by Linda Straker
- Returning nationals from Canada will no longer require mandatory quarantine.
- Canada in Grenada’s Low-Risk Travel Category/Zone
- September targeted to allow commercial air traffic from US airports
10 days after accepting the first Air Canada flight since the country reopened the Maurice Bishop International Airport for international commercial passengers, Grenada has announced that returning nationals from Canada will no longer require mandatory quarantine. Air Canada has a weekly Monday flight to Grenada.
“The public is hereby advised that after careful consideration and analysis of the current threat and risk of Covid-19 transmission in the Commonwealth of Canada, the Ministry of Health, Grenada has taken the decision to place Canada in its Low-Risk Travel Category/Zone,” said a news release from the Ministry of Health, disseminated via the Government Information Service (GIS).
The decision is because Canada has had around 14 cases per 100,000 population in the last 14 days. Countries in the low-risk category are those that have less than 20 cases per 100,000 population, therefore, health officials felt that in keeping with our local protocols this change has become necessary. The other classified for destination are medium risk/green zones or high risk/red zones. “This means that returning nationals and visitors from Canada are expected to present a negative PCR Test result taken no more than 7 days before travel to Grenada, but are not required to be quarantined upon arrival.” The release explained that all passengers will be required to present a completed health declaration form, a waiver of liability agreement form and a public health locator form upon arrival.
A passenger’s travel history will also be used to determine the need for a second test and or a quarantine period. “In the event that it is thought necessary to do a PCR Test on arrival, the passenger will be quarantined in a government approved facility until the result is available and shows negative.
The advisory for passengers is being kept under constant review. “Travel disruption is still possible and national control measures may be brought in with little notice, therefore all concerned are encouraged to continue to check our travel guidance and advisories,” the ministry warns.
Government is targeting September as the time in which it will allow commercial air traffic from US airports. The USA is currently classified as a red zone or hot spot for Covid-19. In the meantime, people from the USA whose final destination is Grenada are allowed to in transit via Barbados or use charter services.
Currently, Covid-19 health protocols exempt people from the OECS and Barbados from mandatory quarantine once a negative PCR test result dated no less than 7 days before the travel date is presented at the port of entry. Those from the wider Caricom will have to spend 48 hours in quarantine once a second PCR conducted on island is negative.
Persons from medium risk countries which includes some European Union and Commonwealth states will have to presence a negative PCR upon arrival and conduct a second PCR immediately upon arrival. The quarantine period will be for 10 days, but a negative result within 48 hours or within the first 7 days will result in home quarantine with an agreement to allow a geo-fencing wristwatch for monitoring purposes.
High-risk countries are the USA and any other territories where there are more than 90 cases per 100,000 population. Persons arriving from high-risk areas will be required to show a negative PCR test, test immediately upon arrival and spend 14 days in quarantine with the option of the last 4 days in-home quarantine.
Perhaps Grenada will allow US states with low rates of Covid as Costa Rica and other nations have done. The Medical School which is Grenada’s lifeline remains closed to in school teaching. Its time to let Science and NOT opinions take center stage.
Costa Rica is allowing U.S. travelers again — but only if they come from the right states. Perhaps Grenada needs to follow this as the NE states in the US have less than 1 % positivity rates.
Concern Citizen
I really think that it’s a bit too early to allow American in Grenada please this situation is very seriously its death and life keep the border close from high risk countries
I think Canada can open their boarders to the Caribbean.
To date St Lucia have not had 1 active case of covid on island since the opening besides I would love to see my family.
One year ago today I was here on this Island of Spice with my family and went on a drive tour around with our minibus driver and saw sights.
September is TOO early to let AMERICANS IN. That will be Grenada’s biggest mistake. And we will not be able to handle the spread. PLEASE DON’T OPEN YET! TOO EARLY.
We need to see a drastic reduction on cases and death.
I disagree, when you test negative before getting on a flight, then you test negative upon arrival doing the 2 tests, you are negative. It doesn’t make sense at all to have different treatments and quarantine requirements for different areas of the world. When you are negative you are negative, wherever you come from.
When they let the US and England in everyone is doomed.