National Epidemiologist, Dr. Shallauddin Ahmed, has said the next step of action in combating the COVID-19 outbreak in Dominica is the
implementing of community-level testing through random selections of asymptomatic cases.
“The objective is to actively search for a case that is undetectable otherwise. Social distancing through lockdown or otherwise is working and this is the only way to break the chain of transmission. We must train our mind that everyone is a potential host for this virus,” he said at a Ministry of Health- COVID-19 Update on April 17th.
Ahmed said the total number of confirmed cases remains at sixteen (16) eight of whom have recovered and discharged for home quarantine.
“The other eight cases are still in the isolation unit. Some of them have completed the fourteen (14) day period without symptoms for the last 72 hours. These cases are sampled and are waiting on laboratory testing,” he added.
He said all possible contacts have been identified.
“A total of one hundred and fifty-two (152) contacts have been traced; all but seven have been cleared and the results for the last seven contacts are pending,” Dr. Ahmed explained.
The epidemiologist noted at this stage, a total of three hundred and sixty-seven (367) PCR tests have been completed and three hundred and fifty-onetest (351) of these tests came back negative.
He stated the country is still in phase three of the outbreak with a transmission-type called “Cluster of Cases”.
Ahmed said it had been ten (10) days since the last COVID-19 case was confirmed and although there have been a few suspected cases during this period, they were all negative through PCR testing.
There have been no deaths due to COVID-19 on the island.
And how many have died from pneumonia as a result of corona virus infection because we know that it is not unusual for a virus infection, especially in older people can lead to pneumonia to which they ultimately succumb.
Guy you have absolutely no credibility; what’s the point of you talking about social distancing at this point when even I a book worm who’s not a medical doctor wrote here on DNO that there is no vaccine, no specific medical treatment for the coronavirus (COVID-19).
I stated the only way the virus could be managed is by social distancing, and one can only do that by remaining at home; or if one must go to the grocery store they should remain six (6ft) feet away from the nearest human.
Nothing you are piping now is news, there is nothing revealing in your rhetoric; except I believe you all are deceiving Dominicans that less than a dozen people in the country is infected.
To crown it all that corrupted crook Roosevelt, simply blew out of nowhere talking crap about do not discriminate against infected patients.
His comments are ridiculous; and stupid, a blind can see he made that up!
One should not stigmatized, but don’t cuddle the infected!
Francisco, I suggest that you contact Cecil Joseph and ask him to send you a podcast of the interview he had on Sunday night with a Dominican national working in New York as a female police officer. This woman has just recovered from a bout of the COVID-19 along with her husband but said that she would have preferred being in Dominica for her recovery rather than being in New York since our health Service seem a lot more competent than in NY. She had to wait for a full week after her test to know that her symptoms were in fact Coronavirus. Then had to be dragged in to work without even finding out whether she was free of the virus because of the length of time she had to wait for her result after her test. She mentioned the names of some other Dominicans whom she knew quite well who succumbed to the virus whom she felt would have survived if they were treated in Dominica rather than in NY. So you should consider yourself lucky that you are not yet afflicted by this virus in America.
When you have such nonsense to talk, please do not direct them at me okay; if you are suggesting that medical treatment is better in Dominica than in America, I don’t want to hear that crap!
Let me tell you something, I suffer from hyperglycemia (diabetes) from the day I was born, I’ve had two hart surgeries, had I been in Dominica I would be long dead!
Do you know how many relatives of mine walked into the Princes Margret Hospital in Roseau, for minor issues, and were carried out foot first?
The last one the quacks allowed her to bleed to death!
I know Roosevelt and that person who told you that crap believe that life is better in Dominica than here, I advise you to free your mind from such myth and fantasies.
That Dominican who talk that crap to you thought because of their name and dragging accent people should pamper her and kiss her behind, that sort of thing only happens in Dominica you see, not here.
Almost 50,000 Americans are dead killed by the virus she should…
So, let me complete this: as of today the 22nd of April, almost fifty (50,000) people in America are dead, killed by the virus.
That foolish person who spoke that crap to you should be happy she is not dead!
Don’t tell me I am lucky, because whatever medical issues I have; I pay my medical expenses, Roosevelt don’t pay for me nor do I have to go on Radio, and Television station in Dominica to beg people for their pennies to send me out of Dominica for any specials treatment.
If as you say medical treatment are more competent and better in Dominica than America tell me how many endocrinologists, how many brain surgeon, how many cardiovascular, doctor, and heart surgeons do you and Roosevelt have working in your hospital?
How many hospitals do have in Dominica?
China-Friendship-Butcher-Shop right?
Guy, shut up, and take your crap and pack it; you are not dealing with a dope, crack cocain-head you see!
Has this equipment from China it’s self been tested?China has more than once handed over contaminated equipment to governements of other countries.
So, whats the word on the vaccine? will we be micro chipped as suggested by Bill Gates? Will Dominicans be forced to be vaccinated? Will Dominicans be given the choice to refuse?
When I see all of olu, starting on that doctor dere, on a live getting tested I will regain faith or trust in olu so called test kits. China, Italy and USA that have outbreak. There for China to go do community testing
Look, that man doing his best but he is no qualified doctor, he is a. MD graduate from Ross but not qualified to practice.
Too many doctors here who I would not trust to even take my temperature. Mr Ahmed MD just keep doing your job and let not get it to you head OK.?
China wants to iltreat all black people in china so why is us they love sooooo much
Jeffrey,CHINA is the mighty AMERICA # 1 trading partner.There are over 3,000,000 legal chinese in America,the 3rd largest after Mexico and India.CHINA gave us the(1) E O Leblanc Highway(2)Windsorpark Stadium(3)New Grammar School(4) New Hospital.What has America given us?All our military personnel were trained by the Americans,they gave us HIGH SPEED BOATS to intercept and arrest DRUG DEALERS.All the police GUNS and Ammunations came from the US.CHINA has never trained our police,not even in BASIC BATTLE SKILLS.Ask Mr.Nicholas George a highly trained former police officer.JEFFREY,who is your friend CHINA or AMERICA?I lived in America for years,AMERICA IS A RACIST COUNTRY.There is no RACE OF PEOPLE worse off in America than AFRICAN AMERICAN.
So because they GIVE us all them things der i make it ok for them to treat our BLACK PEOPLE like animals? Having museum exhibit with us comparing us to baboons and animals? segregating our people and refusing us entry to buy food and have place to sleep.? what u that Lin Clown should ask is, what does china want in exchange for all they give Dominica. Why dont they pay import tax like the rest of us? Why the projects have more Chinese than Dominicans mixing concrete and even painting roads? They treat our people like animals in china, our students cant say what they are really going through because they will b arrested for speaking up against the government. Get your head out of the red sands.
Why do you live in this ‘racist country’? Go and move to China if you believe they are not racist and since China is so fantastic in your view. Let me tell you something, you are a hypocrite. You and your fellow apologist live under Skerrits spell. You can’t think clearly anymore! That’s all there is to it.
So why you still in that country clown. Come here and join your hero Skerrit, at least you won’t have heating bills to pay.
Garson STOP lying here about China never trained our police.
Some NJIC officers received their training from China. Inspector Theophile among others were trained in China also. China needs battle skills for themselves so our guys don’t need any battle skills from them. They have war copied and mass manufactured war equipment but have no classic fighting skills. Remember their smaller neighbor Vietnam defeated them right on their own front door? Keep trying to fool those koonoumoonou who don’t know better.
And by the way, just FYI the Chinese are the MOST racist people on the planet. But you will never know that until you live among them. And again, you are clueless because while like every country America has poor people with African American being some of the worst in the population, Dca, Haiti, Cuba, China, India, Venezuela etc has more poor people per capita than America. So STOP “sounding” smart go get educated bro.
Hmmmmm, Random testing…
Is this legal? Is this the best use of limited resources? Is this backed by science?
Random testing is backed by science. They can’t test everyone to determine who is asymptomatic and who has never been infected – it would not be a wise use of resources. This is why a random sample from the population will need to be taken and tested. If the sample indicates that there are areas on the island with a significant number of asymptomatic cases, I’m sure the health authorities will focus on increasing testing in these areas. As long as the correct guidelines are followed in taking an appropriate sample and sample size, inferences about the asymptomatic cases in the population can be made.
After listening to a program on kairi fm where senior counsel, who is the attorney of PM and the DLP, calling on the Health Minister to use Covid-19 to punish Jason Fontaine, I must say that as a result I have lost all confidence in the medical department and the government by extension in their so called fight against Covid-19. Like I said Tony is attorney of the pm and the government and up to now neither the PM or the government has condemned or disassociate themselves from that call of SC is very worrying not only for Jason Fontaine but any one Tony and the government view as their political opponent. To make things worse when I think of their timing to go to the communities, just after they received Covid-19 stuff from China, …………………………………………, makes the government and minister of health even more scary. I call on DNO to put out a copy of the audio of Tony that is circulating all over, so the world could see what we are up against
Pleaseeee go to the Eastern District Police Stations and test everyone there souplay. We need piece of mind for the sake of Pierre Collaire’ family.