T&T suffers 20th death this month, but infection rate dips to 36 over past week

Dr Avery Hinds, technical director of the Epidemiology Division at the Ministry of Health, commended citizens this weekend for a general adherence to Covid-19 restrictions, which has seen a ‘plateauing’ of Trinidad and Tobago’s infection curve.

However, the death toll remains—as predicted by Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh—at one per day.

Today, the twin island republic had its 96th Covid-19 related death since the onset of the pandemic; and, more pertinently, the 20th fatality of October. There were also 16 new cases of the novel coronavirus.

Image: The novel coronavirus.

Over the past seven days, the Ministry of Health confirmed a total of 254 new infections, which suggests an average of 36 per day. In the previous week, there were 282 fresh cases at an average of 40 per day.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is targeting 20 infections per day or less, which would make the country eligible to join the Caricom ‘travel bubble’—in which member nations can visit each other without need for Covid-19 tests or a quarantine period.

The prime minister initially hoped to get there by 11 October. Although that target was overly ambitious, Trinidad and Tobago can feasibly dip below 20 before Christmas.

At present, the country has 1,549 active cases of the coronavirus with 81 persons hospitalised, 55 in step-down facilities and 1,413 in home isolation.

There have been 5,297 positive cases since the onset of the pandemic with 3,652 recovered patients.

Image: Covid-19 infections in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Ministry of Health reminds members of the public to adhere to the ‘new normal’ and:

  • 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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