Two adult males latest covid19 victims: 11 deaths in one week

TT has recorded 11 covid19 deaths in the past week, bringing the total number to 31.

The Health Ministry reported the two most recent deaths on Friday. Both victims of the virus were adult men.

The number of deaths in the current second wave is more than double the eight deaths in the first wave (March 12-April 6).

The covid19-related deaths in the past week were:

August 28, three elderly males with co-morbidities and an adult female

August 30, two elderly males with co-morbidities

August 31, elderly female with co-morbidities

September 2, elderly male with co-morbidities

September 3, elderly male with co-morbidities

September 4, two adult males.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said the Caribbean has been experiencing a more than 120 per cent increase in covid19 cases and a more than 200 per cent increase in covid19-related deaths.

The findings were in a new epidemiological update published by PAHO.

“While covid19 cases seem to have steadied in some countries and territories at the national level (for example the US and Canada), daily notification rates are now accelerating in other countries and territories, many of which are experiencing larger outbreaks for the first time since the onset of the pandemic in the region (for example countries and territories in the Caribbean subregion)."

The report added, however, daily notifications of cases in the US and Brazil are trending downwards.

"In Central America, cases and deaths increased by over 300 per cent since June,(cases went from 61,058 to 266,000 and deaths rose from 1,580 to 7,203). In the Caribbean there was a 230 per cent increase in cases (reaching more than 100,000 new cases) and a 123 per cent increase in deaths (reaching 1,384 deaths) compared with what they reported in June. South America has reported more than 5.6 million cases and 186,000 deaths report, nearly three times the number of cases and twice the deaths since last June."

PAHO reported that the Americas region accounted for 64 per cent of the new deaths reported globally over the past two months at more than 213,000 new deaths. PAHO said this was despite the region making up about 13 per cent of the global population.

"The epidemiological update notes that the majority of the new deaths globally were reported by Brazil, with 19 per cent, the US, with 16 per cent; India, comprising 13 per cent; and Mexico, making up 12 per cent.

The number of cases worldwide has increased by 158 per cent, with some 14 million additional cases, since the PAHO report published June 23. Deaths rose by 72 per cent, comprising some 300,000 additional deaths.

In a press briefing this week, PAHO director Carissa F Etienne said rising numbers of cases signal an urgent need to implement public health measures to slow the spread of covid19 such as contact tracing, social distancing, sheltering in place and limits on public gatherings.

“We can’t stop all transmission, but if countries stay vigilant and expand testing and surveillance, they can better identify spikes in cases and act quickly to contain them before they spread out of control."

When contacted Friday, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said he was in a meeting discussing covid19 and referred Newsday to his corporate communications manager.