Hinds: Eight prisoners, 17 officers have covid19

MINISTER of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds said eight prison inmates and 17 prison officers have contracted the covid19 virus, answering a question in the Senate on Tuesday from Opposition Senator Wade Mark.

Hinds said Trinidad and Tobago's ten prison facilities (which include one in Tobago) have 3,802 prisoners.

"Thankfully, at present we report a mere eight covid-positive inmates and 17 covid-positive officers. The eight inmates are kept in separate facilities from the general population at the Eastern Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre (ECRC.)" He said they are supervised by officers outfitted with full personal protective equipment (PPE).

"We have, as well a total of 82 prison officers in quarantine, having either been in contact with, or suspected to have been in contact with, covid-positive persons. Seventeen of these officers are at home and of course in quarantine.

"This is a major advance and improvement from the circumstances last year, when we had as many as 80-plus inmates and 250 officers infected."

He said the prison service was continuing to respond sensibly to the ongoing threat by continuing separation at the ECRC.

Opposition Senator Jayanti Lutchmedial, in a separate question, asked how many samples which had tested positive for covid19 nationwide had then been tested for the Brazilian strain, P1.

In reply, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said in 2020 TT had obtained the facilities to do genomic sequencing. "The policy at the UWI at this time – it will expand – is to test all positive repatriated persons. In that regard, 284 positive samples, based on repatriation and other contacts, like migrants, were tested. So the answer is 284."

Lutchmedial asked about any steps taken to increase such genomic testing for the Brazilian strain.

Deyalsingh replied, "This is a university project, not a Ministry of Health project. However the Ministry of Health had pledged financial contributions towards the university, and in a meeting I had a couple of months ago with Her Excellency (British High Commissioner) Harriet Cross, we are in talks with Public Health England to strengthen the UWI with technical expertise. So we are working to strengthen both technically and financially, so more testing can be done."

Independent Senator Paul Richards, in a separate question, asked how the Brazilian strain had entered TT, whose borders have been under lockdown for over a year.

Deyalsingh replied this would have happened through individuals entering TT by whichever means. Richards pressed. Deyalsingh said the first case was found in a Venezuelan migrant.