In a press release issued this morning, the Ministry of Health stated that there were three additional cases of COVID-19 in this country bringing the total to 60.
Two of the cases are nationals who returned from the cruise and the other has a history of recent travel.
The following is a press release from the Ministry of Health:
Port-of-Spain, March 25, 2020: As part of the national drive to safeguard the health of the Trinidad and Tobago population in the face of the global COVID-19 outbreak, the Ministry of Health continues to provide up-to-date information on the country’s status in this regard.
As of the morning of Wednesday, 25th March, 2020, the Ministry reports the following:
- Number of samples submitted to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for testing for COVID-19 = 370
- Number of samples which have tested positive = 60
Three (3) additional persons have tested positive for COVID-19.
- Cases fifty-eight (58) and fifty-nine (59) have a history of recent travel.
- Case sixty (60) is an additional positive case from the group of sixty-eight (68) nationals who returned from the cruise.
Forty-four (44) of these positive cases came from the group of nationals who recently returned from a cruise, (41 from the group of 68 nationals who returned together and three additional persons, who were also on the cruise, but returned to Trinidad and Tobago separately, from the other 68).
The Ministry of Health urges the public to wash your hands regularly with soap and water or thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub if soap and water are not available.
Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands. Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
The public is also urged to take the following personal hygiene measures to protect themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19:
1. Wash your hands properly with soap and water
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if water and soap are not available
2. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
- Dispose of tissue immediately after using
- Cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow if you do not have a tissue
3. Avoid touching your face
4. Sanitize hard surfaces (e.g. table tops, handrails, doorknobs and trolleys) as often as possible.
5. Avoid close contact with people who have flu-like symptoms
6. Practice social distancing
- Maintain at least 2 metres (6 feet) distance between yourself and others, especially anyone who is coughing or showing signs of illness
- Stay home if you are ill
7. It is also advised that all public transportation vehicles should operate with windows open and, where possible, limit their occupancy.
The Ministry will continue to provide accurate information to the public in a timely fashion. The public is therefore urged to disregard and avoid sharing all unconfirmed, misleading and/or false information about COVID-19 (formerly Novel Coronavirus).