Deyalsingh: TT ready for cruise ship workers

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh -
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh -

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh has assured that cruise ship workers and any other person entering the country will be subjected to strict testing and quarantine.

At the Ministry of Health (MoH) virtual media conference on Monday, Deyalsingh said the curve has been flattened and the parallel health care system functioned effectively.

He said, “From day one the parallel health care system and the normal health system were never overwhelmed. There were no increases in any respiratory diseases, and we were able to treat 108 people successfully.

“So, the curve was in fact flattened.”

On Monday statistics from the MoH showed that there were no new cases of covid19, deaths remained at eight and the number of discharged people were 108.

With 49 cruise ship members scheduled to return home and an about 300 more awaiting permission to enter, Deyalsingh said they are looking at alternative quarantine facilities.

He said the option of using cruise ships for the purpose of quarantine is being investigated by the Minister of National Security Stuart Young.

He said, “When we have large numbers by the hundreds that you want to quarantine, we are in fact looking at and have thrown out the option to the minister of national security.

“These cruise ships have been totally decanted of passengers for months. So, if the Minister of National Security finds agreement with the cruise ship operators to use their facilities, it would be (used) under the quarantine protocols of our port health as managed by the chief medical officer (CMO).”

The on-land accommodation at the centres include 200 beds at the stepdown facilities, 50 beds at the National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua, 100 beds at the Debe South campus of the University of the West Indies and 60 beds at NAPA, Port of Spain for health care workers. There are about 542 at the hospitals that are available for the treatment of covid19 positive patients only.

Additionally, he said cases that are only regarded as emergency cases, as with a St Vincentian seeking medical assistance, will done through the office of the CMO.

He said, “If any individual patient has to come here to seek treatment, it will be handled by the office of the CMO in the most confidential way. But I cannot give a status update on the health of that person. We must respect patient confidentiality.”

Minister of Communications Donna Cox noted that the teenager entered TT on Sunday to treat burns sustained in an explosion at a gas station.

The incident took place last Tuesday at Freddy’s Gas Station located at Clifton, Union Island. Two other people were also injured and were transported to that island’s main health facility in Kingstown, where they were treated.

Deyalsingh also maintained that various sectors of the economy will continue to be re-opened in phases because the symptoms of the covid19 virus are evolving regularly.

He said, “We can’t flip a switch to open the economy in one swoop because we are getting more and more information about the negative health impact of covid19. We can’t rush the total re-opening.

“The PM will contact us when he needs advice as he has done for the other two phases of opening. We are collating a lot of information and we must be ready to give him the most updated advice on phases three, four and five.

The Health Minister added that government’s decision about re-opening the economy has to be balanced to ensure safety of all groups, including the sports sector.

“Whether it is horse racing, booksellers or places of religion, all are writing to me. We will make decisions based on striking the right balance between economic activity, job creation and public health and keeping people alive."

As with the case of Cricket West Indies, Deyalsingh said they will also have to make their applications with the local entities to have people fly out. "It is not a matter for the MoH but a matter for national security in TT and the equivalent in any of the other islands where players will have to fly out from.”

He said a document has been available for all industries and the public to take note of and adapt to with regard to the phases of re-opening. It emphasised public health measures, physical distancing and rotation of staff. "We have signed off on this and it is available for all industries," Deyalsingh added.

Comments

"Deyalsingh: TT ready for cruise ship workers"

More in this section