By Chantalé Fletecher
FIFTY-SEVEN percent of the 52 Covid-19 cases reported on August 12 in Tobago were primary contacts of positive patients.
Speaking at the Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development virtual presser on Thursday, County Medical Officer of Health for Tobago Dr Tiffany Hoyte said these were people in contact with others known to have Covid-19.
The doctor said, “Through contact tracing, we found that 57% of those cases were persons who were primary contacts.”
She gave a summary of Covid-19 cases revealed on August 12 and 13.
Dr Hoyte said that 42% of cases on that day would have been from persons who had no known contact with anyone with Covid-19.
In referring to August 13, which recorded 52 new cases, she said, “Sixty-eight persons were known contacts but 31.37% would have been person who had no known contact with persons with Covid-19.”
Dr Hoyte revealed that on August 12 and 13, the majority of cases were found in persons retired, unemployed, minors and children.
In addition, she added that balance came from workplaces such as private companies, Tobago House of Assembly, T&TEC, Prisons and Airports Authority, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), auxiliary staff and the Scarborough General Hospital.
Dr Hoyte said more women compared to men contracted Covid-19 from January to July.
She said, “July thus far, recorded the largest number of cases as there were 610 confirmed Covid-19 cases whereby 56% of the cases were female and 44% were male.”
She stated that the majority of the cases for July were found between the age s of 21 to 60 years.
The CMOH made reference to the age distribution of Covid-19 cases.
She said that “The majority of the cases lined in the age range from 21 to 60 years which encompasses the majority of working members. This shows the workforce being affected when we have an increased in numbers which in the long run could lead to negative effects and productivity.”
