38 persons are now in quarantine following aggressive contact tracing efforts by the Ministry of Health, in the wake of a breach of Grenada’s Covid-19 protocols by a medical doctor and his wife who arrived here on 1 November.
The individuals, who were approved for home quarantine, visited 4 restaurants in the south of the island before receiving the results of their PCR tests that were conducted on 5 November.
Records of the names of staff and patrons were provided to health officials by 3 of the 4 facilities, but one was non-compliant.
Health Minister Hon. Nickolas Steele warned that the non-compliant facility could face possible fines. “In keeping with the Public Health Regulations, there is the possibility of fines. As Minister, I have no intention of seeing any non-compliant establishment reopen. As we announced previously, we have stepped up monitoring establishments as we approach the Christmas season, and those that are non-compliant; from accommodation establishments to entertainment establishments will be closed until they have gone through again, the necessary training, and have convinced the Ministry of Health and the contact tracing team that they are compliant.”
The 38 individuals quarantined due to the risk of exposure to the Covid-19 positive cases, are awaiting their first round of tests, which will be conducted on Friday.
Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shawn Charles is appealing to establishments to follow the protocols, which he says will reduce the burden of anxiety that can be placed on the public. “It further drives home the importance of businesses following the protocols and guidelines that are issued by the Ministry of Health.”
While all other protocols were followed, a GPS device was not placed on the individuals who breached the protocols, unknowing to the Ministry of Health, which sees placement of the device as mandatory. Minister Steele said “It was not from any waiver or instruction from the Ministry of Health, neither did the Ministry know that these individuals did not receive a GPS device.”
Installation and monitoring of the GPS devices are undertaken by a third-party service provider. Minister Steele says Government will review that arrangement to either determine how the provider can strengthen its capacity, or to find alternative means that meets the criteria outlined by the Health Ministry.
GIS
Met these American people at Aziz restaurant and they said they had just completed quarantine. Very well off (medical equipment company owner) and very much Trump supporters so you know how careful they had intentions of being. I am one who has since tested positive. Government should take severe action.
This is really BS, a hefty charge should be slapped on them and investigate who didn’t follow the device protocol and charge the individual also. A strong message has to be sent in the national interest.
Xo makes a very good point, but all the facilities should be identified to alert any one that may not have been traced and the establishment that did not keep records should be exposed for this serious lapse. Businesses that comply with safety procedures and good practice should not be tarnished by those that don’t follow protocols and break the law.
That is the only way to root out bad practice to keeps us safe and lead to a general improvement in customer care.
Information should generally be disclosed in the public interest and for the purpose transparency and to avoid more damaging rumours.
The Grenadian citizens and other visitors to Grenada MUST be assured this couple will be charged and fined. Perhaps removed from Grenada. If they display this simplest lack if respect upon entry, what are they capable of at a later time.
We need the names of the establishments those people were visiting. Not to blame anyone, but to make sure we haven’t been exposed to contact wIth this virus. Why it isn’t publish if this is a public interest information? I don’t understand it…
I think that most of us in the diaspora would agree that the government and people of Grenada has done a good job..the disagreement and talking points is that they are now allowing so called tourists with virus to roam everywhere..America has too many cases of the virus and all visitors from that place should be quarantined at a government facility until the results are available. My concern is that these so called tourists will not be punished for their crime.
Dear grenadians. You have a beautiful country and your virus free i.e. deaths Mr Steele is doing a very good job stop slagging him down is keeping your country safe if anything a good job I live in the UK I wish we had Mr steel here because you could do a damn good job better than the UK the medical doctor who came in with his wife should be prosecuted and find very heavily he broke all the rules do you want to be like the UK and America with so many deaths no so please stop pulling your you’re Mr steal down he’s doing a good job anybody who breaks the rules should be fined heavily and prosecuted you’re Mr steal is protecting you all of you in the UK kcs ramping up heavily and America and other countries around the world Grenada is one of the safest countries in the world because of Mr steel and the others who help him to keep your country safe do you want to die or live Mr Steele good on you keeping your country safe if my hat comes off to you I wish you were in the UK to keep our country safe
And with the doctor the medical doctor and his wife if should be fined very heavily because they broke the rules of your country about this virus and and anybody else who breaks the rules should be prosecuted heavily do you want to be like the UK and America and the rest of the world 4 people breaking the rules the medical doctor should know better and his wife and everyone who breaks the rules do you want your country re4 a virus s&p people will die why no no people of the world people of Grenada stick by the rules quarantine keep your mask on and sanitize your hands at all times because this virus is deadly I know so from experience people I know no have died of this virus do you want your family li4 friends to die why no no Mr steal is keeping your country safe Mr Steele and government congratulations to keep in your country safe good job and god bless you all a people of Grenada your man is doing a good job I wish we had him over here in the UK nobody’s perfect but he’s doing a good job but do you want your country to be like the rest of the world if the answer is yes then send Mrs steel over to the UK if no no keep him let him do his job and praise him because he’s keeping you all all safe if god bless you all and god bless Grenada
Dear Grenadians stop pulling down Mr Steele because he is doing a very good job I live in the UK if we had Mr steal advising the UK government we wouldn’t be in this place as we are now Mr Steele is doing a very very good job keeping you you all safe if and well and keeping your country one of the best safe countries in the world so stop slagging him down and thank you and his government or your government for doing a damn good job in the UK the virus is ramping up so bad people are dying left right and centre because the UK government I’m not listening but your you’re the moment and medical advisors ie Mr Steele he’s doing a very good job so stop slagging him down he is keeping all you safe and well I wish we had him here in the UK he’s doing a very good job and all the government and nurses and doctors the police and everyone else is doing a good job to keep you all safe from this virus so stop slagging him down and stop slagging your country down you are one of the safest countries in the world and I wish I was living in Grenada because it is one of the safest in the world no one’s perfect but your government and Mr steel and all the others are doing a damn good job to keep you all safe if I am glad he’s doing that because Grenada is one of the beautifulest countries in the world and the people are so nice keep it up Mr steal and all the others with you as I said I live in the UK do you want your countries be like the UK and other countries around the world no no so please give it credit tune Mr Steele is doing a damn good job