Press Conference Summary 9 April 2020.
Terrence Deyalsingh, Minister of Health
* 987 Tests, positive 109, 8 deaths, persons discharged 1
* 100 patients in hospital, at Caura 27 ambulatory, Couva 72 patients, no ICU, 3 in HDU, 68 ambulatory. 32 patients hopefully will be transferred out of Couva
* A loudspeaker campaign started in certain neighborhoods. It will be increased in the next week.
* To treat one person with Covid, PPE:- head caps – 158, surgical masks – 85, N95s – 90, Face shields – 30, Gloves 175 pairs, shoe covers – 150 pairs, gowns – 107, protective suits – 4
* Please stay home over the long weekend
Gary Griffith, Commissioner of Police.
* Current status of police is orange alert.
* They are monitoring persons who are on quarantine.
* Administrative officers have been reduced and more are out on patrol.
* 8,648 officers are available.
* There has been a spike in domestic violence
* e.g. Assaults March 2019 -42; March 2020 – 96
* There is a Gender based Violence Unit. Please victims contact the police service at 555. Perpetrators you will be removed from the home if you are found.
* Many people have been calling 555, 999, 482-GARY and Police App
* If you see something, say something.
* There is an increase of Covid private parties. Please do not do this.
* Please be careful spreading fake news on social media.
* There is no looting taking place. There has been criminal activity.
* Thank you for maintaining social distancing outside banks and supermarkets.
* Note it is not 5 persons in the supermarket. They have issued guidelines to the supermarket owners.
* The police was seeking support so they could focus on hotspots. However since that is not possible they will continue as they were doing before. Help us to help you.
Defense Force
* Thank you to all Defense Force members
* Condolences to those involved in a problem occurred on a patrol boat on 7 April where a member of the defense force died.
* 5.329 persons in the Defense Force,
* They assist security patrols and assistance to several Ministries.
*Persons work 24 hours.
* Security patrols, air, sea and land.
* The Defense Force have families as well and put their lives on the line.
* The Defense Force assists in the management of the T&T borders
Media Answers
Incident at Caura (**Private note I was unaware of this issue, you can read the story here at Express. https://trinidadexpress.com/…/article_9ccb7c8c-7a00-11ea-98… )
– There is a patient under the care of Professor Hutchinson.
– Other persons are taking offense at how Professor Hutchinson is doing care of one patient.
– There is enough PPE for staff
* Tobago loud speakers programme has started
* There was a business that a reporter felt should not have been closed in Tobago. Gary Griffith asked that the details be forwarded to him
* Businesses have been robbed in Charlotte Street. Not looting but robbery
* No private labs have been certified by CAPHRA yet. They will put out a questionnaire today and then continue to certify if they are able to pass that first hurdle.