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The Ministry of Health declared 78 new cases of Covid-19 today as Trinidad and Tobago’s tally since the onset of the pandemic soared to 404 by this evening.
In the first wave of the novel coronavirus, Trinidad and Tobago had 50 cases in 31 days—between 27 March and 26 April. At present, the country has 257 actives of Covid-19 while there have been 246 local infections over the last 25 days.
Last week, then minister of health Terrence Deyalsingh said the Couva Hospital had 100 beds and could safely treat up to 70 persons at a time, without putting patients and medical staff at risk. As of this morning, Couva had 95 patients—with one in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and two moved to the High Dependency Unit (HDU) in the past 24 hours.
There were 49 patients at the Caura Hospital this morning and 20 at the Brooklyn step-down facility for ambulatory cases.
Last weekend, Wired868 asked Ministry of Health official Al Alexander for the capacity of the various facilities meant to house Covid-19 patients. However, the ministry is yet to answer the query.
In Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s last address on the topic, he assured citizens that the virus was ‘not running rampant’ through the country. But with the current numbers and chief medical officer Dr Roshan Parasram suggesting things would get worse still before they improve, it might not feel that way.
The Ministry of Health did stress that the 78 cases declared today were not done overnight but are an amalgam of test results dating back to 5 August.
One of the positives came from a private lab while 32 were described as ‘contacts of recently positive Covid-19 cases’ and 45 are ‘pending epidemiological investigation’—which means epidemiologists are unable to trace the source of the infection at this stage.
Trinidad and Tobago vs Covid-19 (in numbers)
Local infections of Covid-19 in first wave (27 March to 26 April)
- 50 cases in 31 days.
Local infections of Covid-19 in second wave (20 July to 13 August)
- 246 cases in 25 days.
The Ministry of Health reminds members of the public to:
- Wear a mask over your nose and mouth when you go out in public;
- Keep your distance from others (six feet);
- Stay home if you are ill;
- Clean then sanitise surfaces, such as tabletops, door knobs and cell phones;
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitiser;
- Cough into a tissue or into the crook of your elbow;
- Avoid touching your face.
Persons are urged to call Covid-19 hotline numbers: 877-WELL, 87-SWRHA or 877-3742 (Trinidad) and 800-HEAL (Tobago) if they feel unwell; or they can report a possible breach of Covid-19 regulations by calling 555, or sending messages—inclusive of photographs and videos—to the Police App or via Whats App to 482-GARY.
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