Elderly woman is T&T’s fourth Covid-19 fatality, gov’t confirms ‘local spread’

Trinidad and Tobago lost its fourth citizen to the dreaded novel coronavirus Covid-19 today. The deceased patient, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health, was an ‘elderly female with pre-existing medical conditions’.

The woman is believed to have been one of the 73 travellers on the ill-fated Costa Favolosa cruise ship. Thus far, 49 passengers from the cruise have tested positive for the coronavirus with two fatalities.

At present, the twin island republic has 89 positive cases from 583 samples. One of the two confirmed cases this evening had ‘no history of recent travel or contact with a positive case’, which fits the classification of ‘local spread’.

The government is asking persons to stay home for the next two weeks, unless they are employed with an ‘essential’ business.

The Ministry of Health continues to urge members of the public to:

• Wash your hands properly with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand sanitiser if soap and water are unavailable;
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and dispose tissue immediately after using, or cough and sneeze into crook of your elbow;
• Avoid touching your face;
• Practice social distancing—that is no kissing, hugging or hand-shaking, and avoid mass gatherings;
• Sanitise hard surfaces as often as possible, such as tabletops, handrails, doorknobs and trolleys;
• Avoid close contact with people who have flu-like symptoms;
• Stay home if you are ill or not employed with a company providing an essential service.

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