Dominica’s Minister for Health, Wellness and New Health Investment has said that his ministry will, this week, beginning discharging quarantined individuals who are free of the COVID-19 virus.
In the same speech, delivered during the 2nd Meeting of the 1st Session of the 10th Parliament on Monday, Dr. Irving McIntyre revealed that the number of positive cases in Dominica had risen to 15.
He said the 15th case is a second-generation contact of index case number 3 who came from Concord in the Marigot area.
“So far, we have identified three index cases. Index case one gave us nine contacts. So, index case one and the nine contacts would be ten cases,” McIntyre stated. “Index case two, we tested all the contacts. They were all negative. Index case three, we got two of the contacts positive and one of the contacts of that contact which is the first second-generation contact, positive. So that means we have a 10 plus I, that’s 11 plus the third one, that’s 12, 2 contacts of number 3, that’s 14 and the one second-generation contact. So that’s 15 cases.”
The health minister indicated that at present, there is a total of 109 people in quarantine at the facilities in the north of the island.
“As a matter of fact today, we will be discharging quite a few who completed their 14 days, tomorrow as well and Wednesday…,” he said. “All our people in quarantine are pretty much comfortable…”
Dr. McIntyre said quarantine is an essential part of the fight against COVID-19 and people in quarantine, whether they are at the facility or at their home, should see that as their contribution to fighting the virus.
“It is not just a matter of restricting people’s movement and people’s freedom, it is a matter of restricting the virus…” he insisted.
Touting the success of social distancing, McIntyre said the measure has proven to be effective and pleaded with the public to adhere to all the measures that are being recommended by the Ministry of Health.
He said life has changed forever after COVID-19 and the various measures that are being employed in the battle against the coronavirus contagion will make our health care approach in Dominica more “sustainable and resilient”.
When will the government of Dominica let the nine national’s flight back to there home lands my kids an I r missing there dad.
Only now u missing him, all along he been asking u to come..now u using corona to say u missing him…come again woman, well video call is readily available..u want to risk our life just for u to see your kids dad..skerrit doh put us at enough risks then. Smdh
Index contact isolation with observation should be the rule now that we are in the “second generation” infections. This quarantining thing of contacts in their homes is unrealistic. One more example of reactive, not proactive reasoning.
Instead of all this long and confusing index case 1,2 and index case 3 story of the minister all I would like them to tell us is: 1. When did they i.e, on what day did they close our borders? 2. On what day did index case # 1 land in Dominica from the UK? Let’s forget about those many Chinese nationals that landed here both during the time China was the hot spot and after they announced closure of our boarders. I am a laborite and voted on December 6, but I must admit that they betrayed me and my confidence in them and as bad of an experience COVID-19 has been, l must admit that Covid-19 has been an eye opener to me. Right now I have absolutely NO confidence in the government. They did not put our welfare first when it really mattered and no matter how much money they come up with later, I sure will not be tricked again
I don’t blame PM and Dr. McIntyre for coronavirus and what they doing now to slow it down. But I blame them for their too little too late attitude. Since before the election we knew there was a deadly virus causing havoc in China and due to our closeness with China, we would be infected one day. Although Trump banned travelers from China on Jan. 31, he was much too late. But instead of PM around that same time put restrictions in place at our ports they were on the radio talking nonsense about us being 80% ready, instead of taking one single step to keep the virus out! Infact it was not until late March after a national arrived from the UK with the virus and yet, was allowed to go home and infect others here, they were forced to put us on lockdown. The government must take the blame for not putting things in place to keep the virus out. My grandparents always told us that’s easier to not light a fire than to try to put off a fire. Surely, they opened the door, they caused the fire.
I am wondering why the utility companies are not offering an incentive for customers who deal with them online… Or why NBD is not offering an incentive (it does not have to be much … a token really) to customers who take up online banking and ATM usage (and BTW why they are not switching to chip and pin to make payments more secure). Now is the time to move as cashless as possible and to drive up usage in an effort to promote remote working and social distancing. it is not too late.. this thing is going to be with us for a while. In the meantime bus fares have doubled as bus drivers try to make one passenger to a row work.
Ya we..porsy to massacre de padna tell me.is 20.00 i was mad because only when i come to pay he tell me..if he told.me b4 i would not take his bus. If skerrit didnt squander i know he would give them a.coolout but he use all de cool out to stay in power. Shame
So today that would only be a total of 3 cases if the opposition didn’t open their big mouth 3 weeks ago and say close the ports. They know darn well from their experience with suggesting marijuana legalization that the govt will just ignore closing the port, now look what happened, we at 15. Same with the well needed stimulus package, why did the opposition have to suggest anything, now they not going to do anything about stimulus because the opposition had to open their big mouth to look like they being pro active. Thru all this dem fellas still fighting. Laud help us.
You are actually saying that if the Opposition suggests anything, irrespective as to whether it is correct then the Government would reject it. So to avoid a possibly good suggestion being rejected the Opposition should keep quite.
I do not want to think that this is how the Government works at all but then again, if by any chance you are correct with that argument, then I will be left to conclude that politics in Dominica is worse than the COVID-19.
My fellow Dominicans let’s just all work together for the good of this country and to hell with party colors and party politics.
This virus is no respecter of persons. It does not pick and choose. God’s blessings on us all my dear people.
Follow the guidelines set by the Government authorities. If a measure is unclear then ask questions and give suggestions instead of criticizing. And Government must also be willing to accept good suggestions irrespective of who suggested it lest we all look silly like parliament yesterday.
What is the condition of those who have tested positive? Are they recovering? There seems to be loud silence about their condition.
De minister say they are comfortable I dunno what he discribes as comfortable..them lying so much eh and playing with people lives I doh trust them at all
De pm say my tomorow wi be greater than today it safer with labour be red or drop dead…now look at …no money money finish in de country so people lives at stake now. We all feeling it
This year is going to be a tough and very unusual kind of planning and preparation for the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) and coupled with that it is staring down the 2020 Hurricane Season.
WE must pray in earnest for our planners as they grapple with the new normal while continuing to fulfill other traditional roles.
Planning in food stockpiling in the face of all this and reduced trade could be a challenge
The face of a lock-down new challenges for personal planning if there is an imminent storm is another factor.
What happens to social distancing where evacuations become necessary and shelters activated.
Of course the region has so much to think of now that we may be tempted to cross that bridge later. Well, we shouldn’t because our hurricane season across the islands could well be a defining moment by June in our fight against COVID-19.
There is only so much that one Gov can do but the region must start contemplating for start of JUNE 2020.
I don’t blame PM and Dr. McIntyre for coronavirus and what they doing now to slow it down. But I blame them for their too little too late attitude. Since before the election we knew there was a deadly virus causing havoc in China and due to our closeness with China, we would be infected one day. Although Trump banned travelers from China on Jan. 31, he was much too late. But instead of PM around that same time put restrictions in place at our ports they were on the radio talking nonsense about us being 80% ready, instead of taking one single step to keep the virus out! Infact it was not until late March after a national arrived from the UK with the virus and yet, was allowed to go home and infect others here, they were forced to put us on lockdown. The government must take the blame for not putting things in place to keep the virus out. My grandparents always told us that’s easier to not light a fire than to try to put off a fire. Surely, they opened the door, they caused the fire.
De PM say Dreams of brighter days ah ha ah ha aa. LABOURRRRR
That’s why we need at least a three month grace period from mortgages and loan instalments above $500 per month to be waived so that people can start stocking up to buy their hurricane supplies.
That will generate more cash flow in the country as well as much needed VAT.
Is logic a foreign language or am I just stupid? What did the Minister say? Can any one explain? “So far, we have identified three index cases. Index case one gave us nine contacts. So, index case one and the nine contacts would be ten cases,” McIntyre stated. “Index case two, we tested all the contacts. They were all negative. Index case three, we got two of the contacts positive and one of the contacts of that contact which is the first second-generation contact, positive. So that means we have a 10 plus I, that’s 11 plus the third one, that’s 12, 2 contacts of number 3, that’s 14 and the one second-generation contact. So that’s 15 cases.”Laud help us!! Can the average Dominican understand this gibberish? It would appear that the intention was to confuse! Then the obvious question is why is the MOH determined to confuse us? Is there something to hide? or do they think that they are succeeding in confusing us?
Trust me, as per usual they will be hiding plenty. All you wait, the bomb is ticking.
It’s simple. The first covid-19 positive patient infected 9 others. The second positive case didn’t affect any others. Then the third positive case affected two others, one of whom affected someone else.
Quick Maths: 10 + 1+ 3+1 = 15!!
People HAVE to maintain social distancing!!! The queues for Dowasco and Domlec yesterday were RIDICULOUS!! With NOBODY maintaining distance between each other.
If you want to flatten the curve of the spread, you MUST maintain your distances. Wear your masks. Don’t crowd buses IF you do decide to go out.
People need to be less selfish. Why doesn’t anyone offer to do shopping for elderly neighbours to prevent them from risking themselves? Why do people keep visiting each other? Do you not realise how contagious this is?
A 2nd generation contraction is a serious matter. Someone infected someone and that someone infected another. That is hard to track. This means YOU or someone you know may have it, are a spreader and don’t even know it.
Stay safe, people and be sensible. Protect our country!