Ministry Of Health Virtual Media Conference On COVID-19 - Saturday September 26th 2020

Key Points from the Ministry of Health’s Virtual Media Conference on COVID-19 – Saturday September 26th 2020: Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley announced that there will be no new legislative changes to manage COVID-19 in T&T. The Public Health Measures already in place will remain until October 11th. The Prime Minister said health officials are looking to get COVID-19 numbers down to 20 infections a day so T&T can get back to some semblance of participation with other islands and actively engage in the CARICOM Travel Bubble (to also repatriate Nationals in Grenada and other islands). He said he expects to make “one or two decisions” when he next meets with the national community on COVID-19. There is a downward trend in COVID-19 infections in T&T. Dr. Michelle Trotman, Thoracic Medical Director at Caura Hospital, said if there is a 100 per cent compliance from the public in terms of sanitising, physical distancing and mask wearing, the COVID-19 numbers will go down, and stay down. Dr. Trotman said wearing a face mask is now part of who we are, and people are asked to encourage others to wear their masks. Dr. Trotman said the flu season will soon be upon us and wearing a face mask will not only protect citizens, but also help medical health professionals as well. She encouraged citizens to get the flu vaccine. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roshan Parasram also urged persons with flu symptoms to stay home and contact the nearest facility for testing if their condition worsens and they have symptoms more in line with COVID-19. The difference between COVID-19 and influenza is that there is a flu vaccine. Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said the flu vaccine is an annual shot. Flu season runs from October to May each year.