A medical doctor and his wife, who arrived in Grenada from the United States on Sunday, 1 November have been laboratory diagnosed by the Ministry of Health as Grenada’s 31st and 32nd cases of Covid-19.
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 4 restaurant facilities in the south of the island.
Health officials immediately moved to isolate the couple upon confirmation of their positive test results. 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 Ministry 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 was notified of the violation, as per the dictates of the Emergency Regulations of Grenada enacted during this ongoing pandemic.
Home quarantine everywhere, while being the internationally accepted practice, has proven to be a less than perfect system. In the last week, understanding the lack of capacity to effectively monitor, test and provide timely test results to everyone who requests to quarantine at home, the Ministry drastically reduced the number of approvals granted. This has created more security in operations, and more efficiency in the testing process.
As in every challenge posed by Covid-19, the Ministry is continuously amending and improving its operations through comprehensive engagements with stakeholders to effectively control, as far as is possible, any potential spread of the virus.
The Ministry’s 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 are 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 — 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.
GIS
It’s really good for us 14 days quarantine
How about deporting them back to the pestilent USA where they should have stayed. Why let them stay in Grenada after such blatant DISRESPECT?!! Especially from people in the medical profession.
Nowhere in the article does it say these people are in the medical profession. Don’t be so quick to judge them as SGU students. Correct me if i am wrong but an SGU student has never broken any quarantine rules after coming into the country.
Again there is a problem with the security at the facilities. Seemingly all those who got out of quarantine did so because of the weakness of the security system protocol of the facilities including. That aspect of security must be tightened. Also that behaviour is not far fetched from some people including those of the same nationality. History proves it repeatedly especially in experiments on nationals from other vulnerable countries.
Ian,
They do sign an agreemant but some believe they are omnipotent and above the law especially if they are aymptomatic. 6 months in prison is not enough
These people are potentially undoing the fruits of months of sacrifice by the entire population and further compromising health, economy and freedom of movement of us all. Arrivals at MBIA should be made to sign an agreement to be bound by the terms of quarantine or else bear the costs of contact tracing and treatment of infected people.
That was a very Good suggestion, Let them cover the cost for being neglectful and putting others at risk !
First, as doctors they should know better. Second, these are the people that make it difficult for veryone else. To my fellow Grenadians overseas if you intend in traveling to the country and unable to follow the rules and regulations do not go! If you cannot resist temptation…do. not go. What you’re doing is making it impossible for everyone else. There are are folks who genuinely want to stay in their home and quarantine…STOP IT!
On point Ann, I couldn’t have said it better. Myself and a group of nationals travelled to Grenada on 22nd July. We Quarentined for 14 days at our own expense. These people have it soooooo much better and yet they choose to be soooooo f-ing selfish; it’s beyond comprehension.
I want to thank Minister Steele Dr Mitchell and crew for doing their best to keep the homeland healthy. Don’t wish I was in their shoes dealing with these egotistic idiots.
Where do you get the idea that these people are doctors? The article clearly states these are two elderly people. Clearly, very unlikely to be medical students.
Very idiotic statement. My opinion.
Why?
Not idiotic at all. Very irresponsible behavior , especially from someone who should know better. If the information is accurate and they actually visited 4 restaurants, they should bear the costs of contact tracing and any resultant healthcare costs due to their thoughtless/reckless conduct!!
Lock them up for breaking the rules & exposing others to the virus. An example should be made of the doctor. Shame on them.