For the last three to four days, Trinidad and Tobago’s parallel health care system has reached a point of being practically filled to capacity.

The revelation, made by Principal Medical Officer Dr. Maryam Abdool-Richards, is an indication that if cases continue to be recorded as has been over the past few weeks, the system could become heavily overburdened in short time.

“Ninety-five percent of HDU beds are filled,  all beds filled in ICU are filled and ward levels are at 66% capacity and new step down facilities are at 57%,” Dr. Abdool-Richards laid out during Saturday’s Covid-19 press briefing. 

The Caura Hospital and Couva Hospital are almost up in capacity, with the Arima Hospital which was brought on as a parallel health care facility just a week ago, already at 85% capacity.

“I’d like to just remind everyone that the increasing number of beds is a cause of concern for all of us. We are basically out of hospital beds. And it means that if you require care, then you will not be receiving the best level of care,” the PMO warned. 

For this reason, she further pleaded with citizens to adhere to the Public Health Regulations.

“If death has not arrived at your doorstep please know that it’s probably in your workplace or in your neighborhood,” she said.

Trinidad and Tobago recorded record highs of Covid-19 cases and deaths this past week, with 21 patients succumbing to the virus on Thursday, along with a record 615 cases reported in one day, albeit from samples taken over a five day period. 

Currently there are 265 deaths on record, with 5,214 active cases.