Grenada tightens border control with COVID affected St Vincent
As St Vincent and the Grenadines wrestles with over 600 active COVID-19 cases, Grenada has stepped up its border control of Carriacou, Petite Martinique and the Southern Grenadines to ensure people enter Grenada the right way.
Minister of Health Nickolas Steele says only last week the coastguard had to stop individuals from attempting to enter Grenada’s waters without going directly to a designated port of entry.
Steele says: “Carriacou, Petite Martinique and the Southern Grenadines are treated as one people but in this instance where unfortunately we see our brothers and sisters in St Vincent being tried and tested by COVID we must take additional measures to control travel between borders.”
He says additional coastguard will patrol the area, more wardens have been placed on the ground for widespread testing in Carriacou and desensitisation of the population.
The Minister says while he is aware that individuals make an income from interaction between these islands, a balance must be found.
To date, Grenada has recorded 148 confirmed COVID-19 cases of which 75 were women and 73 were men. There are currently 11 active cases on the island, all of them imported.
The Health Minister says right now judging from what is happening in the region, the threat of COVID to Grenada remains great.
He says for the next two weeks the 10 pm to 5 am curfew will remain in effect.
With some Caribbean islands reporting strains of the COVID-19 variant, it was noted Grenada has so far not recorded any COVID-19 variant; however, five samples have been sent to CARPHA to test for the new variant. Those results are expected in the next two weeks.
These updates were provided during today's Post Cabinet media briefing.
Steele says: “Carriacou, Petite Martinique and the Southern Grenadines are treated as one people but in this instance where unfortunately we see our brothers and sisters in St Vincent being tried and tested by COVID we must take additional measures to control travel between borders.”
He says additional coastguard will patrol the area, more wardens have been placed on the ground for widespread testing in Carriacou and desensitisation of the population.
The Minister says while he is aware that individuals make an income from interaction between these islands, a balance must be found.
To date, Grenada has recorded 148 confirmed COVID-19 cases of which 75 were women and 73 were men. There are currently 11 active cases on the island, all of them imported.
The Health Minister says right now judging from what is happening in the region, the threat of COVID to Grenada remains great.
He says for the next two weeks the 10 pm to 5 am curfew will remain in effect.
With some Caribbean islands reporting strains of the COVID-19 variant, it was noted Grenada has so far not recorded any COVID-19 variant; however, five samples have been sent to CARPHA to test for the new variant. Those results are expected in the next two weeks.
These updates were provided during today's Post Cabinet media briefing.
