Low numbers presenting for community testing

CMO Dr Roshan Parasram said community testing is taking place on people who present with flu-like symptoms at health centres, emergency departments and in the community in the normal way. He said the numbers of people coming into the healthcare system with possible symptoms has dropped drastically in the last two weeks.

He said the ministry is sampling people who enter the healthcare system presenting with a cough or cold or fever.

Deyalsingh said only 67 people presented with viral illnesses in the last week, which is fewer than ten people per day. He said this is why the emergency departments have been used, in some cases, to get people to test.

The health minister said it is possible the reduction in the number of people with viral illnesses is because people have been social distancing, washing their hands before going into buildings, etc. He said they were victims of their own success.

Deyalsingh said there has also been a reduction in the number of cases of gastroenteritis since the hand washing measures had been put in place.