There have been 179 COVID-19 cases and 31 deaths from October 2023 to February 2024, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh revealed in Parliament yesterday.
He gave the figures in response to a question from United National Congress MP Dr Lackram Bodoe. Deyalsingh said there were 179 confirmed COVID-19 cases for the period October 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024. He also said there were 31 deaths over the period. Hospitals being used for COVID treatment are mainly the Couva Hospital and San Fernando General Hospital. Cases vary between six to ten at any one time, he added.
Deyalsingh said the medical and demographic profiles of those who died were the elderly. He said there were 26 persons over age 60 and 16 were over 80.
But more importantly, he added, “The comorbidities. Diabetes were present in 42 per cent of the cases, hypertension in 55 per cent of cases and 39 per cent had both diabetes and hypertension. Other comorbidities—chronic kidney disease, cardiac failure, malignancy, stroke, Parkinson’s disease.”
Earlier in the sitting, when Deyalsingh deferred Opposition questions on the deaths of seven babies at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital—since he said he was making a statement on the matter shortly—UNC MPs protested at length.
Deputy House Speaker Esmond Forde, who had to call for order several times, asked UNC MP Roodal Moonilal to withdraw a statement he’d made about Deyalsingh. Moonilal, who initially asked which one, eventually did so.