BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - GRENADA is set to see sweeping new curfew measures being implemented as early as tonight (Dec. 21) to combat the spread of the Coronavirus on the island following the initial cluster numbers.
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell is scheduled to give a national address this evening to announce the curfew measures.
“It has become necessary as part of intensified efforts to contain the recently detected cluster of COVID-19 cases, which experienced a further spike Sunday with the confirmation of additional positive cases,” the Government said in a statement.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the decision would come following a discussion with the Cabinet, after which the full scope of the Government’s heightened measures to safeguard the population would be revealed.
The Prime Minister noted that the measures would not include a 24-hour lockdown at this time.
“Daytime operation of businesses, including supermarkets, will continue as normal,” the PM added.
Against that backdrop, an assurance was given that “there is no need for panic buying and creating unnecessarily large gatherings which in turn create the environment for potential exposure to the deadly virus”.
However, “Business owners and managers,” the PM said, “I call on you to firmly implement the required protocols and ensure that customers are wearing their masks appropriately, sanitising upon entry and remaining socially distanced.”
The territory saw an outbreak of the virus after a tourist was believed to spread the virus to a hotel worker, who in turn spread it to a cluster of 26 persons including family and friends.
That cluster spread to a further 28 more persons as hundreds of samples were sent for testing and the results are pending.
Over the weekend, the island confirmed 13 more new active cases bringing the total to 54.
News entity Now Grenada reported that “nine of the new positives were linked to a single household, while a further 12 were connected to the initial cluster”.
