The press conference of the National Communication Committee (NCC) on Wednesday, November 3, served to warn the public about their irresponsibility. The Minister of Health, Dr. Kailesh Jagutpal and the Chairman of the National Vaccination Committee, Dr. Zouberr Joomaye, reassured the public about the contamination related to the Delta variant while warning that the safety of Mauritians will depend on the Mauritians themselves! The Minister went back on the flaws of the MISP and the current situation but made it clear that there will be no question of a new lockdown.
A Reminder, literally !
While the focus was on Vaccination, especially the Third / Booster Shot, a campaign that has registered only 17,315 interested so far, the practice of barrier gestures have also been recalled by Minister Kailesh Jagutpal and Dr. Zouberr Joomaye during the press briefing. “We have noticed the return of old habits in public places such as pinching and kissing among other gestures, which are not in line with the health precautions and protocols put in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the local community. In addition, some people, who had tested positive for rapid antigen tests, did not inform the concerned authorities, while others did not observe the prescribed self-isolation period when they tested positive for COVID-19,” said Dr. Joomaye.
Deaths – cases of younger vaccinated victims under study
The NVC chairman is clear that “being vaccinated does not automatically mean that one will not be infected by the Coronavirus. 80% of the people, who died from Covid 19 since March 5, were not vaccinated”. As announced earlier in the majority of cases are elderly people with comorbidities.
But there has been a rejuvenation of the population of victims. Some unvaccinated people have seen their condition worsen despite treatment. “The Ministry is studying the files of these victims under 60 years of age who, despite being vaccinated and not having any comorbidities, have been swept away by the Covid virus,” said Dr Zouberr Joomaye. Furthermore, Minister Jagutpal said that two experts from the World Health Organisation are working with the Mauritian authorities to compile the data and that the number of people, who have died recently, will be officially communicated by Friday 5 November.
Delta in circulation for a month already
Regarding the Variant Delta that has been circulating for a month now, there has been no specific reply except “the situation is not considered alarming. The number of imported cases of Covid-19 is minimal compared to those recorded in the community. This is the combined effect. There is the impact of the Delta variant on local transmission as is the case in other countries,” said Minister Jagutpal, pointing out that the reopening of the borders has not had a serious impact on the number of positive cases in the local community but that “transmission in the community is due to laxity among the population. I appeal to individual responsibility, Mauritian as well as tourist! If we do not protect ourselves with vaccination, we will definitely have cases with very serious conditions” he warned. However, he made the same appeal to quarantined tourists who may be denied access to places where the health pass is mandatory.
Deficient DMU?
The Minister did not hide that there are flaws in this new Domiciliary Monitoring Unit. “They have been in operation since early September only and about 15 more doctors will join the team,” Dr Jagutpal revealed. Currently, there are 32 specialists operating in the unit. Regarding the complaints to the Medical Negligence Committee (MNC) where the DMU is being directly blamed, the minister said: “There are only two cases that have been reported to the MNC. The doctors concerned will have to submit their reports and it is only after the hearings that the committee will submit its report and conclusions.”
1361 fines in 2 days
If the duo, Dr Jagutpal and Dr Joomaye, are so concerned, it is mainly because of the general slackening of the long weekend and the upcoming public holidays and festive periods. The MPF announced that it had fined 461 people for not wearing masks on November 1 and 900 on November 2, the last two public holidays. They will each have to pay a fine of Rs 2000 within 28 days. In addition, it is a good catch for the MPF as they have caught in their net a dozen businesses that were not equipped for temperature check at the entrance. They will be fined Rs 500,000 and imprisonment for five years may follow.
Increases and vaccinations
The increase in cases is worrying but the minister reassures that “The lockdown is over! At the beginning, we were not informed about the disease or its treatment. For this new wave, we are better informed and better managing,” he said.
Since 5 March, 17,526 positive cases have been reported. Out of which, 16,252 people have been cured. According to the statistics of the concerned ministry, 90% of the adult population has been vaccinated. 29,740 adolescents aged 15 to 18 have already been vaccinated, but only 17,315 people have received their third dose. The call is made to mend this “disinterest”!
