By Chantalé Fletcher
PRINCIPAL Medical Officer, Institutions, in the Ministry of Health Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards says there are now 539 patients in the parallel healthcare systems and 106 in step-down facilities.
Speaking at the Ministry of Health virtual conference on Monday, she said, “This represented an increase from yesterday which was the highest recorded number, as in the last wave, of the highest overall of 627.”
Dr Abdool-Richards added there was also an increase in hospitalisation consistent with the increase in rolling average.
She said more positive cases will result in more hospital admissions.
Dr Abdool-Richards said, “We continue to see an increased demand of patients who require Intensive Care Unit (ICU) level care and have been receiving it upon arrival to the parallel healthcare system and the local Accident and Emergency Department in traditional healthcare systems.
“On any given day, 11% to 44% of patients require care at ICU level by in house ICU teams, as our Covid positive patients continue to access the GRMTT ambulance service in many cases too late. As of this morning, our ICU level were at 88% in Trinidad and 71% in Tobago.”
Dr Abdool-Richards said there were two pediatric cases in the parallel healthcare system with one in the ICU.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh emphasized the importance of herd immunity to protect those who cannot take the vaccine and especially children under 12.
He said, “The issue of protecting those 12 and under falls on those 12 and above, to create a herd immunity until we have a vaccine available to vaccinate those unvaccinatable due to age or other medical reasons.”
Dr Abdool-Richards announced the arrival of 12 high spec invasive and non-invasive ventilators specific to Covid-19 complications and to treat those in ICU were flown from Guyana via a Trinidad and Tobago supplier at $1.8 million.
She said, “These ventilators were imported, procured and approved within three working days instead of a usual one-month period which was initiated by the Minister of Health, at no cost attached to the ministry in transporting due to corporation from Ministry of National Security and T&T Air Guard.”
Dr Abdool-Richards added that the procurement was done in line with the ministry and the regional health authorities.
In addition, she said on November 18, ICU beds at the Sangre Grande Hospital increased from seven to nine, while the Arima General Hospital increased its capacity from 13 to 15 beds over the last 48 hours.
Dr Abdool-Richards stated the Couva Hospital and Multi-Training Facility increased its ICU beds from 26 to 28 which took the total number of ICU beds in Trinidad to 70 and with seven in Tobago.
