As always, the health and wellness of our T&T IVF community is our top priority along with the whole of the T&T population. We congratulate the T&T prime Minister and his cabinet on their responsible and safe approach to fighting COVID19. In line with the government’s approach, and in line with international fertility societies we have taken the decision from today to:

1. not start any new fertility treatment cycles from 7am Tuesday 17^th March 2020
2. recommend all patients currently in IVF cycles freeze their embryos and defer a pregnancy until a safer time
3. recommend all patients in other fertility treatment cycles (IUI and ovulation induction) consider cancelling their treatment to defer a pregnancy until a safer time

We will continue to closely monitor COVID-19 developments, so that fertility treatments can resume as soon as it is safe.

To keep all our patients and staff COVID19 safe, Trinidad IVF is now also;

• Restricting contact between staff and patients to a minimum
  • Only patients in a treatment cycle will be allowed to enter clinic
  • Two clinics (Maraval and Charlieville) are now staff-entry only, no patient-entry is allowed
  • The only clinic allowing patient-entry is Medical Associates clinic in St Joseph
  • All consultations will now be online
  • All semen analyses will be by drop-off samples only

Trinidad IVF will continue to keep patients and staff healthy by;

• Calling everyone the day before entry into the clinic to ask some screening questions
• Using the intercom to talk to people before entry into the clinic
• Asking everyone arriving at the clinic some screening questions
• Asking you to stay home and call us if you’re feeling sick or have any of the following symptoms;
  • Cough or sore throat
  • Fever, even low grade
  • Runny nose or cold
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Continuing to use our hospital-grade cleaning for all clinic cleaning.
• Ensuring alcohol-based hand sanitizer is available to everyone at the reception desk and in the clinic scan and procedure rooms, for easy access and convenient use in between hand washes.
• Continuing to follow updates and protocols advised by WHO, the CDC, Ministry of Health, and other credible agencies to best ensure the safety of everyone.

We appreciate your attention and help while we keep everyone safe from COVID19. Should the situation change, we will update you with more detailed plans. If you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, we’re always here for you—just reach out to us by phone, patient portal or email. Dr Catherine Minto-Bain, Medical Director.

17^th March 2020.