No significant increase in new COVID-19 cases

Trinidad and Tobago is moving to completely reopen its economy, having been experiencing a considerable decline in new COVID-19 cases.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has declared that he sees no reason why the twin-island republic cannot be fully re-opened, as the country has been recording low numbers of cases linked to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that killed 3,719 people and infected 136,000 others over the past two years.

T&T, like several other Caribbean countries, closed its borders as part of the efforts to stem the spread of the virus, but in recent weeks, several regional countries have been slowly reducing their measures and allowing for a certain level of normality.

Rowley, addressing a public meeting of his ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) on Tuesday night (March 22), said several days after the island staged low-level Carnival activities, there has not been any significant increase in new cases of the virus.

Trinidad coping with COVID-19

He told the meeting: “Tonight, we continue to be mindful of the fact that there is a pandemic and that there are viruses out there that we should avoid, but we appear as though we are in a place where we are coping with the virus and our economy is doing well.” 

Rowley added: “I waited to see what was happening with Carnival. The 14 days after Carnival would have come and gone, that additional mixing that we did has not changed our circumstance for the worse, so I am not being minded to tell the country, I see no reason now not to open up the country completely.”

The T&T prime minister disclosed that a meeting will be held “within the next few days” with the health team “and we will take decisions commensurate with the circumstances in Trinidad and Tobago and compare it with what’s happening elsewhere”.

However, he cautioned and reminded the meeting that there are one or two countries right now facing major outbreaks, “so we have to be careful, mindful, but we can be a whole lot more operational. Our economy has come through a very difficult period, but we expect that there will be some growth in our economy”.

He explained that those requiring government assistance will get that and “those who can help themselves will be encouraged so to do and we will strengthen our position going forward. All I ask of you is to think wisely, behave sensibly, ignore the foolishness”.