The Ministry of Health revealed in its daily COVID-19 update this afternoon (Monday 31st January 2022) that there are 359 new COVID-19 cases in Trinidad and Tobago plus nine (9) additional deaths. T&T’s total active positive cases is currently at 19,841. The number of new cases represents a 20.04% decrease in reported cases from yesterday.

There have been 19,650 new cases and 535 deaths in the month of January. When compared to December 2021 (20,538 cases and 711 deaths), cases are down 4.32% and deaths are down 24.75%.

The Ministry reported 449 new cases yesterday plus fourteen (14) more unfortunate deaths. The country’s death toll has increased to 3,404. As of 26th January 2022, 203 deaths were fully vaccinated persons while 2,754 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 690,218 persons have been fully vaccinated, representing 49.3% of the population. Meanwhile, 709,782 persons are not fully vaccinated (only received a first dose or no doses), representing 50.7% of the population. 110,422 persons in total have taken a booster shot.

Based on data from 22nd July 2021 - 12th January 2022, 2,140 patients in the parallel healthcare system (Hospitals and step-down facilities) are fully vaccinated, representing 15.5%, while 11,624 are not fully vaccinated, representing 84.5%.

The Ministry states that the number of positive cases reported reflects the samples taken during a 7-day period between 24th - 30th January 2022 and not the last twenty-four (24) hours.

The Ministry also notes that there are currently 498 COVID-19 positive patients in total being treated at Hospitals and step-down facilities. Twenty-five (25) are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and seven (7) are in the High Dependency Unit (HDU).

​This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.

Rihanna revealed on Monday morning (31st January 2022) that she is expecting her first child with rapper A$AP Rocky. In a series of photos, the couple can be seen strolling in Harlem, New York (A$AP’s hometown), with Rihanna’s baby bump on full display.

Rihanna’s well-suited outfit for the big reveal included a gold cross with jewels resting on her baby bump. The couple were not outside for long due to the chilly weather. They were seen heading back to their apartment afterwards.

Rihanna and A$AP started dating at the end of 2020 and have been inseparable ever since. They were friends for several years prior to that.

Congrats to the happy couple!

The PCR machine at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) Laboratory has been out of service since 11th January 2022, causing lengthy delays in COVID-19 test results. Officials, however, note that the machine at SFGH is expected to be back in service in early February.

The Laboratory at SFGH is one of only six (6) in the country that is used by the public sector to process COVID-19 PCR tests. The other five (5) include: the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the UWI Molecular Laboratory at the School of Veterinary Medicine in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, the Medical Laboratory at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, the Sangre Grande Hospital Laboratory and the Scarborough General Hospital Laboratory.

In a statement to Guardian Media on Sunday (30th January 2022), the South Western Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) confirmed the m2000 Abbott PCR bulk testing machine was not in service and the replacement part is expected to arrive soon.

The statement explained, “While it remains down, the required replacement part is expected to arrive on (or around) the 1st February 2022, from abroad to effect the repairs and return the machine to full functionality.” According to the SWRHA, patients affected by this were primarily those on home quarantine and those in the community awaiting results. These cases, it said, were known to the primary care health surveillance teams.

To mitigate the effects of the machine being out of order, the Authority said contingencies were activated, such as sending samples to other laboratories for testing. “Given redundant testing capacity and activation of pre-planned contingencies, prompt support from the labs of the Medical Research Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago, the North Central Regional Health Authority and the Trinidad Public Health Laboratory have successfully arrested and have started to reduce the samples that were initially delayed in processing.”

The Authority further said, “Additionally, rapid testing on smaller cartridge-based PCR machines at both SWRHA and the NCRHA Laboratories also ensured urgent samples required have continued to be processed for ill patients requiring hospitalization in the parallel healthcare system.”

Approval was received by the Authority on Friday (28th January 2022) to engage select Ministry of Health approved private labs to further assist in testing the remaining samples. With these measures in place, the SWRHA said normal turnaround times should occur over the next seven (7) to ten (10) days.

The Authority assures that there “is no patient compromise to treatment requiring an urgent diagnosis.”

[Source: CNC3]

The local High Court has recently granted approval for the sale of Trincity Mall and its commercial centre, Trincity Commercial Centre Limited. Both properties are owned by Home Construction Limited (HCL) — which is a subsidiary of CL Financial Limited (CLF).

Since 2017, CLF has been under liquidation, which is being managed by the international firm, Grant Thornton. Liquidators indicated their intention to prepare the properties for divestment since 2020.

The CLF Group had earlier sold HCL’s Valpark and Atlantic Plaza Malls to generate cash flow for the conglomerate. ​Once the liquidation was announced, the sale of Trincity Mall, and eventually, Long Circular Mall, were inevitable.

In its ninth report to the Court, for the period 18th June to 22nd December 2021, the liquidators noted that within that period they received “external stakeholder approval for the sale”. The report noted, “The liquidators sought sanction from the Court with respect to the sale of Trincity Commercial Centre and/or Trincity Mall. The Court granted the order sought.”

The liquidators have attended bi-weekly meetings with HCL and they have been provided with draft sales documentation for their review and consideration. “The liquidators are currently in the process of reviewing the sales documents before proceeding to the marketing phase,” the report said.

The liquidators also noted that the Pandemic had a material impact on the company and its subsidiaries and affected its ability to achieve its objectives.

[Source: Trinidad Express]

The Ministry of Health revealed in its daily COVID-19 update this afternoon (Sunday 30th January 2022) that there are 449 new COVID-19 cases in Trinidad and Tobago plus fourteen (14) additional deaths. T&T’s total active positive cases is currently at 19,831. The number of new cases represents a 58.46% decrease in reported cases from yesterday.

There have been 19,291 new cases and 526 deaths so far in the month of January.

The Ministry reported 1,081 new cases yesterday — the second-highest since the start of the Pandemic — plus nine (9) more unfortunate deaths. The country’s death toll has increased to 3,395. As of 26th January 2022, 203 deaths were fully vaccinated persons while 2,754 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 690,137 persons have been fully vaccinated, representing 49.3% of the population. Meanwhile, 709,863 persons are not fully vaccinated (only received a first dose or no doses), representing 50.7% of the population. 110,316 persons in total have taken a booster shot.

Based on data from 22nd July 2021 - 12th January 2022, 2,140 patients in the parallel healthcare system (Hospitals and step-down facilities) are fully vaccinated, representing 15.5%, while 11,624 are not fully vaccinated, representing 84.5%.

The Ministry states that the number of positive cases reported reflects the samples taken during a 7-day period between 23rd - 29th January 2022 and not the last twenty-four (24) hours.

The Ministry also notes that there are currently 488 COVID-19 positive patients in total being treated at Hospitals and step-down facilities. Twenty-five (25) are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and eleven (11) are in the High Dependency Unit (HDU).

​This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.

Four (4) Chinese Nationals were arrested and over $8 Million worth of illegal drugs and a quantity of cash were confiscated after a drug bust in Trincity.

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), the incident took place during an intelligence-led exercise which was conducted in the Northern Division under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police, Central Intelligence Bureau, Deosaran on Wednesday 26th January 2022. During the exercise, a search warrant for firearms and ammunition was executed at a residence located at Olympia Avenue, Millennium Park, Trincity.

During a search of the premises, Officers allegedly found and seized 201 glass vials, each labelled ‘Ketamin 10% INJ 23ml for Veterinary Use Only,’ along with seventy-six (76) ziplock packets each containing a white crystal-like substance resembling the dangerous drug Ketamine. The Officers also found and seized TT $33,775 in polymer notes, TT $53 in cotton notes, Yen $865, and a quantity of apparatus.

Jaicheng Jiang, 26, was arrested and subsequently charged by PC Gerald of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) with possession of a dangerous drug, namely Ketamine for the purpose of trafficking. The Ketamine, which weighed 12.7 Kilograms, had a street value of $8,623,300.

Ketamine is a medication that Doctors use as an anaesthetic to induce loss of consciousness. Effects include sedation and reduced sensation of pain. However, Ketamine is also used as a date-rape drug, to assist in committing a sexual assault. Sexual assault is any type of sexual activity that a person does not agree to. Because of the effects of these drugs, victims may be physically helpless, unable to refuse sex, and unable to remember what happened.

Police believe that with this seizure, additional inroads have been made into the human-trafficking ring operating in Trinidad and Tobago, as drugs of this nature are used to prey on unsuspecting victims. This seizure comes on the heels of the rescue of twenty-seven (27) Venezuelan women on 31st December 2021, when Police busted a human-trafficking ring.

On Friday 28th January 2022, a detention order was granted by Magistrate Dubay at the Arima Magistrates’ Court with respect to the quantity of cash seized at the premises, pending further investigations in accordance with the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Three (3) other Chinese Nationals, two (2) men aged thirty-eight (38) and twenty-nine (29) and a 27-year-old woman who were found at the premises, were also arrested. Further enquiries revealed that they were in the country illegally. The Immigration Division is conducting inquiries.

Investigations are continuing.

At 9:40am this morning (Saturday 29th January 2022), a widely-felt magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurred approximately 19.2 Kilometers Northeast of Toco, Trinidad and 24.6 Kilometers South of Crown Point, Tobago. The depth of earthquake was 61.23 Kilometers.

The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI SRC) initially said the quake was a magnitude 5.2, but after reviewing the data, adjusted it to 5.0. It was the third-felt seismic event across parts of Trinidad and Tobago this week, following Monday night’s magnitude 5.5 quake and Tuesday night’s magnitude 5.4 quake.

This morning’s quake, lasting no longer than a few seconds, was widely reported felt across Northern and Central Trinidad, and across Tobago, with sporadic felt reports across Southern Trinidad, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Venezuela.

[Source: TTWC]

The Ministry of Health revealed in its daily COVID-19 update this afternoon (Saturday 29th January 2022) that there are 1,081 new COVID-19 cases in Trinidad and Tobago plus nine (9) additional deaths. T&T’s total active positive cases is currently at 19,660.

The number of new cases is the second-highest since the start of the Pandemic and represents a 40.76% increase in reported cases from yesterday. This is the third time cases have crossed 1,000 since the start of the Pandemic — all in the month of January. Today is also the fifth consecutive day in which cases have crossed 600.

There have been 18,842 new cases and 512 deaths so far in the month of January.

The Ministry reported 768 new cases yesterday plus fourteen (14) more unfortunate deaths. The country’s death toll has increased to 3,381. As of 26th January 2022, 203 deaths were fully vaccinated persons while 2,754 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 689,743 persons have been fully vaccinated, representing 49.3% of the population. Meanwhile, 710,257 persons are not fully vaccinated (only received a first dose or no doses), representing 50.7% of the population. 109,684 persons in total have taken a booster shot.

Based on data from 22nd July 2021 - 12th January 2022, 2,140 patients in the parallel healthcare system (Hospitals and step-down facilities) are fully vaccinated, representing 15.5%, while 11,624 are not fully vaccinated, representing 84.5%.

The Ministry states that the number of positive cases reported reflects the samples taken during a 7-day period between 22nd - 28th January 2022 and not the last twenty-four (24) hours.

The Ministry also notes that there are currently 489 COVID-19 positive patients in total being treated at Hospitals and step-down facilities. Twenty-five (25) are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and twelve (12) are in the High Dependency Unit (HDU).

This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.

The Ministry of Health held a virtual Press Conference at 11am this morning (Saturday 29th January 2022) to update the public on the latest developments with COVID-19 in Trinidad and Tobago.

​Below are the key points discussed today, courtesy of TTT Live Online:

- Director of the Epidemiology Division at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Avery Hinds, says the rolling average of COVID-19 cases has increased in the latter half of January. However, he projected that Week 4 of 2022 will have fewer cases than Week 3. He also projected that January 2022 will end with 1,000 less cases than December 2021. Dr. Hinds reminded that there is a more transmissible variant in the population and urged people to follow the health protocols.

- When asked about what seemed to be a decrease in COVID-19 deaths, Dr. Hinds said Officials cannot yet give a definitive reason for this but he said the “most likely” reason may be due to the Omicron variant which does not affect people as severely as the Delta variant.

- CEO of the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA), Davlin Thomas, noted that the Larry Gomes Stadium drive-thru and walk-in vaccination site has seen some increase in the past few days.

- Mr. Thomas said 359,400 doses of the various COVID-19 vaccines have been administered at the various NCRHA sites. Workers from Angostura, Pennywise, Courts, and Massy Stores were among those receiving vaccines at NCRHA sites.

- Staff vaccination at NCRHA facilities has climbed from 48% to 81%.

- The NCRHA has also launched a COVID-19 drive-thru screening service at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, where a Clinician performs a rapid, focused, in-vehicle assessment and provides health care/advice, and medication. This screening is by appointment only via the NCRHA’s Preview Checkup App.

- Medical Director of the Arima General Hospital, Dr. Ravi Lala, spoke about Long COVID at today’s Press Conference. This is when a patient feels the effects of COVID-19 that continue for weeks or months beyond the initial illness. Symptoms of Long COVID can include the following:

• Fatigue.
• Shortness of breath.
• Difficulty sleeping.
• Anxiety and depression.
• Heart palpitations.
• Chest tightness or pain.
• Joint or muscle pain.
• Not being able to think straight or focus (‘Brain Fog’).
• Change to your sense of smell/taste.
• Persistent cough.

- The Arima General Hospital has established a Clinic to deal with patients experiencing Long COVID. The process includes patients having a specialized referral after which there is a pre-visit screening where a phone call, prior to the Clinic visit, is made to help understand the patient ahead of time.

- So far, the Long COVID Clinic has seen over 500 patients. For more information, email: [email protected].

If you missed the Press Conference, you can watch it below in its entirety.

[Source: TTT Live Online]

According to Police, the brazen double-murder in the car park of South Park Mall on Thursday (27th January 2022), may have been gang-related and involved two (2) shooters. Police have been retrieving CCTV footage from the area.

The Volkswagen Jetta used to execute the victims, Malik Straker, alias ‘M1’ and ‘Molly,’ 31, of Wallerfield, Arima, and Joel Chambers, 29, of Morvant, entered South Park’s car park near to Courts around 11:36am. The vehicle left via the same route around 11:44am shortly after the shooting, then drove up the Tarouba ramp, and turned onto the Southbound lane of the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway.

The victims were seated in a silver AD wagon in the car park when gunmen riddled their vehicle with bullets. Investigators are looking into whether the wagon was stolen.

An eyewitness told Police that around 11:40am, he was in his car when he heard several explosions and saw a man dressed in a blue T-shirt, his head covered with another T-shirt and armed with a rifle, firing several shots at the front windshield of the silver AD wagon. He said he became afraid and drove off.

After arriving on the scene, Police noticed the wagon’s engine was still running, hazard lights were on, windows were up and doors were locked. The Fire Service was called to unlock the doors with a master key.

Chambers, who was in the driver’s seat of the wagon, was found slumped over the gear lever while Straker’s body was stretched across the front passenger and back seats, with his head touching the rear seat. Police observed multiple bullet holes in the front windshield and passenger window. The rear windscreen was shattered.

Crime Scene Investigators retrieved seventeen (17) spent 5.56 caliber casings, eighteen (18) spent 9mm caliber casings, a projectile, Chambers’ Driver’s Permit and two (2) cellphones.

According to Investigators, Straker was affiliated with a gang and had intimate knowledge about at least four (4) murders which Police believe were also gang-related. He also had pending matters at the Arima and Sangre Grande Magistrates’ Courts for kidnapping for ransom, false imprisonment, attempted murder, possession of ammunition and firearm, robbery with aggravation, malicious woundings and common assault.

Chambers, meanwhile, was charged in 2018 for malicious damage, marijuana trafficking, dangerous driving, driving without a Driver’s Permit and without a certificate of insurance, according to the Police criminal database.

Investigations are continuing into the incident.

[Source: CNC3]