Doctor warns: Covid19 danger in Halloween limes

Dr Joanne Paul, head of the Paediatric Emergency Department, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, is warning strongly against possible covid19 “super spreader gatherings,” especially on Halloween (October 31).

She made the statement at the Health Ministry’s virtual press conference on Monday morning.

She said she understands the current lockdown measures do not leave room for as much fun as usual, but they are necessary to defeat the virus.

“I’ve been dying to go to the beach, so I know for you it has been the same thing – the rivers; we want our economy to come back or at least restart; we want to go back to church; we want our kids to go back to school; we want our entertainment industry to go back to some semblance of normalcy…”

She asked the public to follow the acronym MESS, which stands for Mask-wearing and handwashing, Exercise and immune strength, Social distancing and no Super-spreader events.

She recommended exercising for 30-plus minutes at least four times a week, as the most frequent comorbidities in local cases are diabetes, obesity and hypertension.

She said as Halloween approaches, there should still be no gatherings.

“I know as Trinidadians and Tobagonians, we want to go out there and lime and get together, because that’s our culture. But the virus thrives on having that super-spreader event.

“I strongly recommend that we do no trick-or-treating, no Halloween parties (because) in a few weeks’ time, we’ll spike again and we’ll go back to the same situation.”

On October 11, the Prime Minster said he hoped that by Halloween, the covid19 numbers would be significantly reduced to allow celebrants to take part in the festivities without restrictions.