THERE are three more cases of the Delta variant of the Covid-19 virus in Trinidad and Tobago including an unvaccinated minor.
The Ministry of Health on Sunday confirmed the three additional cases which brings the total number of Delta cases detected to ten.
This means that the cases were contracted in the wider community and not from returning nationals who would have been in quarantine.
The ministry stated, “One case is a non-national who recently travelled to Trinidad from Venezuela. Another case is an unvaccinated minor. Epidemiological investigations into the source of transmission continue. The final case is an unvaccinated adult. Epidemiological investigations into the source of transmission continue.”
The new Delta cases come as the ministry reported three more deaths due to Covid-19 on Sunday.
The Covid-19 death toll in T&T was now 1,416.
The ministry also reported 123 new cases.
Speaking on CNC3 Morning Brew on Monday, Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh said the Delta variant would be very contagious in T&T.
He said, “If the Delta variant gets hold in what is largely an unvaccinated population, then heaven help us.”
The ministry stated that the presence of the Delta variant was confirmed via gene sequencing at the laboratory of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies. All patients have been placed in isolation until the enhanced discharge criteria for persons with Covid-19 variants of concern is achieved. Contact tracing, testing and quarantining of contacts have been initiated, the ministry stated.
It is reminding the population that research has suggested that the Delta variant was more easily spread from person to person and that vaccination and observing all health protocols guard against the transmission.
