[UPDATED] PM: Trinidad and Tobago 44th in world covid19 death/infection ratio

THE Prime Minister has said Trinidad and Tobago has a reasonable case/fatality ratio (CFR) among its covid19 patients that ranks it at 44th in the world.

The WHO website says the CFR is "the proportion of individuals diagnosed with a disease who die from that disease, and is therefore a measure of severity among detected cases."

Dr Rowley was in the House of Representatives on Monday replying to a question on notice by Naparima MP Rodney Charles, who asked if the PM was concerned that TT, with almost similar climatic, demographic, and social characteristics as its Caricom neighbours, has one of the highest rates of covid19 deaths per capita in the world.

Rowley in reply scoffed that TT's fatalities would have been much worse of the Government had heeded opposition advice to use sunshine against covid19.

He said the CFR was a global standard found by comparing the number of deaths by the number of positive cases.

"We are not considered to have the highest case fatality rate in Caricom.

"Our CFR is 2.98, with the global case fatality rate varying considerably, based on the point in time it is calculated and the methodology used by different countries to ascribe cases and deaths. The range goes from 0.1 to 19.5, with our CFR of 2.98 placing us 44th in the world and 51st in deaths per capita."

Rowley said the premise of Charles's question was entirely inaccurate.

"Our demographic profile is entirely different to the rest of Caricom and we have one of the highest rates of NCDs (non-communicable diseases) in Caricom, incidentally."

Charles asked if the PM was aware that data from Johns Hopkins University placed TT first in the world per capita for covid19 deaths.

Rowley replied, "These things have been varying for the past two years and our (opposition) colleagues are only concerned where we are when they think we are in a bad position. When we are in a good position they dismiss it.

"Covid has been varying with respect to its level of infection, spikes and deaths.

"We, Madam Speaker, this Government, the people of TT, have been there in the 'ups' and the 'downs' and we are going to fight this battle and win it, like every other country."

When Newsday checked the Johns Hopkins University at 7 pm on Wednesday, it saw TT ranked as 44th worst in deaths per 100,000 of population, and 33rd worst in survivability of patients or the CFR.

TT's deaths per 100,000 of population ratio was 172. This was better than 423 for Bulgaria (worst), 256 for Colombia, 242 for USA, 232 for Mexico, 219 for UK, 196 for Russia, 181 for France and Caricom's Grenada was 178.

TT's case fatality ratio was 2.99 per cent, better than Yemen (worst country at 19.58 per cent), Mexico (7.57 per cent), China (4.32 per cent), Hungary (3.08 per cent) and from Caricom, Grenada (3.38 per cent) and Bahamas (3.09 per cent). But not as good as Germany (1.61 per cent), USA (1.59 per cent), UK (1.34 per cent) and Barbados (0.94 per cent).

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

THE Prime Minister has said Trinidad and Tobago has a reasonable case/fatality ratio (CFR) among its covid19 patients that ranks it at 44th in the world.

The WHO website says the CFR is "the proportion of individuals diagnosed with a disease who die from that disease, and is therefore a measure of severity among detected cases."

Dr Rowley was in the House of Representatives on Monday replying to a question on notice by Naparima MP Rodney Charles, who asked if the PM was concerned that TT, with almost similar climatic, demographic, and social characteristics as its Caricom neighbours, has one of the highest rates of covid19 deaths per capita in the world.

Rowley in reply scoffed that TT's fatalities would have been much worse of the Government had heeded opposition advice to use sunshine against covid19.

He said the CFR was a global standard found by comparing the number of deaths by the number of positive cases.

"We are not considered to have the highest case fatality rate in Caricom.

"Our CFR is 2.98, with the global case fatality rate varying considerably, based on the point in time it is calculated and the methodology used by different countries to ascribe cases and deaths. The range goes from 0.1 to 19.5, with our CFR of 2.98 placing us 44th in the world and 51st in deaths per capita."

Rowley said the premise of Charles's question was entirely inaccurate.

"Our demographic profile is entirely different to the rest of Caricom and we have one of the highest rates of NCDs (non-communicable diseases) in Caricom, incidentally."

Charles asked if the PM was aware that data from Johns Hopkins University placed TT first in the world per capita for covid19 deaths.

Rowley replied,"These things have been varying for the past two years and our (opposition) colleagues are only concerned where we are when they think we are in a bad position. When we are in a good position they dismiss it.

"Covid has been varying with respect to its level of infection, spikes and deaths.

"We, Madam Speaker, this Government, the people of TT, have been there in the 'ups' and the 'downs' and we are going to fight this battle and win it, like every other country."