Deyalsingh: Young people, sick workers driving new covid19 wave

YOUNG people socialising and employees going to work despite being ill are the two main drivers of TT's second wave of covid19 infections, said Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh.

He was speaking Monday during the virtual covid19 media conference.

He said, globally, the second wave was driven by young people who did not follow social-distancing rules.

"And this is being borne out by what we are seeing as the changing demographic in TT and...what is partially driving our second wave is the demographic of the 25s-49s who are taking the virus home, infecting the families, infecting the elders."

He said the governor of Miami on Monday morning on CNN said young people were going to underground parties or going home and consuming alcohol.

"We are again appealing to all young persons who want to go in their social gatherings, this is what is driving the second wave."

He appealed to young people to resist the temptation of social gatherings, especially where alcohol is involved.

"What you would normally do when you are in control of all your faculties you will not do when your inhibitions go down."

Asked about messaging to specially target the 25-49 group, Deyalsingh said the covid19 messaging was being totally revamped and the messages were being put on platforms frequented by this demographic, including social media sites like Instagram and Twitter.

He also said there were more reports of companies, both private and public including the health sector, where people who were knowingly ill were going to work and infecting whole workforces.

"And this is going to put a tremendous strain on the public health sector. I don't think we can legislate against that one but we are appealing once again."

He added: "We are again appealing to those individuals who are ill to stay home, see a doctor, get tested, isolate yourself."

Deyalsingh also provided some general figures on TT covid19 infections: local cases were 1,607 per million which is about 50 per cent of the global average; positive cases were 0.145 per cent of the population; and fatality rate is 1.5 per cent which is below global levels. He explained the objective was to turn this country back from community spread to cluster spread.

Epidemiologist Dr Avery Hinds presented a table showing the demographic characteristics of covid19 cases. He explained there was a preponderance of males over females and those aged 25-19 were those most affected while people aged between one and 19 accounted for ten per cent of cases.

In the age group 50-59 the number of women was higher than men but overall there were more men infected than women. Hinds pointed out there was a higher rate of fatalities among those over 49. He cautioned older people with co-morbidities to be more vigilant and aware of their health status, and if they become ill to contact their health facilities.

Asked the reason for the recent increase in the number of covid19 deaths – TT is currently at 37 with three more deaths reported Monday – Hinds explained this was because the reach of the virus was getting into vulnerable populations as community spread continued.

"The fact is anyone can be exposed. When vulnerable people are exposed they will have more serious illnesses and worse outcomes."

He cautioned people with diabetes, hypertension and other chronic diseases not to take any respiratory symptoms lightly but to seek medical care.

Asked about the compliance of people under stay-at-home quarantine and isolation, Hinds said there were daily checks and verbal compliance is received. He added there were one or two reports of quarantine breaches where the police had to be called in.

Asked about transmission by people in quarantine or isolation, Hinds said there had been cases and that continued to be a risk.

Hinds said there was a rapid increase in cases from the end of July into August while in September there were smaller numbers "but we do expect as updates go forward those numbers may increase slightly."