COVID-19 death toll in Trinidad rises

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago recorded its third death in as many days from the coronavirus (COVID-19), as the death toll rose to 12 on Monday and health authorities put warns against more positive cases of the virus.

A statement released by the Department of Health did not provide many details on the 12^e death, except to say that the adult man had pre-existing medical conditions. He said there are now 413 active cases and the total number of positive COVID-19 cases has now reached 565.

“The number of samples submitted to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the UWI site for COVID testing is 19,14,655, with the number of unique patient tests performed at 12,438. number of repeat tests is 2,217, ”the ministry said, adding that an additional 13 people had tested positive for COVID -19 in the past 24 hours, including four in Tobago.

Chief medical officer Dr Roshan Parasram speaking at the daily press conference said the cases here were “now widespread across the country”.

He referred to a particular case in Tobago where a person had visited a hotel there and, as a result, “we identified 222 primary, secondary and tertiary contacts.

“There are 204 primary contacts for a single case. So, just to give you an idea of ​​the potential spread of this disease from an individual who does not follow public health guidelines, ”he added.

Using a map during the briefing, Dr Parasram said there were large areas of infections in some areas of the island and people should not wait for the new measures outlined by the Prime. minister, Dr Keith Rowley, including the compulsory wearing of masks in public, become effective before safeguarding their own health.

“We ask the population not to wait for the legal framework to be in place, we must all agree with public health directives, making sure to wear our masks when we are in public spaces, to disinfect the most often possible, we distance ourselves… and especially if you are sick, you must stay at home ”.

“We have seen with a number of our cases that … people did not stay at home when they were sick and this greatly increases the risk of transmission of this disease,” said the chief medical officer, emphasizing the fact. that public health directives are not taken into account. in isolation.

“They are all there to be used as an arsenal to fight the virus together,” he said.

Health officials said they also noted that more and more young people were infected with the virus.