Ministry of Health Virtual Media Conference - Saturday August 21st, 2021

Key Points from the Ministry of Health's Virtual Media Conference On COVID-19 - Saturday August 21st 2021: Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh confirmed that businesses offering personal services (spas, barbershops, hair and nail salons etc.) will reopen on Monday August 23rd, 2021. Real estate and domestic services (housekeeping, gardening) will also resume from Monday August 23rd, 2021. Minister Deyalsingh expressed concern over unvaccinated workers (housekeepers/gardeners, barbers, nail technicians etc.) providing services or entering personal spaces to work. He encouraged these workers to get vaccinated. The first tranche of Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines will be distributed to residents in coastal and rural areas. Minister Deyalsingh said communities like Las Cuevas, Matelot, Kernahan, Guayaguayare, Moruga, Cedros, Los Iros, Charlotteville, and Speyside will be among those getting priority for the one-dose vaccine. Regarding the ongoing rollout of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for children between the ages of 12 and 18, the Minister said the Health Ministry will be reaching out to special institutions (for the hearing/visually impaired etc.) to offer "Express Service" for vaccination. Minister Deyalsingh said there was consensus at a stakeholder meeting to offer the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to pregnant women from their second trimester. Rollout of the vaccination plan is expected to take place in the first week in September. Three children remain hospitalised in the parallel health care system with COVID-19. They are in stable condition. Currently, there are 307 COVID-19 patients, inclusive of the three children, at hospital. There are 107 patients at Step Down facilities. Principal Medical Officer Dr. Maryam Abdool-Richards said there are very sick patients hospitalised with COVID-19. She said ICU occupancy is high - it is at 80% this morning. The HDU occupancy level is at 48%.