September 2, 2020 – (Update to March 31 post)
Five months since I first wrote this post, we are still in Grenada. Ice Floe is on the hard in Clark’s Court Marina for hurricane season and we will resume sailing in November. What began as the prolongation of our time in Grenada due to the airport closure, evolved into a decision to stay in a country where as George often comments “The Grenadian Prime Minister cares more about our health than our President does.” We are living in a small apartment overlooking BBC Beach in Morne Rouge.
The view of BBC beach from our apartment porch in Morne Rouge
To date, Grenada has confirmed a total of 24 cases and ably managed a limited outbreak of community spread infections through extensive contact tracing and quarantining. There have been no deaths and are no known active cases. Children are back to school, and most businesses are open and the amazingly efficient bus system is back in full service. Large gatherings are still prohibited and the Grenadian Carnival and Emancipation Holiday were canceled to reduce the chance of infractions.
Masks must be worn before entering businesses. Upon entering, your temperature is often taken and hand sanitizer applied. In restaurants, your name, phone number, and time arriving is recorded for contract tracing purposes. International traffic to the island remains highly restricted. We may hear some grumbling from time to time, but we have not witnessed a single instance of disrespectful behavior, let alone violence. Adherence to these restrictions is very good – Grenada remains armed should Covid 19 return.
Sadly, in the United States, the pandemic rages on. Our President applauds his success when the average daily number of deaths declines to 1000, and daily new infections drop to 40,000. He continues to contradict the world’s leading experts on infectious diseases and the simple numbers a young child can understand.
Over six million people have been infected in the United States and 189,504 died from Covid 19 infections as of the instant I am writing these words https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/ . Grave concerns about serious, long-standing, health issues in those who have survived the infection are continually being discovered. Our president offers, in an effort to minimize the tragic loss of life, “Half of the people who died were in nursing homes”, recommends less testing so we will have fewer confirmed infections, and threatens to take health insurance away from millions.
We plan to return to the United States in early spring of 2021. At that time we expect to have President Biden shepherding our once great country through its recovery from the enormous damage wrought by the morally corrupt, deceitful, and self serving actions taken by Trump.
Until then, we remain grateful to Grenada leadership and Grenadians for the safe haven and hospitality they have afforded to us.
Original Post -March 31, 2020
Choosing to Quarantine in Grenada
As the inevitable invasion of Covid-19 infections reached the Caribbean islands, many cruisers raced to find a way to get back to their motherland. My husband and I, having closely followed the news concerning Covidi-19 outbreaks in much of the world, elected to self-quarantine on our sailboat, anchored off a small, uninhabited, breathtakingly beautiful island in Grenada.
We reasoned that a trip back to the US would require flying to JFK airport in New York and our coming in proximity with many hundreds of people from all over the world. We would be putting ourselves at risk, as well as, potentially adding demand on already over-burdened health care professionals with insufficient resources
Can we save ourselves?
The magnitude of this tragedy today, is difficult to take in. Near-term certainties of what lies ahead, should we fail to slow the progression of infections, will forever damn humanity for our short-sighted, selfish, and shallow priorities.
Tomorrow (April Fool’s Day), the number of deaths in the United States will exceed those in China. Tomorrow, the deaths in Italy will exceed 12,000, with no hint of an inflection in the curve to suggest it will not continue to increase until exhausted by Italy’s vulnerable population.
Tomorrow (April Fool’s Day), the number of deaths in the United States will exceed those in China. Tomorrow, the deaths in Italy will exceed 12,000, with no hint of an inflection in the curve to suggest it will not continue to increase until exhausted by Italy’s vulnerable population.
And yet, leadership across much of the world, points fingers, debates, and seeks to secure some personal or political advantage; none more-so than in the United States.
What true leadership looks like
Presently, confined to our sailboat, in the relatively speaking tiny island nation of Grenada, we have had the opportunity to observe and remember how exemplary leadership can guide a nation through a crisis. Grenada’s leaders have taken swift, decisive action, given unequivocal direction, spoken the truth, and conveyed empathy.
Before a single infection was confirmed in Grenada, increasingly more stringent directives, principally directed at reducing the immigration of potentially infected foreigners, were enacted. The following are those relevant to cruisers, like ourselves.
18 – March. Ports of entry to Grenada reduced to two and health check and travel history taken prior to possibility of check in.
19 – March (12:00am). Foreign vessels checking into Grenada must fly a quarantine flag and all passengers be quarantined on their vessel for 14 days
20 – March. Persons on board foreign vessels in Grenada cannot set foot on land
21 – March (11:59pm) Grenada closed to any foreign vessels not already cleared in
- The first infection (an individual returning from the UK) tests positive.
22 – March. Grenada’s main airport, Maurice Bishop International Airport closed to commercial traffic
The announcement that those on foreign vessels could not set foot on land, was simultaneously accompanied by hand delivered details of how our need for resources (food, water, fuel, et al) would be met. This service has been faithfully provided at no cost. We feel much indebted to the Grenadian Prime Minister Dr. Right Honorable Keith Mitchell and Minister for Health Honorable Nickolas Steele and all Grenadians for continuing to provide us with safe haven and necessities.
Since the first individual in Grenada with a confirmed Covid-19 infection was identified on March 21, eight additional individuals are known to have been infected. All have ties to patient zero and we can only hope the infection has been contained. In addition, a Limited State of Emergency was put in place, curfews were established and the need for social distancing, hand washing, not touching your face and remaining at home whenever possible was repeatedly emphasized.
Grenada’s Leadership not afraid to take unpopular decisions
March 30th, a written announcement from Grenada’s Minister of Health, the Honorable Nickolas Steele included the following excerpts.
“Sadly, many have not heard us. Many have ignored us.”
“In this regard, therefore, a mandatory curfew will be imposed beginning from 7:00 pm on Monday, March 30th, 2020, and ending 7:00 pm on the 6th day of April 2020.
During this period, every person shall remain confined to their place of residence (inclusive of their yard space), to avoid contact outside of their household; except as provided in the Regulations or as may be authorized in writing by the Commissioner of Police.”
Strict guidelines for the procurement of food were established.
“Shops which sell groceries, grocery stores and supermarkets in each Parish shall be open for business between 8am and 12 noon on select days specified by the Commissioner of Police.”
“One Person from each household shall be allowed to leave their residence once during a grocery day to attend shops which sell groceries…..in their own Parish”
All other places of business including restaurants and gas stations will be closed.
Strict guidelines for personal vehicles and busses were clearly spelled out.
Lastly, in my opinion, the most powerful and persuasive message issued from the Minister of Health, when addressing the nation live today was the following.
“Do not leave your house unless it is a food or medical emergency and you will have done your part to keep your household safe and your nation safe.”
Judging from the comments left by Grenadians following the publication of these directives, there is widespread support, despite the hardships imposed.
That is what True Leadership can accomplish!
Go With The Floe 
How very interesting after reading all of your rule following blog to see you openly disobeying Grenada's Health and Police ban on inter island travel by sailing from Sandy Island in Carriacou to Port Louus Marine in Grenada on the afternoon of April 21, 2020. If you're going to break Grenadian COVID 19 Health Ministry regulations, then turn off your AIS!
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We traveled from Carriacou to the main island of Grenada due to a near-complete failure of our batteries. When we arrived in Port St. Louis, we checked in with Immigration and Customs and they considered it an emergency repair. After the new batteries were installed we asked for and were granted permission to return to Sandy Island, Carriacou and we did so on April 24th.
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Glad you got your batteries replaced. Still scratching our heads wondering why Grenada Customs & Immi would make an exception and allow you to travel back to Carriacou, contrary to the current Health Ministry ban on inter island travel. Carriacou reports zero COVID 19 cases to date, April 26th. Should you haul anchor again from Sandy Island to travel to mainland Carriacou ( or Grenada) for provisioning, or even deal with suppliers coming out to your remote location, it will constitute an unacceptable risk to the population of Carriacou and other foreign yacht crew.Since you've now switched off your AIS signal you and your crew will be completely on the honour system for the balance of this travel ban.
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Whilst it is understsndable why a yacht would be given permission by the coastguard (not customs and immigration they do not control interisland travel) to move to grenada for an emergency it is bewildering as to why the coastguard would let you sail back. I am asking the authorities that question at the moment. Either way your actions are irresponsible. You have a dog I assume you are taking ashore and will need to get shopping. There is no covid on carriacou but there is community transmission in grenada. What exactly was the urgent need to return to carriacou, placing the whole island at risk? At least have the good sense to quarantine yourself for 2 weeks and not go ashore. One of the cases in grenada was totally asymptiomatic. You could be carrying it!!
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