Minister Steele: Expect a second wave of COVID-19

As Grenada declares success in riding through the first wave of COVID-19, citizens are urged to prepare for a second wave as the ports of entry will soon be re-opened.
“…we have achieved a significant milestone, in that, three of our remaining active COVID-19 cases are now medically cleared, which means that Grenada is now down to one active case of COVID-19,” announced Minister of Health, Hon Nickolas Steele, last Friday (June 05, 2020).
He added, “But…this battle isn’t yet won, and we cannot become complacent. We cannot drop our guard. We have seen from world examples, how unpredictable this disease is, and how, just when it’s believed to be under control, it can resurface, and again pose significant challenges for our health system.”
Minister Steele continued, “…we must, by no means, believe that the worst is over. We must prepare for a second wave, especially as we gradually open up our borders to safeguard our economy. We must expect to see further cases here on island, and we must prepare for such an eventuality. For this reason, we have actively been building capacity within our health system in the last few months. While we will never be fully ready to meet the demands of an outbreak, in fact, no country will be–we are much better positioned in terms of our processes, to be able to successfully fight this disease.”
He reported that the Ministry continues to procure more equipment, such as Tests and Personal Protective Equipment and continues to strengthen its contact tracing efforts by building capacity and ensuring rigorous training. Also, he said the Ministry continues to improve monitoring and quarantine procedures.
Noting that a significant proportion of the population is following the protocols to help contain the spread of COVID-19, Hon Steele urged those not yet compliant “to please do so, now more than ever, so that we can eventually live and thrive in this new normal. Wear your masks when out in public; wash your hands frequently with soap and water; and above all, practice physical distancing of at least six feet.”
In reference to our cultural norms he said, “Physical distancing [maybe] difficult, but it is necessary in preventing the contraction of the disease, and in saving lives. We know that wearing masks in public is unnatural and uncomfortable, but that is crucial in limiting the spread of the disease and saving lives.”
The Health Minister boasts that Grenada “proudly joins the ranks of nations that have beat the first wave of this COVID-19 threat. There will be a second.”
He warns against letting our guard down.