My name is Shavorn Stephens, an AA 945 passenger who arrived at Argyle International Airport (AIA) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) on July 11, 2020.
In the weeks leading up to my flight, I read studies and scientific reports on traveling during the pandemic, spoke with health officials, and I also checked in frequently with Airline for updates on their safety precautions during the trip. My findings revealed that the air in a plane is constantly turning over, with outside air sucked into the cabin and old air pushed out. Ten to 50% of the air is recirculated runs through a HEPA filter, limiting the distribution of airborne particles. Overall, the air in a plane’s cabin should completely turn over every three minutes. As long as this ventilation system is combined with travellers correctly wearing high-quality masks, and declining to travel if they are at all symptomatic or have had contact with people who are sick, the risk of an outbreak on a plane should be close to zero. The main concern with air travel, then, is less about spreading the virus on the plane than about people spreading the virus once they arrive. With this knowledge and the advisory issued on 17/06/2020 by NEMO on the protocols for the entry of travellers to SVG; I felt confident to proceed a calculated plan of action.
Prior to travelling, I decided it was best to ship ahead my belongings. This way, I knew I could travel with only an overnight bag, avoid contact and navigate quickly and hassle free. I visited a private lab where I was administered tests for the following: PCR Covid-19, IgG and IgM Covid-19 antibody tests. Negative test certificates were issued after 20 hours, well within the required timeframe. With this news, I was finally comfortable enough to return to my family.
I reserved a seat at the front section of the aircraft, checked in online, then arrived at the Miami International Airport wearing a face shield and two N95 masks (according to CDC, this filters at least 95% of airborne particles).; I was also equipped with disposable gloves, sanitisers and Clorox wipes. I maintained the recommended distance while waiting in the departure area, and meticulously followed my plan of action: be the last to embark, wipe my seat, refrain from touching surfaces and my face, sanitising frequently, not using the restroom and being quick to disembark.
I will publicly state that arrival protocols established by the authorities at AIA could have been much more stringent. I believe a lot more could have been done to minimise the possibility of spreading the virus. Although all officials were protected with the recommended PPE, there were no implemented measures for social distancing or sanitisation in the waiting line, screening area and arrival hall.
Meeting all requirements outlined in the advisory, my arrival process moved swiftly through screening, Immigration and Customs; and I received no orders to quarantine. My sole comfort, at that point, was my own vigilance and preparative actions for the trip. Due to this, I was the first passenger to exit the arrival hall, all processed and released within 10 minutes of disembarkation.
Being from the Grenadines, I booked a few nights at a hotel in anticipation of the last leg of my travel home. I checked in with the wonderful nurse stationed at the property who answered all my questions. For peace of mind, I also contacted the COVID-19 Hotline, which advised that I was not seated near any of the infected passengers, and as such, I will still not be required to quarantine.
On July 13, I wore a mask and sat alone in a well-ventilated area of the ferry and made my way home. The following day, I received a call from the COVID-19 medical doctor stationed on the island. I was advised that he has received numerous reports of my return to the island and he required some information, which I willingly shared. I advised him that as an extra precaution, I made a personal decision to self-quarantine for a few days. I also requested a follow up PCR test, which was denied. The doctor reiterated, however, that I do not need to quarantine; he felt confident that I was not exposed during my travels, but added that I should contact him if I begin to feel unwell.
Shortly after my conversation with the COVID-19 medical doctor, I received an unannounced visit by the district nurse who had already entered my property, and the district doctor who remained in the parked vehicle near my gate. Due to her inability to answer my questions, a total disregard to my privacy, and the attempt to perform a home visit without the use of any basic PPE supplies (mask, gloves, face shield), I thought it was best to ask the district medical team to leave the property.
The COVID-19 medical doctor, initially unaware of the visit, later informed me that the District medical team required some information, as they needed to carry out contract tracing and will be visiting every other day to record my temperature. He further stated that due to a lack of resources, PPE is not usually utilised unless a person is suspected of being a positive COVID-19 case. I expressed my frustration to the doctor, since these procedures were clearly contradictory to the official NEMO, Government-issued advisory (see insert below), and he himself appeared to be acting as a ‘messenger’ and was unable justify the new demands.
With this in mind, I informed the COVID-19 medical doctor that the district medical team was not welcomed to visit my home, until I receive an updated advisory from the authorities clearly outlining these new measures. I was released from AIA with permission to live without restriction and arrived at my island with no known exposure and negative results. If my follow-up call was satisfactory to the Covid-19 medical doctor, then it should also be satisfactory to the district clinic. Front line medical workers with no PPE will ultimately put my entire family at risk; assuming these procedures are standard, and all travellers arriving to the island are being attended to similarly. Also, with confirmation that I was not seated close to any of the infected persons, no evidence of being exposed or a positive test result, then there was absolutely no reason for the so-called contact tracing. I don’t think I am wrong to assume that my point of contact should be dedicated solely to the Covid-19 medical doctor stationed on the island, and not directly with the district medical team due to obvious risks involved.
The authorities have stated that I do not need to quarantine due to my negative results, but I decided to undergo a voluntary self-isolation in my private apartment as an additional precautionary measure. I am kindly requesting that persons refrain from creating false stories and spreading propaganda about my situation. Since my return, I have been bombarded by several persons on the island, and attempts have been made to have my family members out of a job. There is no need for the discrimination or isolation towards my family, as this by no means is a hostage situation.
In closing, I would like to add that I am conscious of the fear and panic floating around due to the virus, and rightly so. This fear, however, should not translate to divisive actions and unwarranted fear mongering. I returned home so I can be safe and at peace with my family. I took calculated measures to protect myself, so in turn, I could protect you. I urge the public to continue washing your hands, practice social distancing and wearing a mask. Our safety depends on the collective efforts of all individuals; not on those who wears no masks or performatively washing their hands only if people are looking.
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It is unfortunate that you have to go through this horrible ordeal in your homeland. The lack of professionalism , communication and disregard for the privacy of others seems to be a commonality trend among our people within SVG. There is also a lack information regarding the transmission of COVID-19.
I trust your experience will have a more favorable outcome and your family will not be unemployed for undue cause.
All will be well.
Wow! Shavorn Stephens has taken every step necessary to protect self, family and public. I commend you. Keep faith. God bless.
I really wish people would follow the government regulated protocols… honestly that district dr and nurse showing up to your house without the proper ppe was definitely putting you and your family at risk… further more why they showing up at your house to begin with! Thank you for being you and protecting yourself and others! Wish everyone was like that… but unfortunately there are some people that intentionally choose to not adhere to protocols or procedures. Hope people use their common sense and lay off the discrimination against you and your family and just be chill. Blessings Shav xoxo
Authorities sending mixed signals. There seems to be a lack of communication between stake holders
There has never been ANY study or research done that proves face masks can save anyone from a virus, or even stop the spread of a virus. All research concludes face masks do nothing, to include the N95. Not to mention all the other fake information about the Covid-19 hysteria still floating around out there. Even Dr Fauci says face masks are “symbolic”. See this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8upEg-bEJ8
It is amazing what we are made to believe. If anyone feels better wearing a mask “go for it”, but sadly all the rest of us are forced to go along with all the stupidity like lemmings. I am more concerned about the next virus they are going to release on us, since SARS, Covid-19, and the others did not get the desired results. In Russia they now have a law that NO ONE will be forced to get vaccinated, like they force the children in SVG to get vaccines, or no school. How many thousands of children became paralyzed in India after Bill Gates vaccinations?
Since face masks don’t do anything, then I guess doctors in surgeries have no use for them then.
Kimmy, (and others, such as usual, Nathan) read more carefully please… we are talking about the spread and protection from AIRBORNE VIRUSES, NOT GERMS! In surgery face masks are anyway recommended unless one wants blood splattered in thier mouth or eyes.
Kimmy, my response may not have gone through: in that case I will write again…face masks are ineffective against airborne viruses, not other types of germs. Surgery is a different matter altogether and a face guard should instead be worn to protect from splatters and such.
Your point does not excise the blatant disregard demonstrated by some who flew in with you…
Sheer incompetence by our local authorities.
Welcome home to the Third World’s Third World.
Your comment is absurd Dayle Da Silva. She should be commended for her vigilance. She is not responsible for the actions of other passengers and she was not making excuses for them. Shame on you.
……..And yet, Dr. Fauci is still using a mask.
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/default.html
Why weren’t we told that there were infected people coming on that flight ?
Welcome home, but please cooperate while you complain. Our public health officials don’t have everything and all the answers. Each person is concerned about her/himself, the most important person is ‘I’ without regards to what it takes for others to perform their duties. Some may refer to SVG as Third World, but let’s do some comparison and contrast; COVID19 management in SVG to Non-Third World countries. A world of thanks to the Vincentian officials who made it possible for Vincentians and others to travel to SVG during these challenging times. The enemy is the virus not our people. Continue to be safe.
Some of those persons probably gave false information false addresses false phone numbers and some persons probably fake text report it is time people start being honest this thing is very serious not to be played with .
This Dr. Duke is SVG Donald Trump. Dr. Fauci keep asking Americans and people all over the world to wear a mask. I follow the COVID discussion on many TV stations and they all express the same ideas of hand washing, distancing and wearing a mask. America is in deep SHIT because of the misinformation and lies told by Trump and his supporters. Don’t look at one or early speeches by Dr. Fauci. Once he got more information about the virus he gave much more comprehensive information. He’s been right every time and all the time.
Skeckpalmeryahoocom, No, not Trump because even Trump is forced to act politically correct. The Governor of Florida may not even believe in all of this either but has to “go along”. PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE BY WILLIAM ENGDAHL to get accurate information instead of all the FAKE NEWS they feed us:
https://journal-neo.org/2020/07/20/is-america-s-second-corona-wave-a-political-hoax/
It is always difficult to find the truth. There are few USA journalists that dare report the truth. Tucker Carlson even has to hold back.
Most journalists do not have the time or resources to check-out everything, neither do we the public. OBVIOUSLY MANY PEOPLE THAT LEAVE COMMENTS ON THIS SITE ARE VERY INTELLIGENT BUT NEVERTHELESS ARE DEEPLY INDOCTRINATED INTO BELIEVING FAKE NEWS, FAKE SCIENCE, FAKE REASONS TO GO TO WAR AND ANYTHING ELSE FAKE. We all know that there are products that do not do what they are advertised to do. We all get fooled, myself included!
WE ARE LIVING IN THE AGE OF DISINFORMATION.
As we see, many big networks in the USA just follow a pre-written script, made to serve an agenda but not to tell the truth. As the article explains, one agenda is to get rid of Trump because he is too hard to control. Biden is a different story.
You really need to read William Engdahl to get a different perspective on what news we are being fed in the Corporate Media!
https://journal-neo.org/2020/07/20/is-america-s-second-corona-wave-a-political-hoax/
Young lady you did everything right. I respect you 1000% for the stance you took. Hope you and your family I’ll remain COVID-19 free. @ Duke who ever the hell you are, please stop giving false information and misleading Vincentians that face mask is no help in preventing the spread of COVID 19. Honestly I don’t know where you did your research. Check the Chinese and south Korean if you want to do research on the used of mask in COV prevention.