Covid-19 update |21 May 2021
Dr Gedeon and Dr Louange during the press conference yesterday (Photo: Thomas Meriton)
Downward trend noted, measures extended till May 31
Even if a downward trend of Covid cases has been noted, the Platinum committee has extended the ongoing measures for another week until May 31.
This was announced by the Public Health Commissioner Dr Jude Gédéon yesterday at the Sheikh Khalifa diagnostic centre. He was accompanied by Dr Danny Louange, chief executive of the Health Care Agency.
Currently Seychelles has 1560 active cases including 166 from Praslin and 5 from La Digue. Out of the 10,294 cumulative confirmed cases, 8,699 have recovered and there have been 38 deaths.
On Sunday May 16, one hundred and seventy-four (174) people were tested positive, Monday May 17 recorded 167 cases positive cases and Tuesday May 18 saw 154 positive cases.
“We continue to register a downward trend and if this trend continues we will be able to relax some of the measures. We continue to provide vaccines and if you have some health issues but they are under control, please go ahead for your vaccines. Currently we are administering three vaccines – Sinopharm, Covishield Astra Zeneca and the latest Sputnik. Sputnik is being administered on appointment only as once defrosted, it can only hold for two hours,” explained Dr Gédéon.
He also noted that the population of people vaccinated will also be reviewed to get the real picture as many were holders of Gainful Occupation Permit (GOP) and have left the country.
Why maintain the restrictions? “I want to reiterate the need for public measures to be respected. They were put in place two weeks ago and the committee has presented the recommendations to the platinum committee and our recommendations are that the measures continue to stay in place for another two weeks. However for students who are writing international exams, some S4 students, S5 students, second year A level students and some others, they will be allowed to start school on Monday May 24. All the other measures remain the same,” explained Dr Gédéon.
What about any prospective booster?
After taking the vaccines, many people are talking about the validity of the vaccine in our system. Dr Gédéon explained that currently both vaccines that we took are doing their job which is protecting us from severe symptoms. “It is 100% certain that the vaccines protect people from critical sickness. Evidence shows that most of the patients currently at the Family Hospital have not taken any vaccine. Those who have taken the vaccine but had to be admitted there are already with previous health conditions. Additionally those who took the vaccines but got infected are with very mild symptoms. If we need a booster or not will depend on the evidences. A booster for Sinopharm does exist and it should be taken six months after the second dose. If we, as a country, take this decision, it will fall in August. The criteria for a booster will also depend on the medical history/age of the person. Another decision that will be taken concerns the vaccines for the children.”
Responding to allegations that a lab technician has been suspended, Dr Gédéon clarified that “there is no technician who has been suspended. A laboratory person has been asked to proceed on leave, until a review is done. In different media, there have been many allegations against our public health laboratory. When such a situation arises, the Public Health Authority and its management finds it necessary to have a review done on the service and currently this is being done. It is paid leave until this review is being done. It is important to note that all laboratories that are doing the PCR tests have tested a patient positive and negative on the same date. It is not fair to put this allegation on the public health lab. There is a way to manage this situation and we have to consider the positive test only. As a transparent organisation and an ISO certified lab, we have decided to do this review. The report will be shared to the public.”
Dr Gedeon noted that more than 80,000 PRC/Antigen tests and currently some 500-600 tests are being processed by the public health lab.
Patients in government facilities
Dr Louange noted that currently there are 21 patients at the Family Hospital. “Two patients are under ventilators, 12 are in moderate conditions and 7 have mild conditions. At the Anse Royae hospital there are 13 patients, 2 patients at the Coast Guard facility, and three children and 12 adults at the Seychelles Hospital. There are 58 people at Avani, 11 at Ile du Swet facility, 10 on La Digue and 27 on Praslin. We unfortunately had three new deaths due to already pre-existent health issues.
Speaking about the mortuary, Dr Louange explained that with the current situation, many people are held in quarantine thus delaying the funeral process but the situation is under control.
Another concern brought forward by the press was the care given to old people currently at the hospital. Currently visitors are not allowed to stay with patients thus causing some difficulties to the elderly. “We have taken this decision in order to limit the transmission.”
Resumption of activities: Dr Louange noted that the most affected service offered by the Ministry of Health is the dental service. “There is more risks of transmission with the dental services. But if someone is suffering a lot, they can get service at the hospital. The department of oral health seized the opportunity to educate people on the importance of proper oral care.”
For other specialised services, Dr Louange confirmed that “when there was the spike the services were reduced but the patients are being looked after individually”.
Dr Gédéon concluded by emphasising the importance of respecting quarantine and isolation. “I also make a special call to parents with children who are contacts or test positive. Please inform your school and do not send them to school. There are shops that are unfortunately not respecting the health guidelines and they will be ordered to shut down.”
The current measures in place
1. Closure of schools, post-secondary and private included, up to Monday May 31
- No mixing of households; prohibition of all parties
- Earlier closure of all bars and casinos at 7pm. All SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) to be strictly observed.
- Closure of all shops at 7pm
- Cancellation of all commemoration gatherings (wedding parties, anniversaries, graduation etc)
- Cancellation of all shows, group sporting activities
- Cancellation of all conferences and meetings
- Reinforcement of all measures in shops, restaurants and food outlets, gyms, spas
- Stricter enforcement of PH orders - gathering restrictions, face masks wearing, isolation, etc
- No gathering of more than 4 persons indoors or outdoors, including on beaches and public places, unless it is for work purposes
- Quarantining all contacts for 14 days except in essential services who may be called in.
- Isolation of households where there is a positive case with enforcement and necessary support mechanism (Family Affairs, Local Govt and Community Affairs, Red Cross, CEPS, Internal Affairs, DRDM)
- Work from home as much as possible, especially for non-critical services
- Discourage travel between islands due to South East Monsoon, where people are more likely to get sea sick.
Vidya Gappy