The Ministry of Health revealed in its daily COVID-19 update this afternoon (Tuesday 9th August 2022) that there are 327 new COVID-19 cases in Trinidad and Tobago and no additional deaths. T&T’s total active positive cases is currently at 6,638.

The number of new cases is the second-highest for the month (361 on 4th August 2022) and represents a 61.88% increase in reported cases from yesterday. Both hospitalizations and active cases are at the highest levels for the month.

There have been 2,025 new cases and seventeen (17) deaths so far in the month of August.

The Ministry reported 202 new cases yesterday plus two (2) additional deaths. The country’s death toll remains at 4,070. As of 3rd August 2022, 301 deaths were fully vaccinated persons while 3,366 deaths were not fully vaccinated. 390 deaths were recorded prior to 24th May 2021 (date at which the first group of vaccinated persons became fully vaccinated).

A total of 715,736 persons have been fully vaccinated, representing 51.1% of the population. Meanwhile, 684,264 persons are not fully vaccinated (only received a first dose or no doses), representing 48.9% of the population. 167,565 persons in total have taken a booster shot.

Based on data from 22nd July 2021 - 3rd August 2022, 3,922 patients in the parallel healthcare system (Hospitals and step-down facilities) are fully vaccinated, representing 19.8%, while 15,908 are not fully vaccinated, representing 80.2%.

The Ministry states that the number of positive cases reported reflects the samples taken during a 2-day period between 7th - 8th August 2022 and not the last twenty-four (24) hours.

The Ministry also notes that there are currently 178 COVID-19 positive patients in total being treated at Hospitals and step-down facilities (up 1.14% from yesterday). Four (4) are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and five (5) are in the High Dependency Unit (HDU).

The Water and Sewerage Authority (the Authority) is advising customers in parts of Siparia, who are presently experiencing an interruption in their pipe-borne supply, that this is due to a mechanical problem affecting one of the pumps at the Siparia Water Treatment Plant.

Emergency repair works currently underway, are expected to be completed by 8:00 PM on Friday 12th August 2022.

Areas affected include the following:

Quinam Road, Sennon Village, Railway Road, Mary, George & Victoria, Upper De Gannes, Lower Coora Road, Coora Hernandez Road, Coora Extension, Mendez, Saney Trace, Kay Trace, Prana Home Development, High Street, inclusive of all side streets.

A limited truck-borne service will be available upon request. For further information or assistance, customers are asked to contact WASA's Customer Call Centre, toll free at 800-4420 or 800-4426.

The Authority apologises for the inconvenience and thanks customers for their patience and understanding.

A 33-year-old man is expected to appear before a Princes Town Magistrate today (Tuesday 9th August 2022), charged with the murder of Amit Boodoo, which occurred on Friday 22nd July 2022.

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), Michael Francis, of St. Croix, Princes Town, was charged with the offence following advice received from Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Joan Honore-Paul, on Sunday (7th August 2022).

Boodoo, 36, a fisherman of Barrackpore, was at his home on Friday 22nd July 2022, when he got into a heated altercation with another man. During the incident, the victim armed himself with a cutlass while the other man allegedly also did the same. The men proceeded to trade blows with each other resulting in both of them sustaining injuries about their bodies.

They were both conveyed to the Princes Town District Health Facility where the victim died while undergoing treatment. The other man was treated, discharged and subsequently arrested by Officers of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations (HBI), Region Three, in connection with the incident.

Investigations were spearheaded by Supt. (Ag.) Dhillpaul and supervised by Insp. Jones and Sgt. Jones, all of HBI Region Three.

Francis was charged by Cpl (Ag.) Marsh, also of HBI Region Three, on Sunday (7th August 2022).

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Scrap Iron Dealers Association, Allan Ferguson, has announced that the Association will be setting up a 24-hour hotline for persons to report any instances of theft of copper wires, manhole covers and other scrap metals.

Persons can call or WhatsApp 267-1061.

Ferguson has made it clear the Association is not guilty, or responsible for the recent theft of electrical cables which caused the sector to be temporarily closed.

Last Friday (5th August 2022), Minister of National Security, Fitzgerald Hinds, announced a six (6) months’ ban on exporting scrap iron following the cable theft at WASA’s California Booster Station.

[Source: TTT Live Online]

The death of a chicken farmer on Sunday (7th August 2022) is being investigated by Police, after the man reportedly ingested a chemical substance, believing it was water. Gerald Boodoo, 44, of Penal Rock Road, Basse Terre, Moruga, died at Hospital on Sunday after ingesting the substance the day before.

According to Police, around 1:48 PM on Saturday (6th August 2022), Boodoo returned to his home after tending to his 8,600 chickens which he rears on his farm at Penal Rock Road, Moruga. He complained about not feeling well to a close female relative, who fed him a glass of Coke, after which he fell asleep on a couch in the living room.

Later the same day at around 6:00 PM, Boodoo started complaining of stomach pains and he vomited. Police were told he was then given a Gravol tablet. However, around 1:00 AM on Sunday morning, his vomiting worsened and Boodoo also complained of diarrhoea. The family Doctor was later contacted around 7:00 AM.

A Police report stated that while the relative was having a conversation with the family Doctor, Boodoo told the relative to inform the Doctor that while he was on his farm the previous day (Saturday) he picked up a bottle and drank from it, believing it was water. However, Boodoo said he later realized that it was a chemical substance and not water in the bottle.

Later that day (Sunday), the Doctor visited Boodoo again, made observations and ordered him to be taken to the Princes Town District Health Facility. He was placed in the family's vehicle, and taken for treatment. However, while on the way, Police were told that upon reaching Indian Walk, Moruga, Boodoo stopped talking.

Upon arriving at the Princes Town District Health Facility, Boodoo was pronounced dead by medical personnel.

The Princes Town Police was contacted and his body was conveyed to the San Fernando General Hospital Mortuary.

Cpl Dickie is continuing investigations.

​[Source: Trinidad Express]

There were two (2) tragic drown­ings within a few hours on Sunday (7th August 2022) at the Mara­cas and Tyri­co beach­es. The first in­ci­dent occurred around 3:30 PM at Mara­cas Bay, when David Khan, a citizen of the United States, was in the water when he started experiencing dif­fi­cul­ties and soon dis­ap­peared. Despite ef­forts by both life­guards and mem­bers of the pub­lic, he was unable to be found in the water.

His body lat­er resur­faced around 5:50 PM and was brought to shore by three (3) men who had been part of the search par­ty. Al­though CPR was per­formed, it was un­suc­cess­ful and he was lat­er pro­nounced dead. In­sp Ram­s­ingh along with Sgts Jack and Ra­jku­mar vis­it­ed the scene.

While Officers were over­see­ing the re­moval of Khan’s body at Maracas Bay, a re­port of a sec­ond drown­ing came in — this time at Tyri­co Bay.

According to eyewit­ness­es, Joshua Ser­rette, 24, of Mara­cas, St. Joseph, was in the water around 6:00 PM when he got in­to dif­ficulties and dis­ap­peared. Oth­er beach­go­ers were able to drag him to shore and a vis­it­ing Doc­tor from the Al­bert Ein­stein Hos­pi­tal in the U.S., Dr. Dave Gokool, per­formed CPR on Ser­rette. First re­spon­ders then rushed him to the Port-of-Spain Gen­er­al Hos­pi­tal, where he was unfortunately pro­nounced dead at 7:42 PM.

The tragedies oc­curred four (4) days af­ter life­guard An­tho­ny Paul warned that Tyri­co beach con­tin­ued to be with­out a life­guard ser­vice, and that beach­go­ers to this par­tic­u­lar site would be un­der­tak­ing a sea-bath at their own risk.

En­quires are con­tin­u­ing in­to both in­ci­dents.

[Source: T&T Guardian]