by Linda Straker
- 1,292 local active cases of Covid-19 as at 7 September
- Between 18 August and 7 September over 5,000 individuals vaccinated with first dose
- 12 deaths have occurred within past 10 days
A review of data on the daily Ministry of Health Covid-19 dashboard from 18 August to 7 September 2021, has shown a continuous increase in the number of people declared as medically recovered, and more people who are becoming vaccinated.
On 17 August, Dr Shawn Charles Acting Chief Medical Officer disclosed in the post-cabinet briefing that there has been a significant increase in Covid-19 cases which were connected to various unauthorised mass gathering events such as yard fetes and or house parties that occurred from 8-15 August.
The dashboard issued on 18 August showed that there were 196 cases overall; 178 cases were declared as recovered, and 11 active cases. Almost 3 weeks later the picture is different. There are now 1,613 total positive cases overall with 1,302 total active cases of Covid-19.
Grenada declared community spread of the virus days after the initial announcement of increasing cases. From the 1,302 positive cases on 7 September, there are 1,292 local active cases. The other cases are classified as imported, ie these are people who were discovered at ports of entry.
A closer assessment of the data has shown that during the period under review 100 individuals were declared as recovered, moving from 178 on 18 August, to 298 on 7 September. That same period also shows that over 5,000 individuals became vaccinated with the first dose of either the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine.
On 18 August, the number of individuals vaccinated with the first dose was 22,307 but on 7 September that number jumped to 27,718 – an increase of 5,411. The number of individuals vaccinated with the second dose on 18 August was 17,768 while on 7 September the number increased by 1,790 bringing the total to 19,558.
On 18 August, 53,416 PCR tests were conducted, but on 7 September that number was 62,806 which means that during the period 9,390 PCR tests were conducted. There is no indication as to the number of rapid antigen tests that were conducted, but Health Minister Nickolas Steele said that hundreds of those tests are being done on those who are tested at testing sites.
Hospitalisation of the sick is also increasing. On 18 August only one person was hospitalised but by 7 September, 26 individuals were seeking care at the hospital, and the cumulative hospitalised number was 46. Twelve deaths have occurred within the past 10 days.
More transparency. Better math, if you have 1613 positive cases then you have 1613 active cases. Not 1302 active cases.
Positive & active are two different things. Positive is the total number detected since the virus started. Active is the number who have it now.
Linda,
Thanks for the interesting analysis.
A key date is 23 August, as that is when the Pfizer vaccine became available. Grenada received 29,250 doses that, based on reports, have only a 30 day shelf-life.
In the 16 days since 23 August, the dashboards suggest that 5,004 folks have received their first dose. While this is progress, it also means that if every first dose was a Pfizer shot (which we know isn’t true, but simplifies the discussion), we’re on pace to NOT use at least two-thirds of the Pfizer doses we received, at a time when global access to the vaccine is a major issue.
Rather than debate vaccine hesitancy, my question in this comment is why did we end up with so much vaccine?
The dashboard from the 16th of August to the 23rd showed only a little more than 400 first doses. Surely someone had to sign-off on receiving 29K doses of Pfizer…did no one look at the rate of vaccination and say that we’re really only using a few thousand doses in a month?
On top of everything else, if we end up throwing out more than 20K doses that could have saved lives elsewhere, we should be ashamed and be more realistic in accepting future donations.
Thanks.
SCW
The MOST important thing to do NOW is to go and get your VACCINES . Grenada Health Dept needs to convince the skeptics ! Unvaccinated hve a much bigger probability of serious health issues including death .
All I can say is that the current data is crucial for the government in order to sustain the increase in their citizens taking the vaccine.
Grenada has a culture of hard head folks and if this method of putting the freight of god into them then so be it.
The numbers relating to people taking a PCR test will be distorted because a large number of those are for visitors returning to their home country who need negative PCR as part of their travel documents.
The difference between 298 and 178 is 120
298 – 178 = 120
Thank you for this breakdown, interesting reading. The big piece of information missing, in all reports, is out of the numbers testing positive how many have been vaccinated & how many not vaccinated, in figures & percentages. This would really help to dispel many of the myths people believe as to why they will not get vaccinated. Also a breakdown of any (if any) severe side effects reported from people getting vaccinated, with a population as low as Grenada’s this is very, very likely to remain at zero but again may persuade some, who think the vaccine is dangerous, to take it.
” information missing, in all reports, is out of the numbers testing positive how many have been vaccinated & how many not vaccinated, in figures & percentages”. I understand the point you are attempting to make, but I would like to offer a counterpoint. What is the number of people who die from Covid in the vaccinated vs. unvaccinated population? This is the most important figure. Realistically, the CoVid variants are showing increased rates of infection even in fully vaccinated individuals. This is a very unfortunate reality. The other side of this reality is that individuals who are fully vaccinated (two weeks from the final dose of their vaccine regimen) have a much lower likelihood of death from CoVid and the Delta CoVid variant. This is the point that should be highlighted. If you want to lower your chance of dying from this virus, the vaccine is the best and safest option available.