‘So although places are open. It is by no means safe.’ – CMO Dr Roshan Parasram
By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE Omicron variant of concern of the Covid-19 virus is spreading as quickly as measles.
This was the revelation made by Chief Medical Officer(CMO) Dr Roshan Parasram at the virtual media conference of the Ministry of Health on Wednesday.
He said although places may be open, they were not safe and he advised people to go back to basics to help fight the pandemic with Trinidad and Tobago now going through its third wave of infections.
Dr Parasram used the figures from the United Kingdom and South Africa to show how the Omicron variant quickly it was spreading.
T&T reported its first case of the Omicron variant in a woman who came into the country from New York via Panama on Thursday.
The CMO said the Omicron was now reported in 77 countries and to see it doubling in a few days in some countries was comparable to measles.
Dr Parasram said, “It is looking like somethings comparable to measles.
“Measles is one of the most highly infectious diseases we would have seen there is an R Naught of 15 to 18 thereabout.”
He said, “If Omicron is twice as transmissible as Delta which has an R Naught of anywhere between five and eight. Possible the way it is moving in Trinidad and other territories Delta would have been closer to eight.
“We are looking at an R Naught (with Omicron) in excess of 15 which means it will spread through a country very quickly.” R Naught is a mathematical term that indicates how contagious is a disease.
Back to Basics
Dr Parasram said, “Therein lies the concern. So once you have a disease that transmits very quickly in terms of the impact on the health system, you see a large surge very quickly and the impact cannot be mitigated on the health system unless the case numbers go down.”
He said, “We have to really go back to basics very quickly, so adhere to the public health guidelines – wearing our mask, watching our distance, avoid gatherings at all cost as much as possible, vaccinate and get our boosters as needed.”
Not Safe
The CMO said, “For a lot of the places that we see open basically the pedestrian green light is on. So if you looking at crossing a road for example, and you see a green light on, but there is oncoming traffic, you look both ways you make sure that it’s safe.
“So although places are open. It is by no means safe.”
Omicron Case
He said the patient with Omicron in T&T still had very mild symptoms.
Dr Parasram said the primary contacts on the flight with the woman who had the Omicron, still had no symptoms and will be tested on day 12 of their quarantine period and once negative will be released.
He said the 14 primary contacts of the Omicron patient were not allowed to quarantine at home but had to go directly to a step-down facility for the quarantine period and must produce two negative tests before being allowed to leave the facility.
On the Omicron variant, Dr Parasram said, “As of yesterday, 77 countries have now reported this variant of concern. Community transmission and clusters are being reported in a number of those countries. The variant according to WHO Director-General is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any other variants of concern we have seen before.”
He continued, “It appears to have a growth advantage over Delta and there is concern that people are dismissing Omicron as a mild variant.”
‘Don’t Become Complacent’
The CMO said that data was still in the early stages and the population should not become complacent and say that the variant was mild without the necessary supporting data.
If the Omicron causes severe diseases, that information was still to be determined but it can cause healthcare systems to be overwhelmed given its rapid spread rate with preliminary data suggesting a possible reduction in vaccine efficacy and effectiveness against the variant, Dr Parasram said.
He used as examples, South Africa having low Delta circulation and the UK having high Delta circulation.
Referring to the UK, Dr Parasram said, “As of December 13, the UK confirmed 7,173 cases of the (Omicron) variant. Their data suggests that it is transmitting more effectively than Delta and cases are doubling every two to three days.”
He said the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned that “a tidal wave of Omicron is coming.”
If the trend continues, by mid-December, the Omicron variant could become the dominant strain of the Covid-19 virus in the UK.
Speaking about South Africa, Dr Parasram gave information from November 26. South Africa reported then, 2,828 new Covid-19 cases and by December 12, there were 37,875 new Covid-19 cases being reported.
Deyalsingh’s Booster
The CMO also said the ministry was doing whatever it could to increase hospital capacity in the parallel healthcare system.
The health officials again appealed to all those already fully vaccinated to get their booster shots within the allotted time period and to go back to basics very quickly with adherence to public health protocols.
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said because of Christmas and the increased movement of people, those vaccinated should consider getting the booster shot during the season.
He gave his own experience saying he spent only 20 minutes when he received his Pfizer booster on Tuesday.
