Are we already being hit hard? In any case, the numbers of deaths and rising positive cases are frightening. The Delta variant is set to predominate over the B1.1.318 variant of Covid 19. The High-Level Committee is even studying the intensity of the epidemic in relation to students.
Deaths, Delta and positive cases
The figure has more than doubled. In the week of 29 October to 5 November, the number of deaths increased to 42 as compared to 17 deaths in the week of 22 to 28 October. Of these 42 cases, 14 were under 60 and 28 were over 60. 36 of them had co-morbidities but 22 were doubly vaccinated! The Ministry of Health has not yet issued an official statement, but 8 other deaths, most of them between the ages of 60 and 85, are reported to have occurred at the New ENT Hospital in Vacoas and the Covid Wards at Bruno Cheong Hospital in Flacq and Jeetoo Hospital in Port Louis.
From what is known about Variant Delta, it is spreading very rapidly and severely hitting young people and the vaccinated in its path. Health professionals attribute this duplication to Delta as does the Minister of Health, Dr. Kailesh Jagutpal who announced last Friday at the weekly conference of the National Communications Committee that of the 33 samples sequenced, 25 are confirmed cases of the Delta variant!
Of the new positives cases, there has been 112 on Friday, 166 on Saturday and 132 on Sunday. As of Sunday, November 7, at the New ENT Hospital and in the Covid Wards of the 5 regional hospitals combined, we count nearly 1400 cases in treatment. These are moderate to severe cases.
How many of them are Variant Delta cases? Only further analysis will give us the answers. Infectiologist Dr Nuckcheddy said at the last NCC that “a person cured of Covid can certainly be recontaminated, especially if he is not vaccinated. With the Delta going around, I would suggest everyone do their Booster Shot”. That’s it!
Possible closure of schools!
With this spread, the Delta variant promises to intensify. And this forecast is already at the heart of the concerns of the Ministry of Health and the High Level Committee, which does not rule out a temporary closure of schools. On Saturday 6 November, during the inauguration of the spinal surgery unit at Victoria Hospital, Health Minister Dr Kailesh Jagutpal even made a brief clarification on the matter. “The variant eventually predominates over the others, as evidenced by those countries where this variant has been circulating. So, we are studying its intensity in Mauritius and its spread. The fate of the students is also among our concerns. The High Level Committee will decide on a possible closure of schools.”
With this contamination in Delta, 25 cases out of 33 samples, the Minister of Health launched a general appeal on the importance of barrier measures and vaccination and the appeal to individual responsibility. To be considered!
