Dr. Keith Rowley, Prime Minister - Trinidad and Tobago
Port-of-Spain, April 1st, 2020: As part of the national drive to safeguard the health of the Trinidad and Tobago population in the face of the global COVID-19 outbreak, the Ministry of Health continues to provide up-to-date information on the country’s status in this regard.
As of the night of Wednesday April 1st, 2020 the Ministry reports the following:
Number of samples submitted to the Caribbean Public
Health Agency (CARPHA) for testing for COVID-19
621
Number of samples which have tested positive
90
Number of deaths
5
Number of persons discharged
1
Of the total number of positive
cases, 49 of these positive cases came from the group of nationals who recently
returned from a cruise:
46 positive cases
from the group of 68 nationals who returned from the cruise together
3 positive cases from
the group of nationals who returned from the same cruise separately from the
other 68 nationals.
The Ministry of Health reminds the
public that placing your hands on your face increases the risk of contracting
the virus. The virus can transfer from your hands to your nose and mouth, and
then enter your body. Protect yourself by washing your hands often with soap
and water or by using an alcohol-based sanitizer that contains at
least 60% alcohol, if soap and water are not available.
The public is also strongly advised
to take the following personal hygiene measures to protect themselves and their
loved ones from COVID-19:
Cover your nose and mouth with a
tissue when you cough or sneeze
o Dispose of tissue
immediately after using
o Cough and sneeze
into the crook of your elbow if you do not have a tissue
Stay home if you are ill, avoid
close contact with people who have flu-like symptoms
Sanitize
hard surfaces (e.g. table tops, handrails, doorknobs and trolleys) as often as
possible.
Practise social distancing
o Maintain at least
2 metres (approximately 6 feet) distance between yourself and others,
especially anyone who is coughing or showing signs of flu-like illness.
It is also advised that all public
transportation vehicles should operate with windows open and limit their
occupancy.
The Ministry will continue to
provide accurate information to the public in a timely fashion.
The public is therefore urged to disregard and avoid sharing all
unconfirmed, misleading and/or false information about COVID-19 (formerly
Novel Coronavirus).