Ministry Of Health Virtual Media Conference - Wednesday April 8th 2020

KEY POINTS FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH’S VIRTUAL MEDIA CONFERENCE – WEDNESDAY APRIL 8TH 2020: - After consultation, Government has cancelled the Residential Patrol System involving four private security firms. - Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh: As at 10am today, there were 1,450,087 Positive cases of COVID-19 globally, with 83,472 deaths. He expects Positive cases to reach 1.5 million Positive COVID-19 cases by the end of the day. - Minister Deyalsingh highlights disturbing news of human to animal transmission coming out of the Bronx Zoo where tigers have tested Positive for the Coronavirus after contracting the virus from a Zoo worker. - MOH COVID-19 Update For Wednesday 8th April 2020 – 10AM: Samples Submitted For Testing: 919 Positive Samples: 107 Number of Deaths: 8 Number of Persons Discharged: 1 - Minister Deyalsingh is worried about instances of high traffic over the last three days – which means people are not adhering to the call to Stay At Home. He said we are putting ourselves in a lot of trouble if we do not stay at home. - NGO, FEEL, will be assisting with distribution of masks. Distribution to start by this weekend. Minister Deyalsingh reminded that wearing masks “is not a license to go outside for non-essential purposes.” - Dr. Hazel Othello of the Ministry of Health provides an update on COVID-19 Patients: In total, 98 patients remain hospitalised CAURA: 26 and all are Stable. COUVA: 72 (1 in ICU and Stable, 3 in HCU and 68 Ambulatory - 17 Ambulatory patients identified for move to a step-down facility). - Dr. Othello, who is the Director of Mental Health at the Ministry of Health, said Mental Health services are available at the Regional Health Authorities for COVID-19 patients and those in quarantine. Dr. Othello notes that there is a stigma attached to people who have tested Positive for the virus as well as those who access mental health services. She said there is no need to be afraid and citizens need to show support while still maintaining social distance (no hugs etc). Children should be reassured. Parents urged to talk to their children calmly and not show anxiety. - Health Care workers encouraged to talk to their coworkers, take breaks, eat healthy, and seek mental health support if they need to. - Minister of Social Development and Family Services, Camille Robinson-Regis, assures that her Ministry is helping vulnerable individuals during the COVID-19 Pandemic. There are 75,600 individuals and families that have benefitted from Social Protection Measures so far. - Social Development Ministry's Total Expenditure for COVID-19 Measures now in excess of $46 million. - MPs, who initially received 50 Food Cards, have since received 143 additional Cards for distribution. Another batch of 3,323 Food Cards (for three months in the sum of $1,530 on each Card) will be distributed to MPs next Tuesday. MPs who have not yet collected the initial batch of Food Cards are urged to collect them. MPs are to distribute Food Cards to their constituents only. If persons don’t belong to their constituency, the MP can contact their fellow MPs to render assistance to those needy persons. - Existing Food Cards have been topped up. Expenditure to date: $17,144,100.00 - 8,077 Food Support Cards specifically for children in the School Feeding Programme under the Ministry of Education have been distributed to MPs. Total expenditure so far: $12,357,810.00 - There is an additional payment to persons receiving Food Support for an initial three months. 25,101 persons have benefited so far. The expenditure to date is $11,198,250.00 - Three month Income Support Top Up for current recipients of Public Assistance: 17,834 people have benefited from this measure. Total expenditure so far: $11,438,100.00 - Income Support Top Up for current recipients of Disability Assistance Grants including disabled children: 24,627 people have benefited. Total expenditure so far: $11,082,150.00 TTPost has commenced distribution of these cheques. - Approximately 4,000 applications received for Income and Food Support from citizens who have lost their jobs or receiving reduced salaries as a result of COVID-19 measures. Validation process underway with payments expected to begin tomorrow. - Minister of National Security Stuart Young defends role of TTDF during Pandemic. He said the Defence Force assisted with the social displaced and vulnerable. They are building a project at Riverside Plaza and building rooms and toilets there. They helped prepare the Couva and Caura facilities for COVID-19 patients. They have been working with the Ministry of Health to scout locations for facilities and it is the TTDF that will be providing security at these locations. - Ministry of Health to host a Virtual Meeting with members of the public on Saturday. Details to come.