Ministry Of Health Virtual Media Conference on COVID-19 – Saturday July 4th 2020:

Key Points From The Ministry Of Health’s Virtual Media Conference on COVID-19 – Saturday July 4th 2020: - Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roshan Parasram said the Health Ministry has been working with the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) to ensure health guidelines are followed in the lead-up to the General Election and on Polling Day on August 10th. He stated that physical distancing must be maintained at all times. On Polling Day, voters must wear masks and wash hands in view of electoral officials. They must also sanitise their hands before and after casting their ballot. - A Mock Polling Station will be set up on Tuesday for health officials to run through the steps for voting. If all goes well, the Public Health Guidelines on voting will be published. - A special section in the Guidelines will address voting for quarantined Nationals. The County Medical Officer of Health will oversee this process in their respective districts to ensure ballot papers are properly sanitised. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roshan Parasram said this procedure will be similar to what currently obtains with their clinical notes for the quarantined Nationals to ensure health protocols are followed. - Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh highlighted a “very sobering” report from the World Health Organization which stated that there’s a peak in the current wave of Coronavirus. According to the WHO, the world is still in the first wave of COVID-19. Minister Deyalsingh said if health officials have to manage a second peak in this first wave, the borders must remain closed. - Activities involving children remain suspended until September. This will include contact sports such as karate. - The following is the breakdown of Returning Nationals quarantined at various facilities in T&T: BALANDRA: 42 CASCADIA: 12 CAURA: 23 CHANCELLOR HOTEL: 20 COUVA MEDICAL AND MULTI-TRAINING FACILITY: 142 NAPA: 13 health care workers who completed their tours MAERSK DEVELOPER RIG: 94 SANGRE GRANDE BROOKLYN SETTLEMENT: 32 UWI DEBE CAMPUS: 19 UWI FREEDOM HALL: 45 TACARIGUA: 40 VISION ON MISSION: 15 - There are no cases of COVID-19 at Homes for the Aged and Long Stay Residential Homes. Dr. Rohit Doon, Adviser, Health Promotion, Communications and Public Health, addressed COVID-19 protocols at Homes for the Aged and Long Stay Residential Homes. He confirmed that visitation has resumed but they will be guided by the following: * Visits by appointment only. * Visits will be conducted in an outdoor setting. * Visitors must have their temperatures checked on arrival at the Home. * Visitors must wear face masks and sanitise their hands. * Homes must institute a visitor log. Dr. Doon also stated that COVID-19 guidelines for voting for the elderly will be released at a later date.