By Chantalé Fletcher
A new drug approved by the Ministry of Health to be used for Covid-19 patients is already being used on one.
This was revealed by Thoracic Medical Director of the Caura Hospital Dr Michelle Trotman at a press conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s on Saturday.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram has approved guidelines for the use of the new drug Tocilizumab.
Dr Trotman said that Tocilizumab or Sarilumab belonged to a group called Interleukin (IL-6 receptor blockers) which can be given once through the veins for those patients that clinicians would select and could make a difference.
She said the drug acts to prevent inflammations which is common among Covid-19 cases.
Dr Trotman said from June 8, the deaths of 341 who passed away due to Covid-19 have been reviewed and none of them were completely vaccinated.
She said, “Part of what we need to do is when that vaccine is presented to us, no matter which one, we know that it will reduce mortality but we also know that it reduces morbidity and that means how sick you will get.”
Dr Trotman said, “It will reduce the possibility of you getting into the hospital, so not only mortality but morbidity. Just by saying yes to the vaccine and those we are presenting to you which are all WHO approved, all the research has been done and we’re bringing it to you.”
Epidemiologist Dr Avery Hinds said there has been a decreasing trend in the number of Covid-19 cases.
He said, “May to June, and into fewer days of July, have shown a slow but consistent decrease in the number of cases by data swab.”
In relation to the positivity rate on a monthly basis, he said, “We have decreased from 13,085 in May down through June with 8,884 cases and we’re currently at 1,609 for the month of July. And at that pace, we expect July if things continue as they should accumulate fewer cases than June.
“We have seen an increase in those 60 years and over which has been slowly manifesting themselves throughout the peak of this pandemic, through May to June and into July.”
This, he said, was a concern as persons in the older age group tend to have more of the fatal outcomes and this should be an encouragement to get vaccinated.
Principal Medical Officer Institutions, Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards said fewer persons were being admitted into the hospitals.
She said, “We continue to notice a continuous decrease and narrowing in the hospital net admissions.
“There has been a general decrease in the number of patients being admitted across the 16 facilities. And since June 13, this has a consistent trend.”
In addition, she explained that there has been a significant increase in the number of patients that are being discharged.
Dr Richards said the number of patients in the parallel healthcare system per week was decreasing.
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