The first online press conference was held today. See below for a summary of the press conference held this morning.
Terrence Deyalsingh, Minister of Health
* 539 tests; 82 persons have tested positive
* The next two weeks will be crucial, please stay at home.
* Stay Safe and Stay Home
* Exercising – I drove past the Aranguez Savannah and noticed a young man running and an older man on a bike was approaching him. This was a dangerous situation. Please stay home
* The two week restriction is not a vacation
Dr Roshan Parasram, CMO
* Trinidad and Tobago 1st Case Mar 12
* Increase in imported cases
* There are now cases of secondary and primary contact
* Next phase – Low volume local spread. That has occurred there is one in Tobago and one in Trinidad.
* Local spread is right after imported cases. We have a few of those cases
* Community spread is when there is a large number of local spread. There are a few cases of local spread.
* We have to behave as if the person next to us has Covid-19
* WHO has indicated that there is some aeralization of the virus. This happens when in a healthcare area or somewhere enclosed such as an elevator e.g. Health sector people have to wear masks.
* Anyone who is ill should be wearing a mask
* The general population does not have to wear a mask.
* If you go to a market please get in and out quickly
Answers to Media questions
Couva ICU – 2 stable, 1 Critical
Couva HDU – 14 Cases
Couva – 48 Ambulatory Cases
Caura – 5 Ambulatory Cases
Caura – Some cases are holding waiting for test results (no number given)
(** My comment – When I checked did not come back to the. figures that they said have tested positive. He spoke of 70; 3 died and 1 recovered which is 74 cases listed at our hospitals. 82 have tested positive, I am missing 8 cases?**)
* 95% of cases presented in 1-14 days
* Will there a machine for testing in Tobago? – No the testing will be conducted for Trinidad and Tobago in Trinidad.
* CAPHRA does testing which will vary day to day
* Update on ventilators – They did arrive last week as planned. The others are on schedule as discussed previously.
* .Some staff at Tobago Hospital have been put in quarantine. Others are to wear PPE at all times and are being monitored closely.
* Cuba – There are intensive care nurses coming in from Cuba for the Intensive Care Unit staffing
* A person in Tobago who was never confirmed was threatened. Therefore no information about location will be divulged.
* N95 masks are used for invasive procedures. Please be aware of the worldwide shortage
* All three persons who died are over 70
* All facilities have a separate Triage area. If persons have cough and cold they are being directed to that area. There is a Tobago triage area in. We continue to transport persons from Tobago to Trinidad via Coast Guard. There is a person in Tobago who may not be stable enough to come to Trinidad, they are waiting for an evaluation and update.