Dominica: New buildings retrofitted in Portsmouth as COVID cases increase

Roseau, Dominica: Minister of Health Dr Irving McIntyre stated that the health ministry retrofitted new buildings in Portsmouth as the virus-related cases continue to increase. He said the locations had been facilitated with medical and non-medical staff, doctors, nurses and other workers.

Dr McIntyre stated the health ministry is appointing a new structure of doctors headed by hospital medical director Dr Adrian. He said a new 24-hours pharmacy is established to assist the new facilities in Portsmouth. The pharmacy is led by a senior pharmacist Tyson Johnson, and it will provide emergency and routine medicines.

Health Minister said the out-patient programme unit teams assist asymptomatic or fully vaccinated asymptomatic patients isolating at their homes with red wristbands for ten days. He said the teams are also helping asymptomatic patients who were discharged with a red wristband after testing negative in Antigen tests taken on Day 5 at the COVID-Care complexes.

"The Central Units are in close contact with district health care workers; all patients discharged for home-quarantine are given telephone numbers of their district health care providers who are at service 24/7," stated Dr Irving McIntyre.

He said the discharged patients are also given a list of dos and don'ts while home isolating. Such patients are not allowed to let anyone visit their homes; they cannot share utensils, among other limitations.

Dr McIntyre stated that people who do not comply with the home isolation measures are subjected to strict actions.

Health Minister said the COVID-19 samples sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and University of the West Indies (UWI) revealed the presence of the Delta variant in Dominica. Dr McIntyre said the variant does not cause cough and fever, but it causes joint pains, headache, neck pain, back pain, general weakness, loss of appetite and pneumonia.

As the virus-related hospital admissions increase in Dominica, Health Minister advised people to participate in the vaccination drive. He said the Pfizer vaccine would also be available for 12 to 17-year-olds, and consultations are ongoing with the Ministry of Education.

Health Minister assured that there are enough vaccines in Dominica to achieve herd immunity. He said Dominica has 13943 doses of Sinopharm Vaccine, 10,000 doses of Astrazeneca vaccine and soon to get 46,800 doses of Pfizer.