A Canadian National who arrived in Trinidad on Monday with what appeared to be influenza has tested negative for the Covid 19.

He was immediately transferred to the Port of Spain General Hospital upon arrival at the  Piarco International Airport.

Health Minister Dr Terrence Delaysingh made the disclosure on Wednesday morning at a news conference where he admonished the mainstream media for creating unnecessary panic in the face-off what he called an “epidemic of misinformation and disinformation” on social media.

The Health Minister called on Trinidad and Tobago to make March the month of social distancing suggesting that people should wash their hands every hour with soap and water while urging corporate T&T to clean public spaces like handrails on stairs, once an hour.

“No more handshaking, no more social hugging and no more social kissing,” Dr Deyalsingh said.

‘If you are ill, stay home get examined and isolate yourself until you have been given a clean bill of health.

“Parents of children with flu-like symptoms should keep them at home. Don’t send them to the nursery or school because in that environment an entire school can get infected,” the Minister stated.

He also revealed plans to initiate exit screening at international airports in Canada, the USA and England for persons due to travel to Trinidad and Tobago.

In response to the reports that the Ministry of Health is not prepared to deal with the Covid 19 scare, Dr Deyalsingh revealed, in detail,  the PPE already in stock.

And that includes;

*19,680 N 95 face masks. An additional 100,000 has been ordered and 24,400 of that amount is due in the country by next week.

  *There are 12,100 medium air face masks in stock, with an additional 25,000 on the way.

   *855,060 sterile gloves.

  *17 million non-sterile gloves

   *227,1000 shoe covers

   *313,000, plastic solation gowns

    *19,000 sterile gowns for surgeons

   As it stands, the Minister explained, it makes no sense to take this stock and send it through the system because of  Covid19 there are international supply disruptions for everything, more so PPE.

 “We are jealously guarding our stock of PPE,” Deyalsingh said.

  “There is PPE for routine work and for taking care of the first case when it comes. When and if you have an outbreak, PPE could be rushed to those locations,” he explained.