Ministry Of Health Virtual Media Conference - Monday March 30th 2020

KEY POINTS FROM TODAY'S MINISTRY OF HEALTH MEDIA CONFERENCE: - The Ministry of Health hosted its first Virtual Media Conference today. - Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh confirms that as of Monday March 30th 2020, 539 samples have been tested for COVID-19, and 82 persons are now Positive (49 came from the cruise ship Costa Favolosa). - Minister Deyalsingh said the next two weeks will be a crucial time for Trinidad and Tobago and he is urging citizens who are non-essential workers to “stay home and stay safe.” - Minister Deyalsingh said if the 19,000 Nationals who returned home two weeks ago do not heed this warning to stay home, they will be putting many others at risk. - The Health Minister said exercising outdoors poses a risk and it is best for people exercise at home. - The Stay At Home Policy is NOT a vacation. - Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roshan Parasram: Predominantly we have imported cases of COVID-19 in T&T, but now we have a few cases of Local Spread (This occurs when an imported case infects a Primary Contact, or that Primary Contact infects a Secondary Contact). We may have a few more Positive cases in the coming days attributed to Local Spread. We have not got to the stage of Community Spread. We can slow this virus going into the community if we stay at home. - CMO Dr. Roshan Parasram advises citizens to treat everyone they come into contact with as if they are COVID-19 Positive. He said he will not reveal areas where Positive patients live in order to protect them and their families. - Dr. Parasram confirms that the three deceased COVID-19 patients were over 70 years. - Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roshan Parasram: Trinidad and Tobago is not using Rapid Testing to confirm COVID-19 cases. We are maintaining a standard of quality through testing using kits at CARPHA. - CMO Dr. Roshan Parasram on COVID-19 Patients at Couva Hospital: 3 in Intensive Care Unit: (2 Stable, 1 Critical), 14 at High Dependency Unit: (All Stable) 48 Ambulatory cases (mild illness, free to walk about) - Dr. Parasram on COVID-19 Patients at Caura Hospital: 5 Ambulatory (all Stable). Caura is also being utilised as a Holding Bay for persons awaiting test results. - Persons who have the flu can wear masks. However, the general population should not be using N-95 masks. - Cuban nurses to help T&T manage COVID-19 Response. - Trinidad and Tobago has ventilators. There are 160 ventilators in the country and more is expected. - Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh praises the Police Service for arresting a bar owner for defying the Order to close business.