[UPDATED] Dr Hinds: Covid19 numbers on the decline

Epidemiologist Dr Avery Hinds said figures for the month of June showed encouraging signs of a decline in covid19 cases.

Hinds was speaking at the Ministry of Health’s press conference on Wednesday.

He said data so far for June showed an overall average positivity of about 35 per cent as compared to 43 per cent in the month of May.

The peak of the current wave of the virus, he said, was between the second and third weeks of May.

“We have seen lowered daily numbers as the month of June has progressed.”

He said in weeks 20 to 21 for the year so far — the last two weeks in May — covid19 cases began slowing down. Prior to this, cases had been steadily rising since March.

Hinds said in week 22 there was a ten per cent drop in cases and at the end of week 23 cases dropped by 30 per cent.

“Week 24 is ongoing and we hope the downward trend will continue,” he said.

“Even as we see these numbers begin to come down, don’t think it’s time to relax,” warned Hinds. “Now is the time to hold to restrictions. Wash your hands, wear your mask, and watch your social distancing…We need to continue to do this so numbers can continue this downward trend.”

Hinds also said that while he was not in a position to say that any one community has come down compared to another, the number of cases in a community is not necessarily related to an individual’s risk.

“It is more related to your personal webs of contact which may extend beyond your community,” he said. “We don’t want people to think if there are fewer numbers in the community then they are somehow safe.”

Later, the ministry, in its daily update at 4 pm, reported nine deaths and 297 new covid19 cases on Wednesday. Closing in on 700, the total number of deaths is now 695.

The new cases were detected from samples taken between June 12 and 15.

The ministry said there are 8,869 active cases. The number of cases to date is now 29,606.

It said 20,042 people have recovered and 455 people are currently in hospital. There are 138 people in step-down facilities, 213 in state quarantine, and 7,979 in self-isolation.

Some 168,477 people have received their first dose of the covid19 vaccine so far and 24,018 are now fully vaccinated.

The number of people tested for the virus to date is 213,924.

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

Epidemiologist Dr Avery Hinds said figures for June show encouraging signs of a decline in covid19 cases.

He was speaking at the Ministry of Health’s press conference on Wednesday.

He said data so far for this month showed an overall average positivity of about 35 per cent as compared to 43 per cent in May.

The peak of the current wave of the virus, he said, was between the second and third weeks of May.

“We have seen lowered daily numbers as the month of June has progressed.”

He said in weeks 20 to 21 — the last two weeks in May — covid19 cases began slowing down. Prior to this, cases had been steadily rising since March.

Hinds said that in week 22, there was a ten per cent drop in cases and at the end of week 23, cases dropped by 30 per cent. “Week 24 is ongoing and we hope the downward trend will continue,” he said.

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

Epidemiologist Dr Avery Hinds said figures for June show encouraging signs of a decline in covid19 cases.

He was speaking at the Ministry of Health’s press conference on Wednesday.

He said data so far for this month showed an overall average positivity of about 35 per cent as compared to 43 per cent in May.

The peak of the current wave of the virus, he said, was between the second and third weeks of May.

“We have seen lowered daily numbers as the month of June has progressed.”

He said in weeks 20 to 21 — the last two weeks in May — covid19 cases began slowing down. Prior to this, cases had been steadily rising since March.

Hinds said that in week 22, there was a ten per cent drop in cases and at the end of week 23, cases dropped by 30 per cent. “Week 24 is ongoing and we hope the downward trend will continue,” he said.