Sick with COVID? Know when to go to the hospital

 

There is a concern that patients passing away from COVID-19 at the hospital may have taken too long to arrive for advanced care – perhaps due to fear.

 

During a recent post-cabinet briefing, Dr. Tyhiesia Donald - (Ag.) Director of Medical Services stated, “A lot of our cases that are coming in and passing away within 24-48 hours, they were ill at home for at least one to two weeks. So, we just want to appeal to you to seek care.” This suggests the public may be unaware of what severe symptoms look like.

 

Due to this comment, Central Health – Grenada sought to get two questions answered:

1. At what point is at-home care not enough?
2. What symptoms, signs, or indications would indicate a person is entering a stage of distress?

 

Dr. L. N Amechi, Managing Director and Resident Physician of St. Augustine Medical Services, provided answers to those questions and more during another installment of COVID-19 & Those Most at Risk. 

Within the interview, the medical doctor unpacked the range of severe symptoms a person should not endure at home. He also candidly stated that there is an irrational fear associated with going to the hospital and thus encourages the public to look at the recovery numbers, ”There are many people who have been admitted, who are being discharged. Look at the figures. There are a lot more people who are surviving and coming home than are dying. And the people who get their early are ones who stand a better change or walking out of hospital.” 

 

To view the interview with Central Health – Grenada and Dr. L. N. Amechi  - click here.

Central Health – Grenada is a grassroots initiative. Its purpose is to educate nationals about chronic non-communicable diseases. As Covid-19 has devastating effects on persons with pre-existing conditions, Central Health – Grenada felt it important to highlight its impact on those most at risk.

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Permission is required before re-publishing.

A Wife's Journey: Battling COVID to Save Her Husband

 

Mrs. Helen Batson shared her journey, with Central Health – Grenada, about caring for her spouse who was diagnosed with COVID-19 in April 2020. During that time, the virus was new and raging throughout the world.

Shortly after her husband was instructed to stay at home because he was exposed to the virus at work, he started developing symptoms quickly. Mrs. Batson, who migrated to the USA several years ago, is a former police officer. She utilized every home remedy imaginable to assist her husband. He endured a lengthy raging fever, severe weakness, and an ongoing cough. Following an almost two-week battle, he pulled through.

A Wife's Journey: Battling COVID to Save Her Husband is another installment of Central Health- Grenada’s COVID-19 & Those Most at Risk series.

 

To watch Mrs. Batson’s testimony, click here. 

The Silent Danger: Asymptomatic Patients

 

The Silent Danger: Asymptomatic Patients - Dr. Hosten of Fit for Life Medical Services Explains

Click Here

Hefty Sanctions for Non-Compliant Tourists

Written By: Central Health - Grenada

Grenada’s boarders, through a phased process, are opening. A legitimate concern for many would be non-compliant tourists.  Non-compliance in this instance could range from breaking quarantine to not wearing masks. Although, our visitors must be welcomed as they escape to relax and explore our beautiful island,  they must comply with our laws. According to Dr. George Mitchell, head of the National COVID-19 Response Team, via actions through parliament, the current monetary sanctions for non-compliance will increase.

This revelation occurred on Friday July 17, 2020, when Central Health – Grenada interviewed the Coordinator of the National COVID-19 Response Team as part of its online series entitled, COVID-19 & Those Most At Risk. “The sanctions that that have been on the books for many, many years were deemed inadequate. Just not enough to deter persons and so this is going to be brought to Parliament,” said Dr. Mitchell. He went onto say, “I suspect that very early next week the fines surrounding breaking quarantine etcetera will be revised and will be implemented upwards.” 

Grenada has to take steps to move on.  The way our world economics is designed, we have to smartly create a new normal. COVID-19 will be around for a while and so the process of welcoming tourists to our island is part and parcel of the overall process. Having said that, as far as Dr. Mitchell and his team are concerned, if you are coming from what they have deemed as Yellow or Red Zones, meaning that there is active transmissions there, expect to be quarantined for a certain period of time. “Unlike the St. Vincent experience, where people were allowed to go home, and they have their peculiarities about them - that they were allowed to go home, Grenada is not about to take that kind of chance. I’m sorry - no. We are not about to take that kind of chance. If you are coming from an area where there is active transmission, and you want to come and have fun, then your fun of course would be enjoying our beautiful island - but from your secured location.”

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Health outlined its phased approach for opening the Boarders - Low Risk(OECS Countries), Medium(CARICOM, UK, Canada) and High(US or visited the USA 14 days prior to arrival) arrivals would be permitted during different time periods. Our visitors or those returning home, would have to bear additional costs, outside of their airfare, and adhere to strict procedures. In fact, traveling via aircraft requires serious planning. Everyone entering Grenada must have certain things and accept our laws and procedures:

1. Download key forms - https://covid19.gov.gd/required-incoming-passenger-forms/

(a) Incoming Passenger Home Quarantine Application

(b) International Passenger Health Declaration Form (must sign)

2. Negative PCR Test (Yellow Zone - 7 days prior & Red Zone - just before arrival)

3. Prepare to be tested upon arrival (Yellow Zone - rapid test & Red Zone PCR Test)

4. Pay to reserve quarantine location (government approved sites only) - meals not included.

5. Download Grenada's Contract Tracing App

6. If positive upon arrival, expect to cover all costs for retaking tests - first testing is free.

To watch Central Health – Grenada’s interview with Dr. Michell – click here.

For a full recap travel protocols – click here.

A Question of Protection: The Future of COVID-19 Vaccinations for Grenada

Written By: Central Health - Grenada

Vaccinations are important. They help prevent and control the spread of infectious communicable diseases and illnesses. However, numerous news reports have made it clear that once COVID-19 surfaced and spread rapidly around planet earth, causing over 12 million cases and over 500,000 deaths worldwide the race to develop a vaccine took off. Millions and millions of dollars are being invested into developing a vaccine to control the spread of COVID-19, even while the virus mutates. Notwithstanding, part of the process for verifying the effectiveness of vaccinations is to encourage humans to enroll in clinical trials. These facts raise two questions:

1.    What measures have been put in place to protect Grenadians from becoming ‘guinea pigs’ in an ill-intentioned scientists or individuals’ clinical trial?

2.     What reassurances will nationals be given regarding the source of the COVID-19 vaccination supplied to our region – considering our genetic makeup may be different from those tested?

As part of an ongoing online series entitled, “COVID-19 & Those Most at Risk,” Central Health – Grenada interviewed, public health practitioner E. Francis Martin (DR), MD., MPH., on the aforementioned concerns. 

Whereas Dr. Martin acknowledged that the vaccination protocol and schedule used in Grenada is guided by the technical support of PAHO/WHO, he made it very clear that currently there is an absence of legislation that deals with the protection of human sampling. “There is a concern for the region, in a sense that our small islands -  we don’t have strong legislation that speaks to the use of human sampling or use of human subjects for research purposes. So, I will make a blanket statement to say that because we have weak legislation for human sampling, a company can request to use the Caribbean as human subjects. It would be left up to the national governments and the public health and ministries to make a final decision on it,” said Dr. Martin

When asked by the Founder of Central Health – Grenada, Roslyn A. Douglas, MA, DTM whether Grenadians should have concerns about the source of the vaccine, Dr. Martin legitimized the question, stating that medications that work well for persons with one genetic makeup may not work well for another, “It is true that if your genetic sequencing puts you in a different gene pool, a vaccine that works in “A-area geographically,’ may not necessarily work in “B – geographical area.”

To watch the entire 10 minute interview segment visit Central Health – Grenada’s YouTube Channel – click here. 

For permission to publish this article email: centralhealthgnd@hotmail.com 

Opening Businesses & Borders: Here are some questions

By: Central Health - Grenada

Candid questions regarding the opening of businesses and borders can be found below.

The scientific terms are symptomatic, pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic. In layman’s terms, these are three ways a person can become infected from someone with COVID-19.  As piecemeal permission is being granted for the re-opening of businesses and eventually our borders, Grenadians really need to exercise caution. We do not have the all-clear for normalcy – not by a long shot. The fact remains, COVID-19 has killed more people globally in a shorter span of time than the flu. The main reasons are differences in incubation period, modes of transmission, rapid deaths, and plenty of unknowns due to insufficient time to study the virus.

Three ways get COVID-19: Without taking the necessary precautions, such as  wearing protective gear, hand washing, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, avoid touching one’s face with unclean hands and exercising physical distancing (6 feet), you can get the virus through contact with the following persons:

1. Symptomatic: You can contract the virus from someone exhibiting symptoms. 
2. Pre-Symptomatic: You can also get it from an infected person, which according to the World Health Organization (WHO) says the time between a person is exposed and when they first exhibit symptoms. 
3. Asymptomatic: You can also get it from someone who has it and is not showing any symptoms at all.

The problem with the latter, there has not been enough time to research how long they remain asymptomatic. So, for this mode of transmission we are truly operating blindly.

Johns Hopkins University & Medicine’s Coronavirus Resource Center reported that as of May 24, 2020 there have been 345, 036 global deaths caused by COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 290,000 to 650,000 people die of flu-related causes every year worldwide. This means from approximately December 2019 to May 2020  - roughly five months, COVID-19’s death record is already at 50%. 

In Grenada, from March until relative recently, everything came to a screeching halt. We needed to slow the opportunities for transmissions, as the health care system could not handle sudden mass illnesses. Who could forget the day Hon. Minister Nicolas Steele blew a complete gasket, when many at the beginning of this saga seemed flippant at the Ministry of Health’s warnings? That evening he sent us all to our rooms for two weeks – in the first instance. A pin could drop in Grenada and someone could hear it.

The strategy worked, although it was tough on many: efforts to balance shopping days; the pushing and shoving; the panic buying; walking with groceries on your back, for those that did not have transportation; and not able to access cash for several weeks. Nationals stuck at sea were eventually permitted to return home, after going through mandatory pre-cautions. You name it we went through the trial, errors and successes while leaning on ‘the science’. Grenadians emerged with zero deaths, to date.  Then, smiles started to fade rapidly because people were suffering economic hardship. For many their mantra is, “If I do not work, I cannot eat.” The fact is, no nation can remain cut off from the world indefinitely, but opening our borders means people are potentially bringing their germs and viruses with them.

As the nation attempts to take baby steps forward, some questions arise.

1.     What will be the screening process for travelers entering and leaving Grenada?

2.     What plans are in place to protect Grenadians from being used as guinea pigs for vaccine clinical trials?

3.     After borders are opened and should a second wave of cases hit our shores:

a.     Will the shutdown measures be repeated?

b.     What will be the phases?

4.     St. George’s University(SGU) says they will release a statement, however:

a.     What will the Grenadian employees be required to do to remain employed – as they interact with the students?

b.     What will the students be required to do, to protect employees?

5.     Outside of SGU:

a.     What measures will be put in place to protect staffers who may lose their jobs after voicing concerns about safety in the workplace?

b.     Can a hotline number be developed for employees to safely report when being forced to work outside of permitted hours, or their jobs being threatened for voicing concerns?

6.     What observations-measures have been put in place to ensure businesses, schools and other entities follow the health and safety regulations?

7.     If parents are uncomfortable returning their child to school:

a.     Will there be consequences for non-compliance?

b.     What systems will be put in place for cramped classrooms?

c.     If a parent chooses to Home School, will that be permitted?

8.     What measures will be put in place to protect teachers from students and vice versa?

9.     Other countries besides China are developing vaccines:

a.     What is the typical process for accepting and issuing vaccines?

b.     How long will it take for the approval process?

c.     Should Grenadians have concerns about the source of the vaccine will that be considered?

d.     Could a Grenadian be given the choice to accept or decline a vaccine based on source?

e.     Will the source of the vaccine be disclosed?

10.  Testing:

a.     Are there plans to test more than 1% of the population?

b.     The tests that are being used, which country sourced them?

11.  Bus drivers:

a.     Will the bus drivers be permitted to adjust their prices during this limited state of emergency?

b.     How will the sanitization of buses be monitored as they enter the terminal after trips?

It will be interesting to see if these questions are addressed. Equally interesting would be to find out what other questions citizens have at this time, and how can they get answers. During press briefings journalists can ask questions, but citizens have questions also.

For permission to publish this article email: centralhealthgnd@hotmail.com 

Should You Get Infected: “Give yourself a fighting chance”

Article By: Central Health - Grenada

Photo By: Gicel Charles

A proponent of eating locally grown foods, Executive Secretary of the Grenada Food & Nutrition Council (GFNC) gave numerous benefits of fruits, vegetables and provisions grown in Grenada that can help boost the immune system namely: Vitamins A, B, C, D and E; plus minerals such as Iron, Zinc, Selenium and Copper; and to get 30 minutes of sunshine a day. 


Recently featured on Central Health – Grenada’s online series entitled, "COVID-19 & Those Most At Risk," Lydia Browne encouraged all citizens of Grenada to  choose healthy food options, especially locally grown, “If you know you have not been eating in accordance with what we have been advising all these years, then you know it is important for you to at least start putting some of these vital nutrients into your body. At least give yourself a fighting chance – should you get infected.”


As the majority continue to comply with the Government of Grenada’s regulations, while we fight to prevent COVID-19 from spreading, citizens must remain confined to their places of residence and yards – except on shopping days.  However, in addition to eating healthy locally grown foods, GFNC also recommends that we get some sunshine, either directly – by sitting in the sun, through starting a kitchen garden or doing yard work  - daily, “Going outside and working in the garden, and doing some yard work is going to be so important even beyond just growing something. When you are taking care of a garden, you are being physically active, and that is also important – at this time.  So, you are getting the physical activity and then you are getting an addition again, you are

Photo By:CH-G

getting the sunshine.”


Regarding life prior to COVID-19 the Executive Secretary went on to say that many were not getting enough exposure to sunshine, “We think we live in the sun our Vitamin D is covered, but how many of us spend 30 minutes in the sun every day? We spend most of our time indoors, in air condition and by the time we leave work in the afternoon the sun is about to go down, or we get into our vehicle, and so we are really not getting that sunshine.” 


To learn about the GFNC recommendations of local foods that can aid in boosting your immune system - click here..

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For permission to use this article email centralhealthgnd@hotmail.com