By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE relaxing of public health measures and the subvariant of the Omicron strain B.5 are possible reasons for an increase in hospital Covid-19 cases.
This is according to Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram.
Speaking at the Ministry of Health’s virtual Covid-19 update on Wednesday, he said the situation was being monitored.
Dr Parasram said looking over the Covid-19 trajectory over the last two-and-a-half years, whenever there was a new variant of concern that came into the country, about a week or two after there were rises in cases, daily and hospitalisation rates.
Omicron was different, showing up at the ending of the Delta surge which to date remains the most severe variant of concern.
The detection of the less severe Omicron variant actually allowed for a decrease in hospitalisations at that point in time, Dr Parasram said.
He said, “It seems that Ba.5 has come to us at a time in the world where Ba.5 seems to be more virulent than the original strains of the Omicron and therefore we are seeing an uptick in the hospitalisations and the ICU levels as well. Of course, increase in mass gatherings that have been occurring over the last month or two and changes in the general public health measures that we had in place prior.
“It is a number of factors that would go towards the rise of the cases but certainly recommendations will be made as we continue to look at the numbers of hospital cases.”
Dr Parasram is hoping that in the coming weeks there can be a plateauing of numbers.
On Tuesday, there were 178 persons in hospital and 327 new Covid-19 cases being reported.
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh announced that with the increased hospitalisation cases, two step-down facilities have been reactivated.
He further urged the public to continue maintaining the former regulations including mask wearing for their personal safety.
And he also advocated for vaccination for those who have not yet received one.
Expect rise in viral cases
Dr Parasram also said that the Ministry of Health was expecting a rise in viral cases in the coming weeks and months as for the first time in almost two and a half years, the public health measures have been lifted.
“We expect to see a rise in all viral illnesses across the board. It is something we are monitoring through the epi unit and we will probably bring an update in that regard in the coming weeks,” he said.
He has shared previously that due to the pandemic, there was actually a decline in viral illnesses such as dengue and gastroenteritis.
Dr Parasram added that he should be making a presentation on those illnesses soon.
