Ministry of Health Virtual Media Conference - Saturday April 4th 2020

- The Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh said as at 10am today, there have been 1,139,120 Positive cases of COVID-19 recorded worldwide, with 61,144 deaths. - Latest COVID-19 Update for T&T: 728 Samples submitted for testing 101 Positive Cases 6 Deaths 1 Discharge - Administrators at Homes For The Aged have been advised to stop relatives from visiting the elderly. Minister Deyalsingh said cleanliness and sanitation are crucial at these Homes since elderly people are among the most vulnerable to COVID-19. - Caregivers at Elderly Homes should wear masks and disposable gloves when moving from person to person. - Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roshan Parasram said according to the latest information available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the general population should use cloth-like/homemade masks. Surgical and N-95 masks should be left for medical practitioners. - Dr. Kellie Alleyne-Mike of the National Radiotherapy Centre in St. James noted that the impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients is still evolving and as a result, they have taken a decision to divide patients into two broad groups. Treatment postponed for at least three weeks for those cancer patients who are on “regular surveillance” and are doing well. Cancer patients on “active treatment” such as chemotherapy will still be treated. However, sanitation and surveillance stations have been set up for those cancer patients under “active treatment” and they will need to answer a series of questions before. - Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roshan Parasram: Supermarket/market goods should be cleaned before storing in your home. - Brooklyn Settlement in Sangre Grande is now being used as a “holding bay” for the 17 recovering COVID-19 patients who were moved from the Couva Hospital yesterday. The 17 patients are all asymptomatic and in the convalescent phase. They present no risk to the community. - Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roshan Parasram: Communities where patients are housed will not be negatively impacted by their presence. There are buffers to protect residents in these communities and patients are not allowed to roam freely. - Children have also been tested for COVID-19 as a result of having Primary, Secondary and Tertiary contact with Positive patients. - COVID-19 Hotline remains inundated with calls. An App to screen possible cases is coming on stream soon (in testing mode). - Testing for medical practitioners being done. Protocols for testing these medical practitioners will be different. - Work permits approved for Cuban ICU nurses. The Health Ministry is working with Caribbean Airlines to arrange a flight. - Citizens with COVID-19 symptoms are urged not to wait until it’s too late to seek treatment.