• A first batch of 20 persons who have completed their treatment, were allowed to return home following two negative PCR tests done on the 7th and 10th day of quarantine. They will have to do a third PCR test in one week, so as to ensure that they are safe, while being in constant contact with medical staff and self-isolation.

• The Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Jagutpal, made this announcement, this evening, at the daily press briefing of the National Communication Committee on COVID-19, at the Treasury Building in Port Louis. Dr Catherine Gaud was also present.

• As at date, the positive cases have been identified as follows: 182 cases through the contact tracing exercise and COVID testing centres; 35 in quarantine centres; and 13 through random testing. 20 patients considered as cured were discharged today, and the number of active local cases stands at 210.

• Since last 24 hours, three local cases were registered as follows: one through the contact tracing exercise; and a couple from La Caverne, Vacoas. The couple was not identified through the contact tracing exercise as they did not inform the authorities that they were in contact with the Forest Side cluster. They were tested COVID-19 positive yesterday following tests done in a private laboratory.

• Some 579 PCR tests have been done today, which revealed 11 positive cases: eight through contact tracing, and the persons were in contact with the couple. The three others were detected in quarantine centres.

• 7 479 persons were vaccinated today, and the total number of vaccinated persons now stands at 123 506, representing some 10% of the population.

• He recalled that the Prime Minister announced yesterday a new reopening phase as from 31 March 2021. The public is advised to be more cautious and thoroughly follow sanitary and precautionary measures so as to easily adapt following the end of the lockdown.

• Forty positive tests were sent to the National Institute of Communicable Disease in South Africa for further testing to be carried out through sequencing so as to determine which type of variant the persons were tested positive to. Results showed that no variant was present.

• As for Dr Gaud, she explained how the sequencing is done, an exercise which gives details about the genes of the virus and whether it has muted of not. All 40 results show a known strain (mostly spread in Russia), adding that the local vaccination programme is effective against that strain.

• She also dwelt on six patients who are currently receiving treatment. Out of them, one diabetic male patient contracted the virus in Madagascar and was repatriated to receive treatment. A female patient needed oxygen and her situation is being closely monitored.

Source: Government Information Service

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