by Linda Straker
- Grenada has ability to test for Covid-19
- Citizens must be confined to their homes for 14 days under new regulation
- The 24-hour mandatory curfew en extended until 20 April 2020
The 24-hour mandatory curfew which should have ended on 6 April has been extended until 20 April 2020. A collaboration between 4 public health agencies has given Grenada the ability to conduct testing for Covid-19, the coronavirus that has affected more than one million persons and caused the death of thousands around the world.
“Yes, we are in a position to do testing in Grenada,” Dr George Mitchell, Coordinator of the Covid Response Committee told journalists in a news conference. He was a member of the panel that comprised Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell and Acting Commissioner of Police, Edvin Martin. “Once samples are collected, we can run them and have the result the same day,” he said, pointing out that all of the preliminary work and logistics have been put in place.
“I have been in contact with the folks at St George’s University (SGU) who, in collaboration with our lab techs at the hospital, have done the run or reruns of those machines that will be done for testing. All the controls have been done, so to speak and we are ready to go,” Dr Mitchell said.
Before the ability to test on island, Grenada’s samples were tested at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) laboratory in Trinidad. Samples were sent using LIAT or the Regional Security Services aircraft. The samples took at least 48 hours to return.
The PCR machines came to Grenada through a joint initiative of Canadian Bank Note and the National Lotteries Authority, while testing kits were donated by St George’s University. The other collaborating agencies are the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the Windward Islands Research and Education Institute (WINDREF) also at SGU, and CARPHA.
Under the new regulation for the limited State of Emergency, citizens must be confined to their homes for 14 days. “This period is to ensure we do all that we can to save lives. We have entered a crucial phase in terms of the spread of Covid-19 in our country,” said the Covid Response Coordinator.
“We believe that if we take this measure that we are about to take or are taking, it will give us a really, really good opportunity to see where we are in terms of ensuring and minimising community spread,” he said.
Dr Mitchell explained that the time from incubation to displaying symptoms varies, and based on the time that those who were tested positive were confirmed, this new 14-day period will be crucial to identifying new cases of persons who were possibly exposed, and whose exposure could result in community spreading of the virus.
“So, during that period we are also going to use the opportunity to do some testing,” he said.
Testing. How many people like taking tests? What structure will this test take? Will it cost the individuals? Will it be mandatory? How and where and when and who will be tested?
I’m grenadian as well and is 100 percent in favor of the way the government and health officials are handling the situation. Dam if you do and dam if you dont. Unless u live it first first hand as I do in New York you will never understand the magnitude of the situation. It’s all for our own good. Saving lives. Passing by the hospitals seeing thousand s of body bags. That will scare you straight and make u undeserved the importance of stay at home. We as grenadians are blessed to live in a country where we have so much freedom, just this once for your own lives? Come on..there is only one God and he is bringing is to our knees. Why? Because we proclaim there is no God. Who is he?if there is a God? Well now he is answering back, letting us know that we are nothing without him. Have a blessed day and stay safe. Hallelujah to his name. Hosanna in the highest.
Dr Mitchell said that the time between incubation and showing symptoms varies. What numbers does he have? I read two or three days. Given the start of social distancing and the quarantine have any new cases occurred? Appears not. Dr Mitchell should explain how he justifies over 21 days.
I think that in spite of Grenada’s unique circumstances it is simply following other countries.
Great to have on-island ability to Test, but what about the capacity to test and availability of supplies of the Test kits? As of yesterday (Apr. 6th.), Grenada had only conducted a measly 45 Tests! Out of a population of 100,000+ what does this indicate as to the “penetration” of the Virus in Grenada? – NADA! Emerging information is showing that “random” testing indicates that up to 50% or so of those tested are/have been infected by the Virus, yet show/showed no symptoms. This information is absolutely critical, as such persons have the ability to infect others. On the plus side, it is counter-productive to lock away those who have had the Virus and are no longer contagious. The fatality statistics continue to indicate that the aged (70+) and people with certain pre-existing conditions are extremely vulnerable, with mortality statistics running at 1 in 5 or more! On the other end, those under 50 years old are subject to less than a 1 in 100 death rate! Impounding 100% of the population indiscriminately in their homes as “THE STRATEGY” is criminal. What is needed is a more discriminate application of the factors known to spread the virus. For a start, the most vulnerable group noted earlier should be effectively isolated and also completely defended. Viz. Have ready access to food, medicines, constant medical attention/monitoring, etc. Beyond that anyone testing as contagious should also be isolated until they are no longer contagious.
I was listening to last nights Corvid 19 update by the Prime Minister, Dr. Mitchel and the Chief of Police. When our Chief of Police with a smiling face told the nation that “this can not go on”. I suppose he was refering to the long lines in front of the super markets. Reading between the lines, he believes we are not capable of doing organised shopping. So, all shops are looked down until further notice. I would like to know, what our leaders expect. You have a population over 100.000 people and allow them to shop four hours three times a week. Are you really suprised to see long lines? We, the people don´t seem to panic but our government does. Social distanceing is surely the right way to fight the virus. How do I practise that in a 500 yard long waiting line? What do you expect if you give another shopping day out of your belly feeling. You don´t have to be a genius to predict even longer lines and longer waiting period. That is where all of us are finally will get infected. In the long lines during waiting on food. Please don´t be afraid to admit that this shopping restriction was wrong and reopen our shops and pharmacys from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. every day of the week. We will not blame you for a mistake. The situation is new for all of us. But it is time for you to face the fact that we need to eat in order to have the strength to fight Corvid 19.
Can some one explain how this ends we stop the virus at 12 cases and get no more cases how do we open the island again when it is rife everywhere else in the world or do we stay isolated until a vaccine is mass produced.
Can Grenada afford to have no tourists or students till the?
What happen to these two big fool for adults you guys think the leaders are punishing the grenadian people. You two think this virus is a joke so they are just bad leaders that they don’t want people to work or walk and go socialize as they feel or that they are wicket leaders that want to turn the country into a communist country .? Is you guys and your family and your friend family they trying they best to protect instead of spending you guys time on Facebook talking shit why you guys don’t listen to the world news for once and see that is a world crisis and not just the Caribbean or Grenada.people like you two and many more are so negative that if people were dropping like flies you guys would of go and run your guys mouth the people taking in front before it gets out of control you guys think its a waste of time and everything should be up and running like normal while the rest of the world is on lock down . .This only show the level of education you guys have .just remember the world is looking at you guys post so if you don’t understand the news don’t just run and post nonsense cause I will answer and people who want to live will answer too. The leaders , the doctors ,the nurses, all healthcare workers you doing a great job, to all the police officers you doing a great job by protecting others from these two and others like them . Keep the curfew as long as the virus remain . God bless our nation
Totally Fn pointless three weeks house arrest and curfew. This Curfew remedy is worse than the Covid disease which 97 percent plus will recover. Heavy handed Tyranny, Placing free people under house arrest and destroying their ability to feed their family. And for what?
Come April 20th most people will still have no immunity from SarsCoVid19.
What’s the solution….. indefinate house arrest until Christmas. This s a big joke.
While I agree that this house arrest situation is not good for the country, the government is currently doing what they believe is best to prevent the spread of the virus. You said that more than 97% of people will recover, I’d like to know where you got this figure. Are you aware that in addition to old age, people with chronic diseases (cancer, hypertension, lung disease, diabetes, heart disease) and people who need to take medications that suppress the immune system (transplant recipients) are also especially susceptible to the virus? Are you saying that less than 3% of Grenadians fall into this category? Do you not have any loved ones that fall into this category? Are you willing to risk their lives? For people to develop immunity, they will need to be exposed to the virus and that can only happen via infection or vaccination (which will take a long time to develop). This isn’t ideal for anyone, but it’s the best plan we have to protect those who are in the most danger right now.
Does this mean we’ll soon begin to test random samples of the population, or even the whole population (less than 112,000 tests)? Then we’d know for sure who has the virus, had the virus, or has acquired immunity; and we could act appropriately.
I believe testing the entire population would be much more difficult than you expect it to be. The United States is currently struggling to get tests. If it were that easy, I would suspect that testing would be made mandatory so that only those that are infected would need to be isolated. Additionally, to test for immunity, we would need to test whether or not individuals who were previously infected had developed antibodies to the virus. This would require a special antibody-antigen test. This type of test was only recently approved by the FDA three days ago, so I’m pretty sure it is not the one provided by CARPHA.
Andy that 97:percent recovery figure comes from data from China and elsewhere, which as you pointed out…. mostly affects those 60 plus and those with on going medical issues.
The Grenada government is absolutely wrong to place everyone under house arrest and curfew, with stupid arbitrary shopping days and hours that makes absolutely no sense, other than to actually.spread the infection if it was out there. What genius came up shopping restrictions…idiot!
Granted we must protect those elderly and sickly but not at the expense of house arrest for a general population. That is pure abuse by a Government desperate to show….hey guys, we are doing something. Its wrong and stupid, needlessly wrecks the economy and ability to feed your family.
SarsCovid19 is yet another Virus that dies out once population build up an immunity. Some of us will die in the process….thats life.
Great news about the ability to test on Grenada. Now let’s hope everyone is going to do their part in protecting our beautiful Island and wonderful people. Come on Grenadians we can do this. Positive action!!