Grenada: Authorities revise restrictions for international travel September 30 /update 3

Event

On Wednesday, September 30, authorities in Grenada revised international travel restrictions in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The government has introduced a color-coded system to classify foreign countries as low, medium, or high-risk for COVID-19 infection, and travelers will be categorized depending on their point of embarkation or travel history within the previous 14 days prior to arriving.

Individuals from green "low risk" countries will be required to provide a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken within seven days of travel. Travelers will not be required to quarantine. A full list of the low risk countries can be found here. Those arriving from yellow "medium risk" nations will be required to provide a negative PCR test taken within seven days of their arrival, and will be given the COVID-19 Rapid Test upon arrival. Travelers must quarantine for at least four days in a state government facility. Those entering the country from red "high risk" countries must provide a negative PCR test within seven days prior to arrival. Travelers will be re-tested at the airport. Those testing negative on arrival will still be required to quarantine for four days at an accommodation approved by authorities. After four days, travelers will be tested again, and if the result is negative, they will be permitted to travel freely. If travelers test positive in any PCR test taken in Grenada, they will be required to quarantine in a state facility for 14 days. All travelers will also be required to complete a health form and download the country's COVID-19 contact-tracing app prior to arrival.

Individuals arriving from Caribbean nations and territories in the "Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Bubble" have fewer entry restrictions. The CARICOM Bubble includes Barbados, Dominican, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Individuals arriving from these nations will not be required to provide a negative PCR test prior to or upon arrival and will not be required to quarantine.

Individuals are required to wear face masks and comply with social-distancing regulations at all times when outside their homes. Businesses, workplaces, shops, restaurants, facilities, and other establishments have continued operating for several months, following strict guidelines. Authorities continue to encourage businesses to allow employees to work from home where possible. Measures may vary by industry and type of establishment. Restaurants remain required to close from 22:00 (local time). Nightclubs are not yet open. Beaches have reopened and social events with up to 20 guests are permitted. Churches have reopened, though social distancing must continue to be observed.

As of Friday, October 2, there have been 24 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and no associated fatalities in Grenada. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.