T&T confirmed the highest number of COVID-19 cases for the pandemic to date within 24 hours, coming in at 781.
This new record surpassed the previous highest daily increase of 708 cases on May 21, 2021.
It is important to note that these new 781 COVID-19 cases were positives from samples collected over the last five days between November 12 through November 16 versus the usual three-day reporting period.
As the country continues to average above 1,000 samples submitted for testing daily, this delay in results will continue.
The country has seen a surge in daily reported cases since the start of November, where the seven-day rolling average for daily reported cases rose from 232 on November 1 to now 484 on November 17.
Month-to-date, Trinidad and Tobago has confirmed 6,536 COVID-19 cases, making November the fourth most infectious month, surpassing monthly totals of July, August and September.
Active cases, at 7,689, are at the highest since June 23.
Based on hospital data provided by the Ministry of Health Wednesday afternoon, T&T has the third-most hospitalised patients for the pandemic to date, with 494 on June 6 and 484 on June 13, 2021 ranking higher.
The parallel healthcare system is under strain, with the Arima, Augustus Long, St. Ann’s, Point Fortin, and St. James Hospitals all reporting occupancies higher than 80 per cent.
Data also shows that the intensive care unit at the Couva Hospital and Multi-Training Facility is full, where the nation’s most severe COVID-19 patients are warded.
A the balancing act of the nation’s parallel healthcare system continues, there were 61 discharged from public health facilities while 196 recoveries for those self-isolating outside the healthcare facilities.
In the last 24 hours, the country also reported six new COVID-19 related deaths, taking the nation’s death toll of 1,891.
These deaths included three elderly males, two middle-aged males, and one middle-aged female, all with comorbidities.
Month-to-date, the country reported 195 COVID-19 deaths, with 1,764 COVID-19 deaths reported for 2021 alone.
Vaccinations remain at a concerningly low pace, with 3,780 doses administered in the last 24 hours compared to a seven-day rolling average of 3,058 as of yesterday afternoon.
Of these new doses, 888 were first doses, while 428 were one-dose Johnson & Johnson.
There were 982 second doses and 1,492 people receiving their third additional primary shot.
To date, 57 per cent of the vaccine-eligible population have received one dose of a 2-dose regime while 56.6 per cent have received two doses.
However, only 45.3 per cent of the total population have received one dose, while 42.2 per cent have received two doses or completed their vaccine regime.