The COVID-19 pandemic in Grenada was part of the viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was confirmed to have reached Grenada on March 22, 2020. Despite lockdowns and social distancing protocols, it appeared to have reached the level of community spread within one month. However, cases continued to decline through May, and by June 18, 2020, the Ministry of Health declared zero active cases — indicating Grenada's efforts were successful in ridding the country of the virus. This situation continued until December 2020, when a small outbreak occurred (including the island's first Covid-related death), associated with the Sandals Resort and a "travel corridor" that did not require guests to be tested for COVID-19. However, this incident notwithstanding, the vast majority of cases in Grenada through August 2021 were those caught during quarantine confinement of incoming travelers. In August 2021, an outbreak of the delta variant resulted in substantial community spread and nearly 200 deaths. By mid-October 2021, however, the outbreak was largely contained and life returned to normal, although a small amount of community spread continued through the rest of 2021.

Background On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll. Like most countries, Grenada had increased screening at the airport in early February and begun sending test samples to CARPHA. At 12am on March 23, the airport was closed to commercial passenger traffic indefinitely, and on June 28 it was announced to remain closed until at least the end of July.

Timeline

Active Cases Since March 2020

Total Deaths Since March 2020 (officially confirmed as COVID-19)

Active Cases Prior to August 2021

Mid-2021 Surge In Detail (Active Cases)

Mid-2021 Surge In Detail (Daily Deaths)

March to April 2020 March 22—The country's first case ("Patient Zero") was announced, a 50-year-old female patient who returned from the United Kingdom on March 16 and subsequently became sick on March 17, and was officially diagnosed on March 21. At 11:59pm, the airport was shut-down, indefinitely. March 25—Six more cases announced (5 female, 1 male, ages 50–80), all from Patient Zero's household. The government institutes policy of restricted movement and nightly curfew. March 28—Two more cases announced (2 female, ages 50–80), one sat nearby Patient Zero on the March 16 flight; another had relatives visiting from New York City, arrived March 17. The one who sat near Patient Zero on the March 16 flight was a 50-year-old male who became symptomatic on March 26, was tested in Grenada and told to self-quarantine while awaiting the results. Instead, he fled with his family via an Air Canada flight en route back to the UK before the test results were returned (which were a positive diagnosis). March 29—Government announces 24-hour curfew for one week April 1— One new case announced—a 58-year-old male who arrived on a flight from New York City on March 19 April 3— Two new cases announced. One was a 73-year-old male whose spouse had been diagnosed and announced on March 28 (sat near Patient Zero on the March 16 flight from the UK); the other patient was a taxi driver who had interacted with a previously diagnosed patient April 5— The Queen of Grenada addressed the Commonwealth in a televised broadcast, in which she asked people to "take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return". She added, "we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again". April 6— Government renews curfew/lockdown for another two weeks (through April 20). Tests are now being done at St. George's University. April 10— Two cases announced, all from households of previous cases (total= 14 positive, 92 tests in total). April 18— Government extended the 24-hour curfew for an additional week (through April 27), although with increased exceptions during designated "shopping" days and expectation of relaxing the curfew after this final curfew period. April 20— Case #15: First potential case of community spread announced by Minister Nickolas Steele, in which an individual had been admitted to the General Hospital and tested positive on the rapid (antibody) test (confirmed via PCR on 22-April as Case #15). The 45 year-old-man initially tested negative via the rapid test, then positive in a subsequent test later on. Several samples were then tested via PCR on island (at St. George's University) and via CARPHA, the results of which were indeed positive. April 25— Three new cases were announced, two from the workplace of Case #15 and one unrelated. The two workers (male, ages 62 an 59) were found through contact-tracing. The third case was a 50-year-old female that had arrived on-island on March 16, subsequently self-quarantined, and then requested a test on her own initiative, despite not exhibiting any symptoms. This 18th case has raised suspicion as to whether it was actually import-related (38 days after having arrived) or whether she acquired it in Grenada. Two of her roommates also tested positive for antibodies, suggesting they had the virus previously and since recovered. These additional cases were not added to the official case tally. April 28— One new case announced (another workplace colleague of Case #15); additionally, 3 new cases recovered (totaling 10 recovered now, 8 active, 1 off-island). April 29— 20th case announced (a 54-year-old female relative of one of the previous workplace cases), along with 3 recoveries of previous cases. This marks five workers testing positive from the Caribbean Agro flour factory in Tempe, St. George's.

May to August 2020 May 2— Case #21 announced, another one from the Tempe factory (related to Case #15), this time a male in his early 20s—the youngest patient yet, and one who was asymptomatic and initially tested negative (two rapid tests are typically given over a few days and this individual tested positive on the second time and then positive with a subsequent PCR test). May 10— with no additional cases, government announced a relaxation of the curfew and semi-regular business operations starting Monday, May 11. May 15— Grenada recorded its 22nd positive COVID-19 patient - an asymptomatic 8-year-old female (the youngest case yet), also related to case #15. May 25— A returned cruise-ship worker who had been quarantined upon repatriation on May 24 tested positive. Since the case had been quarantined upon arrival, it did not change current reopening efforts, but Minister Steele warned that cases like this will continue as the country opens up, so the main focus is on identifying and containing it each time. June 17— Eight repatriated cruise ship workers tested positive on the antibody test but not PCR. Nonetheless, as with May 25 case, the government appears unwilling to include positive repatriated cases in the country's official tally. June 18— With no new (local) cases reported in June, those previously diagnosed continued to recover, eventually testing negative on two PCR tests, spaced one week apart. On June 18, the Ministry of Health declared there were no active cases remaining in Grenada, as indicated by their continued testing regime. June 28— It was announced that the airport will remain closed until at least the end of July.

September to December 2020 As on 19 September, Grenada was Covid free. Total number of cases was 24, all of them recovered. As on 4 October, Grenada was Covid free. Total number of cases was 24, all of them recovered. As on 14 October, total number of cases was 25, with 1 active case and the rest recovered. As on 20 October, total number of cases was 27, with 3 active cases and the rest recovered. As on 28 October, total number of cases was 28, with 4 active cases and 24 have recovered. As on 8 November, total number of cases in Grenada was 32, with 5 active cases and 27 recoveries. As on 16 November, total number of cases in Grenada was 33, with 4 active cases and 29 cures. As on 23 November, total number of cases was 41, with 11 active cases and 30 cures. As on 5 December, total number of cases in Grenada was 41, with 2 active cases and 39 recoveries. As on 8 December, total number of cases in Grenada was 43, with 2 active cases and 41 cures. As on 13 December, total number of cases in Grenada was 69, with 28 active cases and 41 have recovered. As on 14 December, total number of cases in Grenada was 85, with 41 active cases and 44 recoveries. As on 15 December, total number of cases was 94, with 41 active cases and 53 cures. The surge in cases appeared to originate from guests staying at the Sandals Grenada resort that infected workers, who then spread the virus throughout the south of the island. Sandals was apparently part of a special "corridor" program that did not require guests to be tested for COVID-19, so long as they stayed on the resort grounds. As on 20 December, total number of cases was 103, with 49 active cases and 54 cures. As on 21 December, total number of cases was 105, with 49 active cases and 56 cures. As on 27 December, total number of cases was 124, with 46 active cases and 78 cures. As on 30 December, total number of cases was 127, with 20 active cases and 107 cures.

January to April 2021 As on 6 January, total number of cases in Grenada was 127, with 19 active cases, 107 recoveries. 1 person died from the virus. As on 12 January, total number of cases was 132, with 8 active cases, 123 recoveries and 1 person died from the virus. As on 18 January, total number of cases was 139, with 9 active cases, 129 recoveries and 1 death. As on 25 January, total number of cases was 148, with 12 active cases, 135 recoveries and 1 death. As on 28 January, total number of cases was 148, with 11 active cases, 136 cures and 1 death. As on 1 February, total number of cases was 148, with 5 active cases, 142 cures and 1 death. As on 7 February, total number of cases was 148, with 1 active cases, 146 recoveries and 1 death. As on 23 February, total number of cases was 148. There isn't any active case, 1 person died and rest 147 have recovered. As on 6 March, total number of cases remains 148. There isn't any active case, 1 person died and rest 147 have recovered. As on 22 March, total number of cases was 154, including 1 active cases, 151 recoveries and 2 deaths. As on 29 March, total number of cases was 155, including 1 active cases, 152 recoveries and 2 deaths. No new case was reported in Grenada for more than 2 weeks now. As on 11 April, total number of cases was 155, including 1 active cases, 152 recoveries and 2 deaths.

May to August 2021 As of 1 May, total number of cases in Grenada was 160, with 1 active case, 158 recoveries and 1 death. As of 12 May, total number of cases in Grenada was 161, with no active case, 160 recoveries and 1 death. As of 30 June, total number of cases in Grenada was 162, with 1 active case, 161 recoveries and 1 death. As of 13 July, total number of cases in Grenada was 162, with no active case, 161 recoveries and 1 death. As of 30 August, total number of cases in Grenada was 357, with 164 active case, 192 recoveries and 1 death.

September to October 2021 (major outbreak) As of 2 September, total confirmed cases in Grenada were 817, with 124 imported cases, 599 active cases, 214 recovered cases and 4 deaths. Out of 599 active cases, 9 were active imported cases and 590 were active local cases.Government of Grenada, Ministry of Health