By Sue-Ann Wayow
TRINIDAD and Tobago is not yet experiencing a fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic but is in the grips of a third wave says Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh.
Deyalsingh confirmed this at the ministry’s Covid-19 update on Monday.
He said, “We are on our third wave. We had our first big wave, last year August, September coming in to October. We had another wave in July, then it went down, and now we are back up on our third wave at this point in time. Our rolling seven-day average is over 500 plus.”
On Monday, the Ministry of Health reported 539 hospitalised Covid cases, the highest recorded to date.
Some countries were already in their fourth wave he said.
In an effort to deal with the rapid increase of Covid-19 cases especially at hospitals, the ministry will be coordinating the role of the five Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) based at the five regional health authorities which Deyalsingh hopes will lend to better management of the parallel healthcare system.
He again stressed vaccination but also said the three Ws of wearing a mask, washing of hands and watching distance was needed now more than ever to curb the spread of the deadly virus.
“In this current wave, it is now imperative that even for the vaccinated, that the three Ws also apply. Don’t let your guard down, even if you are vaccinated at this time,” Deyalsingh said.
He also said with the upcoming Christmas activities, citizens should “avoid social gatherings as much as humanly possible.”
To the unvaccinated, he said, “It now means without the extra level of protection that a vaccine gives you, it means that you have to be doubly and more stringent in your hand-washing, masking, your social distancing. It means you literally have to be only outside for really important tasks like working, going to the pharmacy, going to the grocery, because you are unvaccinated.”
“That is a choice you have made and we understand that, we respect it,” the minister added.
