Covid 19 is killing more and more week after week. Compared to last week, we have 37 additional deaths. However, active cases detected by the PCR tests are lower, from 1476 cases to 1021 cases. The Minister has made it clear that “the public should not draw conclusions on the number of deaths. Rather, we should look at the country’s capacity to handle it.”
38% deaths this week
The count for the week of 19-25 November is 122 deaths, of which 36 were under 60 years and 86 over 60 years. “61 were fully vaccinated, 1 had one dose of vaccine and the remaining 61 were not vaccinated. 101 patients had co-morbidities. Since March 5th 2021, Covid-19 has taken away 455 lives,” said Dr Kailesh Jagutpal. The latter wished to be as reassuring as possible on the management of the pandemic by his ministry. “Despite the fact that for this week, we count 38% of deaths of people admitted to the ENT, we must consider that there are 62% of patients cured. Globally, the percentage of deaths is 50% or more,” he said.
No oxygen shortage
He maintained that there are no shortcomings in hospital care. “The country is prepared to give all the necessary care to Covid patients,” he said. And as the subject of oxygen shortages has been widely commented on this past week, the Minister added that rumours should not be believed “there was no shortage before and there is no shortage now and measures have already been taken to ensure that there is no shortage. Facilities have also been put in place at the Dr. A. G. Jeetoo Hospital in Port Louis and at the heart block of the Victoria Hospital in Candos. This will ensure that there is no shortage of oxygen.”
Treatment protocols and medication
Infectiologist, Dr Nuckcheddy highlighted the medical protocol followed in the hospitals to better explain the various treatments and medications in use. “Those with mild symptoms are often in isolation and treated with paracetamol and Fabiflu. Those, who are admitted, are treated with cortisone and placed on oxygen, if necessary, but for those admitted to hospital ENT, their treatment is with Tocilizumab but this depends on the condition of the patients. Tocilizumab can cause undesirable side effects in some cases, such as increased bacterial infection and can even cause sepsis,” he says. The antiviral drug Molnupiravir and the monoclonal antibody Ronapreve will also be used upon receipt. Minister Jagutpal added that “1.2 million doses of Molnupiravir have already been ordered. Paxlovid is a new drug produced by Pfizer but not yet on the market. We have already signed an agreement with the company so that the country can get this drug as a priority when it is marketed.”
Positivity rates, admissions and vaccination
In terms of positive cases identified by PCR tests, there are 1021 positive cases, 24 of which are imported. This week, the Ministry of Health also received the results of sequencing tests taken between 11 October and 2 November, “out of 32 samples, we found 15 Delta variants, the other 17 being B 1.1.318, also called AZ.5“, revealed the Minister.
Of the new admissions, at ENT Hospital in Vacoas, there are 41 patients, 10 of whom are on artificial respirators, 8 of whom are fully vaccinated, 18 are on oxygen, 10 of whom are fully vaccinated, 7 are unvaccinated and 1 whose vaccination status has not yet been confirmed. The remaining 13 patients are under observation for other complications in addition to Covid. In the other 5 hospitals, there are 482 admissions due to Covid.
Vaccination is progressing according to the figures announced by the Minister. 912,805 people have been primo vaccinated, 889,442 have received a second dose and 77,327 the booster dose, which is being done in alphabetical order since last Wednesday. For Rodrigues, more than 60% have received the first dose, 59.9% the two doses and 917 the third.
The Minister however has appealed to the population that the booster dose will remain in place and that even if the administration is done in alphabetical order, there is no need to join the already endless queues. He also called for individual responsibility during the weekend following Black Friday. He also implied that, depending on the evolution of the contamination situation, further restrictive measures could be taken regarding access to shopping malls during the holiday periods.
Special communiqué on the third dose
As the interest for the third dose is visible, the Ministry of Health wished to remind in a special communiqué on Friday afternoon that “any person, who has tested positive for Covid-19, must wait for a period of four months before being injected with a dose of Covid-19 vaccine“. The release also points out that only a medical certificate issued by the Ministry, a private laboratory authorised to carry out Covid-19 tests or a doctor registered with the Medical Council, can attest to a positive Covid-19 result.
