Rishard Khan
COVID-19 cases continue to climb in T&T and the Ministry of Health is projecting that it could near 1,000 cases per day by the month’s end if the spread continues at its current rate.
The warning came from the Ministry of Health’s Epidemiology Division’s technical director Dr Avery Hinds at Monday’s virtual press conference.
“Looking at the end of this month, if we continue at the rate we were going for the first few couple of weeks in November, the possibility of getting to 1,000 cases a day is actually quite real,” Hinds said.
During his epidemiological update, he noted that cases over the previous two weeks increased by 60 per cent.
“There’s basically a 60 per cent increase between the last completed week which is week 45 and the previous week, 44. We’re currently in 46 and looking at the pace we are currently proceeding, we’re hoping again that we don’t exceed the previous week’s total,” he said.
Already for this week, 748 cases have been recorded. The Ministry of Health confirmed 403 new cases yesterday from samples collected between November 11 and 13.
Hinds appealed to the population that its help was now needed in slowing the onslaught of this new wave of infections.
“We do want to encourage the population to put their own brakes on this by; a) getting vaccinated b) reducing unnecessary movement, c) adhering to the public health guidelines,” he said.
He also urged people who were in home quarantine and isolation to remain at home and not to interact with others. He also advised people to visit their healthcare institutions for medical attention if their condition changes.
The Ministry of Health also recorded 12 additional COVID-19 deaths yesterday bringing the toll up to 1,870.—