Ministry of Health Media Conference On COVID-19 - Saturday January 30th 2021

Key Points from the Ministry of Health’s Media Conference on COVID-19 – Saturday January 30th 2021 - Employers are being urged to ensure work spaces are sanitised, proper distance is maintained between workers, and employees wear their masks. People with flu-like symptoms are being urged to stay home and get tested. - Roshan Seeramsingh, GIS Manager at the Ministry of Health, reported an increase in Cluster cases in T&T. During his presentation, he noted that there were eight clusters recorded in the last week of December 2020 and first week on January 2021, but in the second and third weeks in January, this figure rose to 14. Seven of the clusters were recorded in St. George East, with two bounding that County. Females in the age brackets 10 to 14, 35 to 39, and 55 to 59 ranked among the highest infections. - County Medical Officer of Health for St. George's East, Dr. Osafo Fraser, noted that people continue to pick up infections in the work environment. In two separate cases, they arose due to the failure to wear masks and social distance while on the job. These workers later spread the virus to their family members at home. - Dr. Fraser said COVID-19 clusters are also occurring because of family gatherings. One cluster came about following a birthday party. Eight persons were infected from this gathering. - In another instance in St. George East, 10 people in an extended family household became COVID-19 Positive after one or two people within this home exhibited flu-like symptoms but didn't get tested or isolate themselves. They then spread the virus to other members of their household.