03/04/2020‍

10:00 am

The Honorable Minister of Health, Dr. Terrence Deyalsingh:

• The world has recorded its millionth case of Covid-19. 
• Homes for the elderly as well as homes for children will be placed under special care and supervision since these groups are most vulnerable. The best way to show love to the elderly right now, is to stay home.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Roshan Parasram:

• All sick persons and healthcare personnel should be wearing masks. Similarly, if you think your personal risk is great, wear a mask.

Honorable Minister of National Security, Stuart Young:

• Persons will no longer be allowed near beaches, streams, rivers or springs unless you are a service person for that area.
• The immigration offices will be closed to the public for the next week. The process of renewing passports will be upgraded as well.

#StayHomeStaySafe

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Link: https://www.facebook.com/tttliveonline/videos/549940649239796/

31/03/2020‍

10:00 am

Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Dept of P.O.S General Hospital:

• A pregnant woman can get the virus just as easily as the rest of the population, however, their symptoms may be less visible given the current data that is available. 
• It is still important to maintain social distancing.
• There is also no evidence that the virus has an impact on the development of the baby.

Honorable Minister of National Security, Stuart Young:

• Till April 20th, persons shall not gather in public places in groups of more than 5.
• Trips to Tobago via ferries will be reduced to once a day. Cargo ships will continue carrying on with business as usual.

Important Message: #StayHomeStaySafe

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Link: https://www.facebook.com/tttliveonline/videos/2941844486100751/

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27/03/2020

11:10 am

The Honorable Minister of Health, Dr. Terrence Deyalsingh:

• Contact tracing is underway for the 19 cases that were not from the cruise. Therefore, risk of community spread is low.
• Trinidad and Tobago is at its tipping point. There were 19,852 people that arrived in Trinidad and Tobago before the closing of our borders on March 22nd and symptoms generally appear 7-28 days days after infection. Therefore, it is critical for those people to stay isolated.
• There is a hotline for healthcare workers to be made.

Honorable Minister of National Security, Stuart Young:

• Stay-at-home measures are to be put in place. Only essential services will be open from the 30th of March. Essential business include banks, groceries, pharmacies, convenience stores etc. The full list will be available on the Ministry of Communication and Ministry of Health’s website. 
• All public transport is only to be filled at 50% capacity.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/CNC3Television/videos/2592646000994678/

As of Friday 27th March, 2020, Trinidad and Tobago discharged our first patient.

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26/03/2020

1:20 pm

The Honorable Prime Minister, Dr.Keith Rowley:

• We are in a crisis and this situation is not to be taken lightly. This virus overwhelms the health system and therefore, try to do everything in your power to follow the necessary guidelines. 
• Do not congregate. Separate. Social responsibility is paramount.
• The numbers are growing exponentially in the rest of the world, hence our need to shut them out right now. 330,000 people are holders of Trinidadian passports who are living abroad right now, further emphasizing the point that our borders need to be closed to curtail the spread of the virus.
• The Ministry of Finance will be making $157 million available to the Ministry of Health in the fight against the pandemic. 
• Activities that are deemed non-essential will be banned from Sunday midnight.

In the following weeks, Dr. Rowley advised that laws will be enforced to ensure that the public follows the laws. He then indicated that $157 M will be made available to the Ministry of Health to assist and advised that from Sunday 29th April at mid-night all non-essential activities were to cease. Only the following persons will be deemed essential:

1. Health Sector workers to stay open
2. Social Sector to stay open
3. Utilities – T&TEC, WASA and TSTT to function
4. Delivery & Supply 
5. Airport and Seaport for food cargo, medical supplies.
6. Customs

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The Honorable Minister of Health, Dr. Terrence Deyalsingh:

• China has donated 15 thermal scanners and 4000 test kits and we are purchasing a further 15,000 test kits.

Honorable Minister of Social Development and Family Services, Camille Robinson-Regis:

• Number of visitors to elderly homes will be reduced.

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Link: https://www.facebook.com/tttliveonline/videos/1052968648406408/

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25/03/2020 

11:12am

The Honorable Minister of Health, Dr. Terrence Deyalsingh:

• Out of 370 samples, 60 were tested positive. 44 of those positive samples were passengers aboard the cruise.
• “Social distancing” means stay 3-6 ft apart
• If you think you have been in contact with someone who possibly has Covid-19, call the hotline at 877-WELL
• There will be no reuse of PPE gear in hospitals
• Quarantine Act- Implementing and enforcing this act with the 20,000 persons who recently arrived in the country. The police service and the defense force are aware of who these people are and will be routinely checking to see if they stay in quarantine. Anyone who does not adhere to this act will be charged a $6000 fine or 6 month imprisonment

Honorable Minister of Social Development and Family Services, Camille Robinson-Regis:

• Please do not crowd the offices. Officials are doing everything possible to ensure those that need the assistance, receive it.
• Those that have been retrenched, who have had jobs terminated or have reduced salary because of these circumstances will be given grants.

Similarly, those who normally receive public assistance will see the extra money in their account. 

MP’s will distribute food cards to those on their list. 

Guidelines will be out in 7 days regarding all of this. Further information and forms will be made available on TTConnect as well as other Governmental pages like the Ministry of Communication.

• Socially displaced people will be moved to designated homes. NGOs will be given additional support to provide meals.

Honorable Minister of National Security, Stuart Young: 

• All measures are taken to protect T&T. 
• All cases so far have been from people who have returned from abroad, hence the decision to close the borders.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/tttliveonline/videos/504372406858006/

As of Wednesday 25th March 2020, Trinidad and Tobago recorded their first death from Covid-19. The patient was an elderly male with pre-existing medical conditions.