As the long Easter weekend comes into full gear, the scary news of another 44 people in Trinidad and Tobago comes positive for Covid-19.
The numbers have been rising steadily over the past few days, forcing the government to ban all contact sports that relaxed earlier this year.
The ministry on Thursday announced 46 new cases and three additional deaths due to the virus, which claimed the toll to 145.
Prime Minister, dr. Keith Rowley, urged the population to comply with Covid restrictions and protocols and said the country was at a dangerous crossroads.
The 44 cases announced on Good Friday came from samples taken during the period March 30 and April 1, and not in the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health said in its daily clinical update.
As of Thursday night, the Ministry of Health said that the current number of active positive cases across the country now stands at 347. So far, 8,116 people have tested positive for the virus, and 145 of them are dying from the disease.
According to the ministry of those who tested positive, 7,624 of them have fully recovered. Twenty-seven patients are currently admitted to the hospital, while 389 are in state quarantine facilities and 270 in isolation at home.
Six patients are in retrenchment facilities, the release reads.
According to the ministry, of the 110,842 people tested, 52,385 were done at private facilities.
Second dose guidelines
In the meantime, if the Covid-19 vaccine is administered, the vaccinated person should return to the same facility for their second dose.
This was the instruction given by the Ministry of Health in a release yesterday.
However, the administration of the second dose of vaccine has yet to be decided.
Earlier this week, the country received 33,600 of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine through the COVAX, and the Ministry of Health plans to conduct Phase 6 of the National Covid-19 vaccination program on 6 April. The vaccines expire on May 31st.
This vaccine should be given in two doses, while the second dose should be administered eight to 12 weeks after the first dose. It has yet to be decided whether all 33,600 will be administered for the first shot and then await the second dose of COVAX for the second shot.
The chief medical officer, Dr Roshan Parasram, said it would be decided in the coming weeks.
He said during the Covid-19 news conference of the Ministry of Health on Wednesday: ‘What we are going to do is use the first half of the 33,000 and basically determine if and when we get the second stock, and then we make a decision. then if to use this 16,000 and keep for the second dose, or go ahead and use all 33,000 for a first dose.
“And of course give the second dose when the other amount of AstraZeneca comes in. So this is something we will decide in the coming weeks as soon as we are 16,000, or half of the 33,000 of the first vaccine.”
In the first phase are healthcare workers and people aged 60 and older with non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
21 vaccine sites
The Ministry of Health has meanwhile identified 21 Covid-19 vaccine facilities across the country that will provide the vaccine.
Those who are part of NCD clinics at these facilities do not need to pre-register or make an appointment to get the vaccine. The vaccine is offered during their NCD clinic appointment.
Other members of the public who are 60 years and older with NCDs can call the designated Covid-19 vaccination facilities to make an appointment on non-NCD clinic days.
One thousand people are expected to be vaccinated daily. Vaccination is voluntary in this country.
The release also said that those who receive the Covid-19 vaccine on the day should make sure they eat a good meal or a non-alcoholic beverage and wear clothing that provides easy access to the upper arm for vaccination.
The person must also carry a valid identification, clinic card – where applicable – and a vaccination card to the facility.
If a person does not have a vaccination card, one is given. This card will be updated with the type of Covid-19 vaccine administered, the date received and the next appointment date.
The vaccinated will be observed for 30 minutes before leaving the facility.
“Individuals must return to the same institution for their second dose of vaccine,” the release said.
A list of the 21 designated Covid-19 facilities and contact numbers is available on the Covid-19 website of the Ministry of Health.