Dr. Adrian Dechausay, Director of Medical Services at the Covid-19 care complex in Portsmouth provided a brief update on the functioning of the eight (8) care facilities in Dominica. According to him, “There are currently 310 patients admitted at the facilities. Ninety (90) of those patients are symptomatic and 220 are asymptomatic.”
Moreover, he notes that the eight facilities are all fully functional and equipped to accommodate the Covid-19 patients. At the St. James facility, 34 patients are currently admitted. Of this total, thirteen (13) patients are male while twenty-one (21) are female. He further informed that there are four children and one expecting mother accommodated at the facility, all of whom are stable. However, it must be noted that of the 34 patients admitted at St. James, twenty-one (21) patients are exhibiting symptoms of severe Covid-19 and pneumonia.
“Over the past two weeks there has been a reduction in the overall number of people admitted in the facility. Nonetheless there is a notable increase in the number of elderly patients in the facility,” Dechausay added. Of recent, 23 patients were admitted at the facility from the Grotto Home for the homeless in Stockfarm. Additionally, there were 12 admissions each from the infirmary and the Agape Nursing Home in Massacre. There has also been an increased admission of elderly persons from respective households. Notably, the vast majority of the elderly are unvaccinated and have comorbid medical conditions.
Interestingly, it is because of this increase in elderly patients that the authorities have taken steps to ensure that all the facilities are retrofitted to include sickbays. This would help to avert the over admission at the St. James facility.
In addition, Dechausay stated, “It is regrettable nonetheless that many of the elderly patients are succumbing despite our best efforts.” He therefore pleaded with the younger persons to show a higher level of responsibility and empathy. Even more so, he stressed the need for vaccination by stating that the way out of this pandemic is to get vaccinated. According to him, “Vaccination is the key.”
Upon closing, Dr. Dechausay thanked the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) for deploying a team of ICU nurses who have loaned their support at the Covid care facilities, specifically the St. James facility.
