The Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) has confirmed its first case of Covid-19 among its ranks.
The Police Force issued the following brief statement Sunday morning on the issue:
“On Thursday 19th August, 2021, an Imani Trainee attached to the Western Division of the RGPF started exhibiting symptoms synonymous with Covid-19. As a result of this, she was tested by health officials and ordered into quarantine. The Division also commenced its response mechanism to curtail the unfolding situation.
“On Saturday 21st August, 2021, confirmation was received from the Ministry of Health of her positive status. Therefore, several persons with whom she was in contact with were ordered to isolate and officials are presently conducting rigorous additional tracing to address this new development”.
Head of the Community Relations Department of RGPF, Superintendent Vannie Curwen was reluctant to answer a number of specific questions sent to him via WhatsApp by THE NEW TODAY on the confirmed case within the force.
The questions sent were: “Does this lady have any travel history? Did she attend any of the super spreader events on the island in recent times? Is she linked to anyone who caught the virus?
In response, Supt Curwen sent the following statement: “We have put out a release. That’s the official position of the force until we answer general questions in a press briefing we are planning for tomorrow so we will seek to answer your questions then after seeking the information.”
On Thursday night, Supt Curwen told THE NEW TODAY that the entire western division of the RGPF was put on high alert after a COVID-19 rapid test of the female worker came up with a positive result.
He said that the Imani who is attached to the Immigration division at the Gouyave Police Station was sent home and was in self-isolation awaiting the result of a PCR test which was expected back by Friday.
According to Supt Curwen, while the four main police stations within the district are not closed to serving the public, all precautions and protocols that are required under the circumstances have been deployed.
He also said that mass testing was ordered for officers attached to the Police Station in Gouyave which is the headquarters for the division.
The small fishing village of Gouyave has emerged as the major hotbed in Grenada for Covid-19 cases.
THE NEW TODAY was told that nine cases of the virus were discovered Saturday on the western side of the island.
Health officials have privately admitted that there is now community spread of the virus in Grenada with the dominant strain being the Delta variant.