THE NEW TODAY has received reliable information that at least one worker at the St. George’s General Hospital has tested positive for Covid-19.
A well-placed source said that the worker is attached to the Laboratory Department of the hospital that is responsible for testing persons for the deadly virus.
A family member of a doctor working at the hospital confirmed that the relative informed him that “a worker at the lab tested positive” for Covid.
He indicated that he had been in close contact with the doctor and took the decision to go into isolation.
“Everyone in my household will have to be tested. Goes without saying I am in self-isolation…,” he said.
Health Minister Nickolas Steele did not respond to a question posed to him by THE NEW TODAY via WhatsApp on the information received about a positive case in a key area of the island’s major hospital.
The question sent was the following: “Mr. Minister, we at THE NEW TODAY have received information that a worker at the lab at the hospital has tested positive for Covid-19. Can you confirm or deny?”
There are also reports that one barrister-at-law in the city has reportedly tested positive for Covid-19.
The lawyer is said to be from the St George North-west constituency of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell.
The Ministry of Health has now confirmed that Grenada’s COVID-19 count increased by a record 35 new cases at 4.30 p.m. Wednesday with the Ministry of Health continuing its aggressive contact tracing and testing efforts in the wake of what it said was “clusters” being identified among residents.
The health authorities appear reluctant to concede that the sharp increase in the number of Covid-19 cases on the island in recent weeks had reached the level of Community Spread of the virus.
The new cases bring to 265, the total number of cases recorded in Grenada since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. All but one of the new cases are among persons with no recent travel history.
The Ministry of Health release said: “Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shawn Charles explained that the rapid rise in case numbers is not unexpected as scientific data shows that cases will start off small, explode, and then decrease”.
“Dr. Charles said now, more than ever, it is important for the population to continue following the recommended protocols”.
“He said, “Although the numbers are rising, we still have an opportunity to manage the number of additional cases we record, but we can only do that if persons are responsible and follow the recommended protocols. Wear your mask or appropriate face covering in public spaces, avoid mass gatherings and wash or sanitise hands frequently.
“Vaccination is also available as a method of protection and I encourage persons to utilise one of the two options we have here in Grenada. The magnitude of the pandemic has left many health care systems overwhelmed, we do not want to arrive at that point in Grenada, but our actions will determine whether or not that happens.”
“Health officials are still sifting through the data relating to the cases, but there is confirmation of at least one case in the Ministerial Complex. There is also confirmation of a positive case in the agriculture sector and the Ministry of Agriculture has since closed propagation stations in St. Andrew and St. David.
“Health officials are continuing the herculean task of tracing contacts and testing scores of individuals who have been in close proximity with confirmed cases”.