[UPDATED] Deyalsingh: No knee-jerk reaction to new covid19 variant

PAULA LINDO

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said there will be no knee-jerk reaction to TT having its first case of the UK covid19 variant.

He said the existing public health regulations would remain until the ministry was able to review the epidemiological evidence. He made the statement before the announcement by Britain’s Prime Minister that the variant could be deadlier than first thought.

At a media conference on Friday, Deyalsingh said the message is one of concern, but the policy of state quarantine for returning nationals is what enabled health authorities here to identify the case of the variant. “It is not the intention of the Ministry of Health to recommend any further restrictions.

“When we make changes, it will be based on the science, on projects, on trajectory, on whether this is found in the local population.

“But, for right now, we are not making any knee-jerk or panicked reactions. We are guided by the protocols of a closed border, managed repatriation by the national security minister, which has saved this country, and the quarantining of repatriated nationals for seven or 14 days.”

He appealed to citizens to be responsible.

“The only and best tool and weapon we have right now are the public health measures: wear your mask, distance, stay home if you are ill – and a note to employers to put the necessary measures in place like thermal screening, etc; sanitise; cough into your hand; don’t touch your face; clean and sanitise surfaces, including cell phones, doorknobs, tables, including restaurants, etc. Take your own precautions.”

Deyalsingh urged the population to avoid gatherings of any sort.

“Whether it’s political rallies – and we urge political parties to follow the protocols submitted to the EBC, to virtual and Carnival fetes – where people are being encouraged to have fetes in their backyards, to large weddings, to gatherings in a church, mosque, or mandir, we are imploring people to avoid all potential areas of spread via gatherings.

Anyone planning gatherings should stick to the public health regulations and guidelines which we have issued.”

Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram said he would be asking Dr Christine Carrington to submit, weekly, the results of the gene sequencing project at UWI, St Augustine to be included in the clinical update. He explained that the gene sequencing process takes a few hours.

“Once we get positives, we send those from CARPHA to UWI to do the gene sequencing.

“The process can be done in a few hours. If there is a concern about a particular individual and we want a quick turnaround, we can alert CARPHA and they will send to UWI.”

Deyalsingh said there were currently no plans to change measures for the reopening of schools, and any such change would be announced by Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, who was aware of the new strain being present in TT.

The health minister said TT is on track to receive vaccines in March 2021.

“We have asked for 50,000 vaccines in the first instance, though this does not mean we will get it all or at the same time. This will vaccinate 25,000 people based on a two-shot regime.

“The first shot is the primer and the second shot is the booster. We are requesting that amount to vaccinate healthcare workers and people in long-stay homes, etc.”

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said there will be no knee-jerk reaction to Trinidad and Tobago having its first case of the UK covid19 variant.

He said the current regulations in place would remain so until the ministry was able to review the epidemiological evidence.

Speaking at the ministry's media conference on Friday, Deyalsingh said the message is one of concern, but the current protocols in place had caught the case present in a repatriated national.

He said there were currently no plans to change measures for reopening schools, and any such change would be announced by Education Minister Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, who was aware of the new strain being present in TT.

He urged citizens to continue following the public health measures in order to reduce the spread of covid19.

'The only and best tool and weapon we have right now are the public health measures: wear your mask, distance, stay home if you are ill – and a note to employers to put the necessary measures in place like thermal screening, etc; sanitise; cough into your hand; don’t touch your face; clean and sanitise surfaces, including cell phones, doorknobs, tables, including restaurants, etc,; take your own precautions."

Deyalsingh also implored the public not to gather in large numbers, whether it be for political rallies, weddings, Carnival fetes, or any other purpose.