Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Shawn Charles, is hopeful that this year will not see the usual emergence of the strain of respiratory illness, commonly referred to as the flu. The emergence usually occurs two weeks after the annual Carnival celebrations.
His comment follows the weekend of clustering and careless behavior in Carnival-like celebrations around the country, mostly Jab Jab, even after the Government cancelled 2020 Spicemas in a bid to avoid mass gatherings.
Noting that the dominant respiratory illness that is in circulation now is COVID-19, Dr Charles said, “So right now, we’re looking in anticipation at what will result from all of those activities that occurred over the past week and half or so.”
He added, “We are hopeful that we do not suffer a (COVID-19) setback as is being experienced in neighboring Trinidad,” the CMO said in a media conference hosted by the Ministry of Health on Monday.
The CMO further stated, “We are just hoping for the best.’’
Over the weekend, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago reverted to locking down certain aspects of the economy to contain the community spread of COVID-19.
Among the measures announced by the recently re-elected Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley are making face masks mandatory, and the prohibition of in-house consumption of food at restaurants, etc.
As of Tuesday, T&T recorded 600 positive COVID-19 cases, 448 of which are active, with 12 COVID-19 related deaths.
Thus, CMO Charles urged the populace to be “responsible in the decisions that they make” and to “return” to the hygiene etiquette of handwashing, as well as wearing mask and physical distancing.
Since Grenada recorded its first COVID-19 case in March, the island recorded 24 confirmed cases. However, to date Grenada remains without any known active COVID-19 cases, according to Dr Charles, who reported that more than 1,600 PCR tests and more than 7,000 rapid tests were done.
Dr Charles appealed to the nation for cooperation in the ongoing fight against the virus saying, “All we are asking persons is to cooperate with us in assisting to protect you.”
