The confirmed presence of 75% of the Delta variant according to the latest sequencing, the recent deaths, the rising rate of contamination, the possibility of closing schools, the expectation of a better management of the pandemic but above all, answers and actions to tackle the growing psychosis of the population… But nothing came out of the meeting of the High Level Committee chaired by the interim Prime Minister, Steven Obeegadoo, who was supposed to evaluate the health situation in the country and the fate of the in-school classroom, as announced on Saturday, November 6 by the Health Minister, Kailesh Jagutpal. The New ENT Hospital will be supported by the Victoria and Jeetoo Hospitals.
Closure would only be speculation
The discussions around the parliamentary committees would have taken precedence over the decisions in relation to Covid 19 and the spread of the Delta variant. This meeting held on 8 November, from 2 to 3.30 pm at the Treasury Building in Port Louis, was expected to come up with decisions, especially concerning students. This was confirmed by the Education Minister, Leela Devi Dookun Luchoomun after the High Level Committee meeting, “There will be no school closure, these are just speculations“. The crisis is being closely monitored by the committee, which meets frequently on the management of the pandemic, and we can expect a development in the coming days.
Disoriented but determined parents on Social Media
Nevertheless, parents’ fears about the physical classing remain unabated. Unhappy with the decisions of the Ministry of Education, Health and the High-Level Committee, many have already decided not to send their children to school since the beginning of this school term, and since the confirmation of the Delta variant and the increase in cases of contamination and death, the psychosis has increased! As reported by angry parents on social networks, many will still not send their children to school. Vigilance will have to be doubled on the respect of sanitary rules and barrier gestures for those parents more concerned about the education of their children and this harmful effect of the closure of schools on the future of their children. Many of them are asking for a better online education platform, which they consider not optimal for all classes and categories of students.
Jeetoo and Victoria hospitals turned into treatment centres
This decision was taken at the last meeting of the Ministry of Health in the past week. The New ENT Hospital has a capacity of 75-80 patients for the treatment of moderate to severe cases of Covid. Dr Jagutpal confirmed that the treatment centre in Vacoas is not facing saturation, there will currently be just over 40 patients. Jeetoo Hospital and Victoria Hospital will be converted into Covid treatment centres to support the ENT hospital in case there are more requests for ventilation and artificial respiration or more severe cases. Both centres have a larger storage capacity as they use mainly liquefied oxygen. Gradually, less urgent operations and surgeries will be postponed or transferred. Doctors and specialists for the treatment of Covid cases will be called in as reinforcements. This is a total reorganisation of these hospitals in the centre and the capital. Other hospitals may be considered in this conversion process. This is a step towards a total and faster care for the patients of the Covid and thus, decentralising all the treatments of the New ENT Hospital.
