Docs: Covid19 may overload parallel health care if we don’t behave

IN YET ANOTHER plea to the public to avoid large gatherings, Ministry of Health officials have warned that ignoring medical advice or public health regulations could lead to a spike in covid19 cases which could overwhelm the parallel healthcare system even before the end of the Christmas season.

Medical professionals speaking during the ministry’s virtual covid19 update on Wednesday advised the public to avoid Christmas gatherings, as a rise in cases is expected in the new year, because of Christmas and New Year gatherings.

“We are hoping that the behaviours that we demonstrate during Christmas do not lead to the kind of spike that is possible if we operate as we normally do,” said Dr Avery Hinds. “If we are not adherent, we can end up in a situation where we could overload our healthcare capacity, even before the Christmas season is finished.”

Principal Medical Officer Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards said at present the parallel healthcare system is at 12 per cent capacity.

The capacity for ward-level patients – those who are infected but are not experiencing extreme symptoms – is at about 14 per cent. The High Dependency Unit is at 19 per cent capacity and the Intensive Care Unit capacity at eight per cent.

But there are several factors that could change the numbers, including repatriated TT nationals who are said to be coming in by the hundreds.

She said on Thursday 120 nationals will be repatriated, and another 120, from Barbados, shortly after.

“The parallel healthcare system has to take in certain factors and consider that these are nationals from high-risk countries, and so we have to have accommodation in the event that a large number of people test positive.”

In answering questions Richards said some parts of the traditional healthcare system have already been affected by the response to covid19. She said the ministry had decreased its clinic numbers to prevent people from congregating and putting themselves at risk of contracting the virus.

“This may have led to longer waiting times for clinic appointments.

"However, we have prioritised appointments based on the severity of the patients’ conditions. We have also added additional clinics to reduce the backlog.”