EDITOR’S NOTE: As COVID-19 infections trend downward in some Caribbean countries, Trinidad and Tobago is entering its third wave. In this newsletter, #HealthCaribbean therefore features the twin-island state of Trinidad and Tobago. As usual, additional content can be found in our Twitter feed (@HealthC_bean).

Our headline, taken from the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, reads: “Outdoor Activities Banned For Another Six Weeks”. Restrictions started on 29 April and COVID-19 cases increased exponentially in May, leading to a record high of over 8,000 cases on 21 May. A State of Emergency was called on 15 May and restrictions have now been extended until 4 July.

Deaths due to the virus have climbed to 317 following the death of 23 people on 11 May — the highest recorded daily number of deaths to date. The Principal Medical Officer of Health — Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards — revealed, on that day, that the High Dependency Unit was fully occupied and the Intensive Care Unit 77 per cent full.

China had donated 100,000 doses of their Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines to Trinidad and Tobago and vaccination started in South Trinidad on 14 May. But as cases rise, Oxygen suppliers complain that stocks of their product are being depleted by hoarding and panic-buying, but advised that additional stock is forthcoming.

See Original | Powered by elink