Health Minister praises Muslims' discipline in fight against covid19

Anticipating an increase in covid19 cases, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh called on the nation to be as disciplined as Muslims. He said that would help reduce the number of new cases.

Deyalsingh delivered the feature address at the opening of the Ash-Shiffa Wellness Medical Centre at Cacandee Road, Felicity, Chaguanas, on Sunday. The centre is the brainchild of the Islamic Fada'il Services Trust (IFST), a registered NGO.

He recalled that when covid19 struck last year, he met with the Muslim community’s representatives on plans to deal with the pandemic. He congratulated them for being disciplined "as the Muslim community is known for."

"It is that discipline we (Trinidad and Tobago) need to get back to, to bring the numbers down. But it may get worse before it gets better," Deyalsingh said.

Deyalsingh’s praise comes as Muslims prepare to observe the holy month of Ramadan starting Tuesday.

The minister charged that, about a month ago, TT’s seven-day rolling average was three. As of Saturday, it stood at 35. Deyalsingh referred to the spike as "scary," adding the people driving the current surge are between 20 and 49.

This group, he said, feels it cannot put its social life on hold.

He said most of the group would recover if they got the virus, but such people, because of their behaviour, could infect the elderly. For every 30 to 50 cases, an elderly person has died, he said.

The minister appealed to young people and the young-at-heart to be responsible and adhere to the public-health guidelines.

"The vaccination is not a silver bullet to destroy covid. It will give you an extra layer of protection," Deyalsingh told the small spaced-out gathering.

"Covid must not derail us from serving God, serving the community. It must not stop us from doing what is right and righteous."

In addition to the 33,600 doses of the World Health Organization-approved AstraZeneca covid19 vaccine TT received, this country expects to get 40,000 doses as a gift from India. Those vaccines, originally scheduled to arrive on Monday, were delayed. A new arrival date has not yet been established.

"We have a further 77,000 from the Covax facility hopefully by the end of the week," Deyalsingh said.

"China has promised 100,000 doses as soon as it gets the WHO-certification. The vaccine programme in terms of numbers is in a good place."

Deyalsingh promised that he would be making an announcement on the start of phase two of the vaccination rollout to include essential workers in the upcoming weeks. Phase three would follow to allow vaccination for the general population.

Speaking with reporters after the opening, Deyalsingh said, since the rollout, there have been no reports of anyone with adverse side effects caused by the vaccine.

So far, over 7,000 people have been vaccinated nationwide.

"There have been, as expected, some side effects like pain from the injection, fevers and so on."

Asked whether the Government was contemplating further lockdown measures in light of the expected rise, the minister responded that such decisions lie with the Prime Minister.

Deyalsingh also refrained from commenting on Dr Rowley's health. He said those updates would be done by the Prime Minister himself or his office.

On the centre's opening, Deyalsingh, earlier in the ceremony, said IFST members, including its chairman Imam Rasheed Karim, were catering to people outside their faith – Hindus, Christians, and non-believers.

Looking at Karim, Deyalsingh said: "May Allah bless you richly. It is an honour and privilege to celebrate volunteerism, selflessness, the ability to serve others without expecting a tangible reward, and everything that is good in TT."

Karim said the centre was geared at providing services not only for Felicity or the Muslim community but also for the country. The imam said Felicity, a community with 13,000 to 14,000 people, has been starving for medical attention.

He cited traffic congestion as a major obstacle for people getting to the nearest health centre in Chaguanas.

Karim vowed that the newly-opened centre would assist people the best way it can.