Point Fortin mayor in quarantine

POINT Fortin mayor Saleema McCree is now in quarantine, having been exposed to a covid19-positive contact

McCree Thomas, the mother of two, confirmed to Newsday that she is at home and has been isolated from the rest of her family since Wednesday.

She is the third public official in the last week to have gone into isolation. Former president Anthony Carmona and his daughter tested positive last week and, earlier this week, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi also went into quarantine.

The Prime Minister came out of quarantine early this week after testing negative for the virus he contracted around Easter.

McCree Thomas said out of an abundance of caution she went to the La Brea Health facility for a PCR test after she began haviting symptoms.

She is yet to receive the results, but said on the advice of her doctor she was told to stay indoors and in isolation for 14 days.

The mayor said she was doing well, working from home and was hoping the test result comes back negative.

She confirmed that the number of infections in the borough has increased.

“Last year, during the first wave, Point Fortin was not even on the map. If we had about five cases, we had a lot.

“This year, however, we have had an upsurge. I don’t have the exact figure, but we were informed as a council that the numbers are high and we ought to be very, very careful.”

While blame for the spread is being attributed to illegal immigrants coming through the southwestern peninsula, McCree Thomas said there is no evidence to chalk it up to any one factor.

Saying the surge came after the Easter weekend, the mayor said she believes people have become complacent, relaxed and comfortable and have not been adhering to the protocols of social distancing, wearing masks and sanitising.

“Or like the Minister of Health said, they are experiencing ‘pandemic fatigue.’

“As a council, we have not received any report to say people were doing any particular thing to cause the increase.”

She advised her burgesses to be more careful and cautious and understand that the virus and variants are present.

She said before Dr Rowley’s added restrictions on Thursday shutting down malls, churches, bars and restaurants, casinos, the borough, through its public health department, had started a drive to ensure compliance.

“We were doing an assessment of all the business places, from the smallest to the largest, making sure all the necessary precautions are being taken and signage is visible for persons to follow the protocols.

“This is ongoing. We are also on a drive to sanitise and do more than we were doing before.”

Vehicles carrying loudspeakers have been going through the area with recorded messages to continue to educate the public. Measures have been heightened at the Point Fortin market and other open spaces and the municipal police have also been tasked with patrolling the area to ensure compliance or enforce the law if necessary.

Employees at the corporation are working on rotation and the public is being serviced by appointment.

McCree Thomas said she has been seeing her constituents on Thursdays, virtually and by phone contact.