A dozen Cuban specialist nurses arrived in the country yesterday, to assist government in their fight against COVID-19. But before they can hit they ground running, they are subject to a 14 day quarantine, in compliance with State Policy. 

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh confirmed the team’s arrival during Saturday’s virtual media conference and sought to allay concerns regarding government’s outsourcing of nursing staff. “These nurses are specialist ICU nurses. In Trinidad and Tobago, we have a shortage of that skill. They are not taking the job of Trinidad nurses. What we are doing in the interim is also training our local nurses in ICU management,” he said. 

According to the Ministry of Health’s 4pm update (May 2nd) one additional patient has been discharged from the Home of Football in Couva, bringing the total number of persons having fully recovered from the virus to 88. No new cases have been reported, with the number of confirmed cases remaining at 116.