Tobago has 24 new covid19 cases

Tobago has recorded 24 new covid19 cases, the highest number recorded on the island in one day.

On Thursday, the Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development's morning update said 18 of the new cases are at the Tobago Convict Prison, in Scarborough. It said 13 are prisoners and five are prison officers.

The other six new cases are primary contacts linked to other cases.

There are now 34 active cases.

This brings the number of cases in Tobago to 102 overall. There have been two deaths and 66 people have been discharged.

The recent cases at the Tobago prison came three days after the prison recorded its first case.

Acting county medical officer Dr Tiffany Hoyte announced, during the division's virtual press conference, on Tuesday, a prisoner complained of feeling unwell and was taken to the Scarborough General Hospital, where he was swabbed. He tested positive on Tuesday.

At that time president of the Prison Officers Association Ceron Richards raised concerns about the prison infrastructure saying an inmate testing positive would be a disaster.

-FEAR OF TOBAGO COVID19 PRISON OUTBREAK

The prison was put on lockdown and all prisoners and prison officers were tested.

The release said a facility is being prepared to isolate and treat the prisoners and Ministry of National Security staff are expected to inspect it soon.

Since it is not ready, prisoners with the virus will be transferred to Trinidad on Thursday afternoon on a Coast Guard vessel.

The division will continue to monitor other prisoners and prison officers and if symptoms develop they will be retested.