Dr Hinds: No time for covid fatigue

EPIDEMIOLOGIST Dr Avery Hinds could not say whether or not people who participated in a Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Finance Division "team-building exercise" last week had been tested or quarantined in keeping with covid19 protocols.

Hinds was also unable to provide information on a task force which Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh last week said would address public and private gatherings that could be possible covid19 superspreader events.

At the virtual health news conference on Monday, Hinds explained, "Quarantine testing and other activities along those lines are initiated or triggered by the actual identification of a confirmed covid case and confirmed covid risk.

"In the absence of that, none of the above or previously asked activities would apply or be relevant."

A video of the event circulated on social media showed a large gathering of people in an office setting. Most were wearing masks but they were seated or standing close together, singing and dancing.

On Deyalsingh's announcement of a task force of public health inspectors to address private and public gatherings which flout covid19 regulations, Hinds said such information could either be provided by Deyalsingh or the Office of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs if changes in legislation were needed.

On November 24, Deyalsingh said, "The task force will be working with the police to go into private property under the public health ordinance because it speaks of an imminent threat. If we feel there's an imminent threat, we can take action and we will take action because apparently that's the only thing people will respond to."

He also said he spoke with National Security Minister Stuart Young about how to use existing legislation to disperse people in their private settings.

Hinds cautioned the population that although Trinidad and Tobago is now recording a daily average of 30 new covid19 positive cases, now is not the time to become complacent or covid19-fatigued. Reiterating warnings from both Deyalsingh and the Prime Minister about large gatherings during the Christmas season, Hinds encouraged people to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones through virtual limes or virtual gatherings.

He stressed the current daily average of new covid19 cases was not a licence for anyone to relax. He explained the reason why the daily average is 30 and not a higher number is because of the covid19 measures in place and the behaviour of the population.

Hinds said even with the arrival of a tested and effective covid19 vaccine, "retrograde steps" like no mask-wearing in public cannot be contemplated in the near future.

He reminded his audience that the 1918 flu pandemic happened in waves over two years and said covid19 should be looked at similarly.

Even with a vaccine, Hinds said, the data would have to be examined as to how close the country is to the end of the tunnel.

"Where the fatigue is concerned, we do understand that doing things differently does create some level of stress and tiredness," he acknowledged.

Hinds reiterated that people should adhere to covid19 protocols during Christmas.