Covid19 caseload 'pretty good' but stats say expect a death a day

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh says TT is in a "pretty good position" with regards to its daily caseload. But he warned that based on the current statistics, there may end up being one or two deaths daily.

He was speaking at a press conference at the Anne Mitchell-Gift Auditorium at the Scarborough Library Facility in Tobago on Saturday afternoon.

As of 4 pm on Saturday, the total number of active cases was 1,380 and the total number of recorded positive cases was 5,503.

A total of 4,018 patients have recovered thus far, while 71 remain in hospital and 42 remain in step-down facilities.

The death toll is now at 105, while 157 people are in state quarantine and 1,267 are self-isolating.

Deyalsingh said, "We are averaging 30 to 40 cases per day, and when you take away the imported cases, we are in the late 20s to early 30s. That is a pretty good position to be in.

"It has been a team effort of all 1.4 million people. We did this together – members of the public, the business community, medical workers and so on."

He warned if the public does not continue to comply with the public health recommendations, these numbers will "spoil very easily.

"Strangely, the average number of daily cases shows no sign of slowing down globally although we are in the opposite direction."

He said while TT's numbers are significantly low, it should be contextualised what is happening globally.

"It may surprise people to know that we are now touching 500,000 new cases per day, globally. There are some countries with one million-plus cases and four countries with over 800,000. Those are not good global statistics. There is no slowing down at the global level."

He added that the average daily death toll stands at 7,000, globally.

"In the TT context, if we continue with 30 to 40 to 50 cases a day, given our case fatality ratio of 1.77, it means we can expect one or two persons per day, unfortunately, dying from the disease."

He reminded the public the majority of deaths have been elderly patients with co-morbidities and emphasised the importance of keeping the elderly safe.

"Treat the elderly with a deep sense of regard and respect

"We plead with families to treat your elderly at home and put them into a cocoon. Don't invite people into your homes, family into your homes, don't have birthday parties at home."

He said TT's healthcare system has not been overwhelmed at any point in this pandemic, which he does not want to happen.