by Linda Straker
- Dozens of people will be placed in quarantine due to Covid-19 cases 31 and 32
- Covid-19 cases 31 and 32 transferred to state-approved isolation
- People guilty of violating quarantine regulations subject to EC$10,000 fine or 6 months in prison
Based on the log registry of people entering and using the services offered at restaurants visited by Grenada’s latest laboratory confirmed Covid-19 cases, dozens of people will be placed in quarantine and be tested for the disease which has infected and caused the death of millions globally.
“They include staff at restaurants,” Health Minister Nickolas Steele confirmed on Monday, 9 November 2020, hours after the Ministry of Health publicly disclosed through a news release disseminated by the Government Information Service (GIS) confirmed that Grenada’s cases have increased to 32.
The contact tracing team is currently tabulating the people who were directly and indirectly exposed through the new cases.
“A medical doctor and his wife, who arrived in Grenada from the United States on Sunday, November 1st has been laboratory diagnosed by the Ministry of Health as Grenada’s 31st and 32nd cases of Covid-19,” said the news release.
“The two individuals, ages 65 and 53, were approved for home quarantine, and received their PCR tests on Thursday, 5 November, as per the protocols of Grenada. While awaiting their results, the individuals left their home and visited four restaurant facilities in the South of the Island,” the release said.
Without confirming if the individuals are asymptomatic or displaying symptoms, the release said that health officials immediately moved to isolate the couple upon confirmation of their positive test results and the relevant steps for following through were enforced.
“The restaurants were immediately informed, and the contact tracing team was also instantly engaged to source and quarantine all potential contacts of the couple. The restaurant managers have provided the logs that they are required to keep of all guests, and those have proven crucial in the tracking process.” The release reassures the public that every effort is employed to find and isolate anyone who may have been exposed.
The two individuals have been transferred to state-approved isolation and are being actively monitored. The Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) was notified of the violation, as per the dictates of the Emergency Regulations of Grenada enacted during this ongoing pandemic.
The Quarantine (Covid-19) regulations provide for individuals who are guilty of violating the quarantine regulations to a fine of EC$10,000 or 6 months in prison. To date, 3 people have been charged and one was fined EC$3,000 to be paid forthwith. The other two are awaiting trial in the magistrate’s court.
The Ministry said its ongoing responsibilities are to advance mechanisms to guard the borders, quarantine, monitor, test and trace, and to continue to educate the public on all things related to Covid-19, but the public’s assistance in all these areas is pivotal for success.
“As always, the Ministry of Health underscores the importance of personal responsibility in containing this disease. Individuals must take ownership of their health and that of others by being mindful of their actions — practising good hygiene, maintaining physical distancing of at least 6 feet, wearing a mask in public, and adhering to all the protocols mandated for the preservation of health and safety,” the release said.
Send them back immediately and ban them. Totally selfish.
Do three things: FINE them, JAIL them and KICK THEM OUT of our island. Don’t need to say anything more!
No I don’t know which restaurants they visited but I know that some from Vendome has been told to self isolate with her children..these two so called tourists should be fined and jailed as soon as possible.. none of my relatives better not get the virus because they will pay money to a charity for the rest of their lives.. American tourists more like Trumpie criminals. Keith you better jail them as soon as possible..please no more home quarantine.
I believe the restaurants visited by these perpetrators were calabash, aquarium, junction and aziz. Don’t know the last two.
Does anyone know which restaurants were involved? If the health ministry is doing contact tracing, why wouldn’t they release the names of the restaurants? I would want to know so you see if I had gone there
Those people should be made to pay for all the tests needed for those who have to quarantine as a result of their irresponsible behaviour. They should also have to pay any medical bills for anyone who gets Covid-19 as a result of being in contact with that doctor and his wife. And pay the restaurant staff their wages instead of the restaurant paying their wages. And if the restaurant loses money as a result of having to close because their staff are in quarantine – they should be made to compensate them. And on top of that, they should have to pay the full EC$10,000. fine.
Where is the outrage in this instance as was the case with number 25? Because they’re doctors, they’re considered elitist and not subject to the same consequences. What’s the reason for the bias? This is an obvious example of inequity.
There was so much hoopla associated with case number 25.. he was shamed, ridiculed and experienced such wrath from Grenadians. Where is the wrath and shaming in this instance?
The hypocrisy is so blatant it’s appalling.
Which restaurants in Grenada keep logs ? Like seriously? I’ve been to most of them and no information was requested of me ever. That’s BS and let’s call it what it is .
This is a distraction, to shift our focus away from the obvious bias and preferential treatment.
Being they’re doctors, they need to be held even more responsible.
Oh yes they do. Visit Umbrellas, get your temperature taken and your name and phone number registered in the notebook on EVERY visit.
Not all the restaurants involved have a log book so how the Government will reach those persons who were in the restaurants and exposed to these irresponsible persons? Also there are several persons who signed books and have not been called; some of them are self-isolating. But what about those who don’t know they were exposed? How we could assure the Ministry of health is covering all the gaps?
All restaurants had to be inspected BEFORE they reopened. They also should be fined if they haven’t been keeping log books as required. Contact tracing is essential.
I’ll fine them the maximum and give them the 6 mths in prison! Everyone knows by now what the penalty is for violating quarantine! 7 days to stay quarantined isn’t that bad when you know you are safe guarding and protecting a small island from a deadly virus! It used to be 14 days, now it’s less and they’re playing with people’s lives! Shame on them and doctors at that!
We all know that quarantine should be 14 days and not anything less. Why this sucking up and shortening the length of time that it takes symptoms to appear? Yes fine them, don’t care what the hell their job is and if they are Doctors fine them even more as they should know better. Enough of this farce. Hire security guards to check on people in the Government facilities. I spent my 14 days quarantine and was checked on frequently. One of my oldest, dearest friends died of Covid, It is not joke. Maybe Grenada needs a few deaths to wake up the population to the seriousness of quarantine, wearing masks and distancing. You become complacent when the worst hasn’t happened yet. Have your heart broken with the death of a loved one and doing what is necessary to stop the virus and stay alive becomes a privilege and not something to complain about.
I hope there is a class lawsuit for the restaurant staff to claim compensation from the couple who endangered their – and our – lives.
Great kudos to the contact tracers. We all owe them so much.