Ministry of Health Virtual Media Conference – Thursday May 7th 2020

Key Points from the Ministry of Health’s Virtual Media Conference – Thursday May 7th 2020: - The Ministry of Health is moving into a different phase of responding to COVID-19. Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh announced that a decision has been taken to start a Retrospective Study of all 116 Positive cases in T&T. He said this will help the Ministry make plans for the future, including managing future pandemics. COVID-19 Patients who were classified as Mild, Moderate, and Severe are invited to form part of a Committee on this initiative. Minister Deyalsingh said T&T has rich data that should not go to waste but should be used for the benefit of this country, especially when it comes to managing a possible second and third wave of COVID-19. - Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roshan Parasram noted that globally, COVID-19 Positive persons are presenting with "Silent Hypoxia," where they are presenting with exceedingly low blood oxygenation levels at hospitals but are hardly gasping for breath or showing respiratory distress. Dr. Parasram said Silent Hypoxia symptoms were noted in the local COVID-19 cases, and the upcoming Retrospective Study will inform this. - The following is the update on COVID-19 patients across the various facilities: COUVA: 1 patient (High Dependency Unit) HOME OF FOOTBALL STEP DOWN FACILITY: 4 patients - National Security Minister Stuart Young confirmed that T&T is making preparations to receive 22 of our citizens who are working in Guyana, as well as TT Nationals in Venezuela, and a TT woman (cancer patient) who is in The Bahamas. These Returning Nationals will be making their way back home at their own expense and will be quarantined for 14 days. Minister Young said the Ministry has been receiving requests from TT Nationals all over the world for exemptions to return home, but they are carefully managing entries. - Minister Young said it is too early to get into a conversation about tourism. Government will continue to take advice from the medical experts on the resumption of operations and services, including reopening our borders to air travel as we do not want a further importation of COVID-19 cases. - National Security Minister Stuart Young: We have not seen a wave of migration across our borders. The TT Air Guard, Coast Guard and TTPS have been doing a great job in border control. Our assets are working and we have been successful. - Minister Stuart Young: Passport appointments have resumed but on a phased basis. Upgrades at Immigration Division have been completed.