as of 29 March 2020, Grenada and most other regional territories must be on the lookout for community transmission.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes community transmission as stage 3 of infection, and defines that stage as “when a person who has no travel history has contracted the infection through domestic sources.”
With all our ports of entry restricting the arrival of passengers, it will not be correct to describe future positive Covid-19 cases as imported (stage 1), import-related or local transmission (stage 2). Stage 4 of infection is when the disease is declared an epidemic.
Grenada should never reach stage 4, and for that to happen, we as a nation must comply with the Covid-19 regulations and stay in our homes.
More people need to be at home, which means we should not be expanding our essential service workers or giving special permission to any company to operate full staff for the next 14 days if we are to achieve this goal of NOT arriving at stage 4.
Maybe we have reached the stage where the regulations need to be updated and remove some of these essential workers from the list in the best interest of the country.
I cannot understand why restaurant workers are essential. We are home, so we should cook, and those who forgot how to cook or don’t know how to cook, call a friend on the phone and don’t be ashamed to ask for guidance. You will not die if you eat rice and chicken for 14 days. Throw in some peas, coconut milk, and other ingredients in the cook up.
Ask your grandmother or aunt how to make bakes. You don’t need bread from the bakery. Making such sacrifice is what is required of a patriot citizen so that we never reach Stage 4 of Covid-19.
Remember, Covid-19 entered the island without the permission of an immigration officer and it cannot be deported, but we can kill and bury it without a tombstone! Be patriotic. Kill Covid-19. Make the 14 days sacrifice for our future generations and the survival of this country.
EXTENTION OF TAX FILING DAY GRANTED
https://www.grenadabroadcast.com/featured/extension-of-tax-filing-date-granted-official-announcement-on-monday-march-31/?fbclid=IwAR3W-PrLGsNWGrFJUQNzQ95dEjB8khuKFoC_lznfeE1Ulmks4Oqd-nIXVwg
Pharmacy and grocery stores open in Toronto, not restaurants! Shame on my home.
The shepherds are making nice bleating sounds. They trying to lock the gate after the sheep have bolted. this ‘curfew’ allows the sheep to roam freely untill 7. Then they get back to grazing all over the place.
Why wasn’t the gate bolted since beginning of March? Were the shepherds waiting to parrot Trump?
Quarantine? How? Where? With other members of the herd? Who checks? Laws?? Who enforces them?
Now it’s getting out of control, the shepherds are saying “the sheep are not behaving. Sheep are not doing as we ask” Well, you’re too late shepherds, you should have looked at Italy and learned. That way you would have saved your herd. Don’t blame the sheep. They are simply sheep. You must take full responsibility as the shit hits the fan
Dear Grenada,
I live in Japan (& could visit beautiful Grenada over 20 years ago). Here, we have managed to slow the rate if infection, so far, through strict social distancing(2 meters!), strict handwashing, & masks! Please, learn from our example. Sew masks! Sew them for everyone around you! Your elderly neighbors, the young postman or taxi driver! The papermasks will finish too quickly. Many cotton masks for each person, so wash & wear fresh everyday. Teach the children to do this, too. On Sunday, pray at home & sing your hymns from the window, with your neighbors—God will be with you.
Please, when the government suggests staying home for 2/3 weeks, do it—it could save your life, or that of your parents.
You are in my prayers.
Thank you
Postpone the taxes. Why should people from all over the country take busses and get together down town to do turn in their taxes. It might been set up in a proper way, I don’t know – can the way back and forth from your house bee guaranteed safe? Why take chances in a time like this. Let people find out how to scan, taking pictures of the papers, set up email etc… Lets do taxes in a safe way – don’t rush!
Lock down is a great idea but what about beaches and streets are these places safe for a swim or a walk
Turn the question around. Is the beach and the city safe from me.
Please please stay at home. Self isolate. Social distance. Wash your hands all the time and disinfect everything people touch. I am from the UK and England was complacent at your stage. People were not taking this seriously. Now we are on lock down and the number of dead is increasing to over 200 people per day. This is expected to rise like it did in Italy and now Spain. People are dying in pain and fear and alone of this highly contagious neumonia virus. Please stay at home now, take this very seriously and do everything you can to prevent the spread of this he’ll on earth virus
Once Covid was confirmed in the US and the UK.or any region, all flights into Grenada should have quarantined passengers for 14 days in a private facility and not allow them to go home and self quarantine as a precaution. This could’ve been avoided because sending people home expose them to other people and create a domino effect as you see. The country is small and vulnerable and if they’re unable to trace all the passengers from both flights and the people they were in contact with..its inevitable that this could be controlled. Our people need to put our ignorance aside and come forward and get tested and the professionals need to understand and respect these people’s privacy.
I completely agree. On March 5th was the last time I went to St. George’s and that morning the town was overrun by tourists from a cruise. The locals around me are astonished that cruise ships were still being allowed to dock. (The first USA confirmed case was on Jan 21st)
At this point all we can do is pray and take the appropriate measures. I still feel like too many are very complacent though.
And coyaba hotel is still opened ..who lives at stake her ..(the workers someone need to do something about it other hotels are close why coyaba still opened.
We were so looking forward to coming to Coyaba in October. Please act now in Grenada and stay home. Do not allow flights and cruises in. The virus could wipe out your Health Service and then grenadians..please adhere to your leaders advice. STAY HOME.
Agree with you , let’s stay home for 14 day’s and kill Corona , there is many business places opening still for no reason,,,, shops ,,, stores ,,, restaurants ,,, and vendors jamming in the street ,, etc .
Let us be responsible and brave , Lock down and stay home , kill Corona and safe the country .