Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and Chairman of the Cabinet COVID-19 Sub-committee, Senator Dr. Jerome Walcott, has confirmed that some staff of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) have been tested for COVID-19.
He made the disclosure speaking live on national radio and television on Monday night, as he said the health authorities have done a relatively good job at keeping the hospital free of COVID to date. Referring to a report from the Martindale’s Road health facility, he said that two nurses from the Medical Intensive Care Unit who attended the Boxing Day bus crawl had been tested, as had 36 other persons, including doctors and nurses, who are associated with the Unit.
“From what I am seeing, I am not seeing any positive cases from that sample. In terms of [Ward] B4, again 14 doctors and nurses were tested there, apparently one of them attended a bus crawl. This is again a situation where you are being precautionary in a healthcare institution. I see no positives there yet,” he stated.
Walcott went on to say that in the Respiratory Unit, two nurses were swabbed and were awaiting results. In the meantime, he indicated that the Unit has been closed until they are cleared. He spoke also of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, noting that one patient had been tested. That patient, he explained, is the relative of a prison officer. He said patient care continues, but indicated that the patient has been screened off.
He went on to say that in the Engineering Department, one employee had been tested, as their significant other had attended the bus crawl. He indicated that other staff members were also tested.
Walcott said that a doctor who is normally assigned to the QEH’s Accident and Emergency Department has been tested, after contact tracing identified her as a possible secondary contact to two positive cases. He said while her first test was negative, she remains in quarantine until a second test is done and the results confirm she is negative.
The Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-committee also stated that a consultant who also serves as a prison doctor is in home quarantine, awaiting a second test. The doctor was tested as part of the prison group, he stated. Walcott went on to say that one patient of the Artificial Kidney Unit has also been tested, and up to Monday evening, they were still awaiting results and the case was being investigated. (JRT)