by Linda Straker
- Grenada’s immediate response to combat spread of Covid-19 has been a learning experience
- Current data is projecting no community spread of disease
- Not having community spread should not be used as a reason to become careless with social behaviour and or interaction
Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell, has admitted that Grenada’s immediate response to combat the spread of Covid-19 on the island has been a learning experience, but despite challenges, the current data is projecting that there is no community spread of the disease.
“This has been a stiff learning curve for all of us along the way as we face the unprecedented global crisis. We ask all of you sisters and brothers for your continued patience in this time of restricted movement, as we must allow the healthcare [team] to pursue broad-based testing in keeping with scientific modelling to ascertain the degree of which Covid-19 is present in our country,” he said during a news conference on Monday.
“It is simply to ensure that all persons who were potentially exposed to the virus are tested,” he said while explaining that data indicates that the virus appears to be contained despite Grenada having 14 confirmed persons. “Based on the results of all the testing we have done so far, there is still no indication there has been any widespread community spread of the virus.”
13 of the 14 confirmed persons are presently on island, because a UK national who was tested positive left the island without approval and returned to the UK via Canada. Most of these cases under the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines are either imported or local transmission.
Stage 1 is imported; a confirmed case in which that person travelled to another country with the infection and is tested with a positive result in that country, while Stage 2 is when there is local transmission in which people come into immediate contact with that person who travelled into the country. Community spread or transmission is Stage 3 at its described as when a person who has no travel history contracts the disease through domestic sources and the final level is Stage 4 and that is when the disease is declared an epidemic in a territory.
Because community spread is the period in which a territory is overwhelmed with lots of confirmed cases and sick persons, Prime Minister Mitchell said that not having a community spread should not be used as a reason to become careless with social behaviour and or interaction.
“This sisters and brothers you will agree is excellent news but we cannot afford to let our guards down just yet, we must maintain the vigilance we have exhibited in recent weeks and you the citizens must continue to practice physical and social distancing and the recommended cough and sneezing techniques,” he said in the news conference which was broadcast live via the Government Information Service (GIS).
Dr Mitchell who also serves as Minister for National Security, said that because of containment and no indication of community spreading, government is considering easing some of the Covid-19 regulations which restrict the movement of citizens.
Grenada’s 24-hour mandatory curfew concludes on Monday, 20 April 2020.
Great news about reducing community spread. We cannot open our borders until there is definite downward curves in the countries where most of the tourists and the Grenadian diaspora would be coming from. Everyone would need to have their temperature checked prior to entry. This must happen, same way travellers got use having more stringent security checks. I would also like the evidence to support the comment that people are dying of starvation in the tri islands please. This is deplorable if true. Why suddenly in 4 weeks people need to have vitamin supplements thru lack of opportunity to go shopping!!
This comment is directed to Amazing. When last have you been to Grenada? All countries big and small have their problems with poverty not only Grenada. Grenada has come a long way! Maybe you haven’t been there in a while so you should ask around before you talk all this nonsense. Murder?? Grenada is one of the safest countries in the world. What are you talking about? Yes there are 2 or 3 murders for the year but what’s that compared to other countries similar to size and population? I’ll assume you live either in the US, Canada or UK and you’re one of the out of touch Grenadians who haven’t been there in a while. Ppl in Grenada are thriving and I assure you no one is starving because Grenada is on of the only places in the world when you can ask a neighbor for lunch or dinner. So please, don’t disparage what you don’t know. Take a trip bring some friends and most give back to Grenada. Contribute in a positive way, lift up our homeland
How many test kits does Grenada have ??? As most countries are short of test kits and unless you have tested 1000s of people like America European countries you do not know how many people have it very vague and you have a low population too. How can you tell Grenadians to take vitamins unless the government supply’s them.They can barely feed them selves people die of hunger every day in grenada .Where is there to go if you hungry in Grenada.
Where do you go if you know there is a murder on the loose .No where because they fearful of their life no people are not looked after in Grenada .
We need to advise our people how to protect ourselves in terms of vitamins and supplements. That is the best way to combat this virus.
The absence of community spread virus is good news. But, claims of success is short sighted. At some point Grenada has to open borders, otherwise economic and social disaster is certain. But this will mean the cycle of curfew and lockdown restarts!
Alternatively, adopt control strategies that advises and safeguards the most vulnerable people and keeps the Country productive.
Congratulations to Grenadians
Congratulations to my peoples on this early success. Stay healthy; stay safe; stay vigilant against the spread of this virus. God Bless.
Universal testing is key. Peak infections came in other countries a month after the first case, so ours won’t come until the end of April or the first weeks in May. Until then, we should be cautious. And of course, pray that we’ve been lucky.
“We ask all of you sisters and brothers for your continued patience in this time of restricted movement, as we must allow the healthcare [team] to pursue broad-based testing in keeping with scientific modelling to ascertain the degree of which Covid-19 is present in our country,” he said during a news conference on Monday.” “Broad-based testing“ is the critical step. When and how will it take place. If we’ve been spared, great: otherwise our peak won’t come until the end of April-first weeks in May.
Very good News, but please stop staying social distance We are depending on a social comunity physical distance I think terms it better