Key points from today’s Ministry of Health’s Virtual Media Conference – Wednesday 10th November 2021.
— Principal Medical Officer – Institutions, Dr. Maryam Abdool-Richards, noted that between June 28th and November 9th, there were less than 400 patients per day in the parallel healthcare system. As of November 9th, there were 405 and as of this morning (November 10th), there are 427 patients in the parallel healthcare system.
— In two days, the overall occupancy level, which was under 40% for 113 days consistently, was surpassed. We are currently at 47% occupancy in the parallel healthcare system. 49% occupancy in Trinidad and 33% in Tobago.
— Dr Richards shared information regarding the status at the Intensive Care Units. There are 52 beds out of a total of 60 beds that are currently operational in Trinidad, and in Tobago, 2 out of 5 beds are currently occupied.
— Dr. Richards mentioned that the Ministry is seeing a significant number of unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated persons requiring intensive care unit level of care. Out of the 52 people in Trinidad in ICU, 92% are not fully vaccinated.
— Dr. Richards noted some changes within the healthcare system such as:
• Increased capacity at the Accident & Emergency departments to treat unstable patients.
• Increased number of life support ambulances on each shift.
• Increase ICU bed capacity at the Couva Hospital and Multi-Training Facility, Point Fortin Hospital and the St. James Medical Complex.
• Increased ward level beds.
• The field hospital was reactivated at the Port of Spain General Hospital in the NWRHA.
• Additional beds were also added at the St. James Medical Complex.
— Dr. Richards said if we continue on this trend, resources will soon be expended. Vaccination is our only way forward in light of the variants in our communities.
— Who should receive an additional primary dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO):
Sinopharm
• All persons 60 years and over: an additional dose is recommended 3 to 6 months after your second dose or soonest thereafter. No referral letter is required and you will be contacted by the relevant RHA for an appointment.
• All persons moderately or severely immuno-compromised regardless of age, an additional dose is recommended 1 to 3 months after final dose or soonest thereafter. Your Physician must provide a referral letter.
AstraZeneca, Pfizer & Johnson and Johnson
• All persons moderately to severely immuno-compromised regardless of age; an additional dose is recommended 1 to 3 months after final dose or soonest thereafter.
• Your Physician must provide a referral letter.
— Some examples of persons with immuno-compromised conditions are:
• Persons with active Cancers
• Transplant recipients
• Persons with Immunodeficiencies (e.g. Chronic dialysis patients)
• Certain persons who are HIV positive (e.g. Persons with a CD4 count of less than 200)
• Persons on immunosuppressive therapy
— Cases Reported by Educational Districts since the resumption of face-to-face teaching:
POS & Environs
Number Of Cases: 37
Confirmed Positive: 5
Confirmed Negative: 9
Pending/Confirmed Primary Contact: 23
St. George East
Number Of Cases: 39
Confirmed Positive: 16
Confirmed Negative: 7
Pending/Confirmed Primary Contact: 16
North Eastern
Number Of Cases: 54
Confirmed Positive: 12
Confirmed Negative: 21
Pending/Confirmed Primary Contact: 21
Caroni
Number Of Cases: 28
Confirmed Positive: 3
Confirmed Negative: 4
Pending/Confirmed Primary Contact: 9
St. Patrick
Number Of Cases: 20
Confirmed Positive: 7
Confirmed Negative: 4
Pending/Confirmed Primary Contact: 9
Victoria
Number Of Cases: 20
Confirmed Positive: 5
Confirmed Negative: 6
Pending/Confirmed Primary Contact: 9
South Eastern
Number Of Cases: 19
Confirmed Positive: 7
Confirmed Negative: 11
Pending/Confirmed Primary Contact: 1