Ministers tell primary students about covid19

After the World Health Organization declared covid19 a “global pandemic,” Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh and Education Minister Anthony Garcia decided to visit a primary school to explain to students the seriousness of the virus.

Addressing 140 students at the St Ann’s RC Primary School, St Ann’s on Thursday, Deyalsingh urged students to wash their hands every hour, especially before having their lunch and snacks.

Deyalsingh took his time explaining to students the meaning of the coronavirus and why it was important to take precautions.

“From today, I want you to do some simple and easy things to prevent the virus. It is called being clean. Just like your school: when the grounds are clean it will not encourage cockroaches and rats, because those things carry diseases.

“We are asking everyone from today, if you are sick you need to stay at home, we need to avoid touching your face, observe our personal hygiene, you need to wash your hands frequently and cover our mouth when we cough or sneeze,” Deyalsingh said.

Asked if the Education Ministry will shut down schools when the virus reaches TT, Garcia said, “We have not yet taken that decision. If there is any indication of any flu we have been asking parents to keep their children home.

“It depends on whether it reaches here or the extent of it, but I can tell you we have started about three to four weeks ago, on the urgings of the Health Minister and on the advice of the Ministry of Health, we have issued a circular to all our schools.”

Garcia said all principals have been informed of the seriousness of the virus and asked to put certain things in place.