• The vaccination exercise was carried out in five regional hospitals today so as to enable those staff who have not yet been inoculated to do so. Some 1 047 staff were vaccinated today and this exercise will be ongoing until next Saturday in all regional hospitals.

• The Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Jagutpal, made this statement 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.

• Since 05 March 2021 to date, the positive cases have been identified as follows: 313 cases through the contact tracing exercise and COVID testing centres; 39 in quarantine centres; and 13 through random testing. To date, a total of 53 patients discharged and the number of active local cases stands at 311.

• With regards to Victoria Hospital, where a staff from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was tested positive to COVID-19, Dr Jagutpal pointed out that additional exceptional measures are being taken.

• Staff working in that unit have to stay in a quarantine centre between their respective shifts so as to ensure that babies they are taking care of in the Neonatal ICU on a daily basis stay safe. As at date, all PCR tests effected in the unit bear negative results. A sanitary corridor has also been set up for the staff to carry out their duties in the best possibly way.

• Dr Jagutpal commended all medical staff for the work being carried out and appealed to patients to respect all precautionary and sanitary measures by correctly wearing a facemask, respecting social distancing, regularly washing hands, and making frequent use of hand sanitizers.

• As for Dr Gaud, she dwelt on patients receiving treatment.

• Two patients are currently intubated and are still in a severe situation. One of them was hospitalised in a private clinic and following a positive PCR test due to respiratory problems, she was transferred to the New ENT Hospital yesterday.

• One male patient aged 69 years old is receiving oxygen, while another aged 75 is still in severe condition. Furthermore, a dialysis patient was also hospitalised last evening with severe comorbidities but is not intubated for the time being.