Four more weeks of COVID-19 restrictions in Trinidad
(Trinidad Guardian) Public health restrictions implemented a month ago to roll back on the reopening of the economy as the country’s COVID-19 spread worsened will be extended for another four weeks, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced on Saturday.
Government partially rolled back on the reopening of the country from August 16, reducing the number of people allowed to gather from ten to five, closing beaches, rivers and water parks, stopping in-house dining and making the wearing of masks in public mandatory. Since then there have been more than 2,200 positive COVID-19 cases recorded and at least 38 deaths. But while Dr Rowley and Ministry of Health officials believe without the restrictions the numbers would be higher they don’t believe the country is yet in a position for the measures to be lifted.
Technical Director of the Ministry of Health’s Epidemiology Division, Dr Avery Hinds, said there are hints that the measures are beginning to work but they need more time.
“We’re beginning to see signs that fewer and fewer people on our daily counts—not the ones that show up in the press releases that may have numbers across few days—but on the daily counts we’re starting to see where those numbers are starting to look a little more favourable although they’re still increasing. So we’re at the point where we are encouraged to hold the course. We’re encouraged to continue doing what we’re doing,” he said.
The restrictions will stay in effect until October 11 but Dr Rowley said a review will be done in two weeks on September 28. No new restrictions were added to the regulations but there will be some tweaks. According to the Prime Minister, citizens can expect increased vigilance
by the police.
“I’ve said to my colleague, the Minister of National Security, while it’s not feasible to lock up everybody who’s playing the fool and who’s breaking the law or breaching the regulations, we really only have left serious sustained law enforcement because there are people in this community who only understand the heavy hand,” he said.