Trinidad and Tobago: Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister– Dr. Keith Rowley during his press conference on COVID-19 which was held on 3May, announced that Essential services, such as groceries, pharmacies, financial services, transportation, farming, hardware stores and the manufacturing sector would remain open.
However, the restrictions in operating hours would apply from- (6 am to 8 pm where applicable).
He stated that “All food services, including street food, would be discontinued at this time from midnight of 3 May and all non-essential retail business would be discontinued at this time.”
PM Rowley further announced that “The social support system would be continued that is -Senior Citizens Grant etc. $5 million would be allocated for food support (boxes etc.) for this month and $10 million would be provided to religious groups to dispense to the needy in their communities this month.”
PM further asserted that “These changes are made after meeting with the senior health officials.” He acknowledged that there would be losses to the quality of life due to these new restrictions but PM assured that all has not fallen down as the government has gone beyond what many others around the world have done in providing support to its people.
PM Rowley is optimistic that these new changes would reflect in lowering COVID-19 cases at the end of the month.
Earlier, Epidemiologist- Dr Avery Hinds warned that T&T is on track to have more than 10,000 Active COVID-19 Cases by May 22nd. This means that hospital capacity will be maximised shortly. Dr Hinds further noted from the data that more women are contracting COVID-19 and there is an increasing number of deaths in the younger age groups -the 40s, 50s, and 60s.
Chief Medical Officer – CMO- Dr Roshan Parasram stated, “The P1 Brazil Variant has a key role to play in the high number of COVID-19 cases since there is quickly spread and it is hitting harder. He noted that younger people without co-morbidities who contract this strain are dying – one person in their 30s, some in their 40s.”
