The Ministry of Health revealed in its daily 4pm update this afternoon (Monday 31st May 2021) that there are 271 new COVID-19 cases in Trinidad and Tobago plus sixteen (16) additional deaths. The number of new cases represents a 57.47% decrease in reported cases from yesterday. These new patients will be processed for admission at the discretion of the CMOHs.

The latest deaths are as follows:

• Three (3) elderly males (co-morbidities).
  
• Eight (8) elderly females (co-morbidities).
  
• Three (3) middle-aged males (co-morbidities).
  
• Two (2) middle-aged females (co-morbidities).
  

There have been 13,085 new cases and 326 deaths in the month of May.

The Ministry reported the second-highest number of cases yesterday - 637 plus nine (9) deaths. The country’s death toll has increased to 495. T&T’s total positive cases now jumps to 23,909, with 9,487 being active cases. A total of 13,927 patients have recovered from the virus to date. 8,587 persons are in home self-isolation and there are 126 persons in total at State quarantine facilities.

A total of 94,671 persons have been vaccinated with a first dose and 1,179 have been fully vaccinated with a second dose. The breakdown of first dose vaccinations are as follows:

• AstraZeneca - 68,012
  
• ​Sinopharm - 26,659
  

The Ministry states that the number of positive cases reported reflects the samples taken during the period 22nd - 30th May 2021 and not the last 24 hours.

In its latest update, the Ministry notes that sixty-six (66) persons have been discharged from public health facilities and there have been 309 recovered community cases.

The Ministry also notes that there are currently 449 COVID-19 positive patients being treated at Hospitals:

• 131 at Couva.
  
• 57 at Caura.
  
• 47 at Augustus Long.
  
• 36 at St. Ann’s.
  
• 62 at Arima.
  
• 79 at Point Fortin.
  
• 34 at Scarborough Regional.
  
• ​3 at Scarborough General.
  

Among the patients at Couva, sixteen (16) are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and forty-six (46) are in the High Dependency Unit (HDU). There are also currently 180 COVID-19 positive patients in step-down/transition facilities across T&T.

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

Twenty-six (26) people were arrested at a residence in Real Spring, Valsayn, yesterday (Sunday 30th May 2021) for breach of the Public Health Regulations. The group, which included six (6) Venezuelans, were allegedly partying when they were held. A 38-year-old man at the gathering was also arrested for possession of 0.4 grammes of cocaine.

​The group of men and women ranging in age from twenty (20) to forty (40) are expected to be formally charged today (Monday 31st May 2021).

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), the arrests took place during a roving exercise conducted in St. Joseph between the hours of 7:30pm on Sunday (30th May 2021) and 1am on Monday (31st May 2021). It was co-ordinated by Ag Inspectors Greene and Toorie, supervised by PCs Gangaram and Mahon, and included Officers of the St. Joseph Police Station and St. Joseph Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

Attorney General, Faris Al-Rawi, hosted a Press Conference at 1pm this afternoon (Sunday 30th May 2021) to clarify several matters relating to the changes in curfew times for both public holidays this week in Trinidad and Tobago.

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

- Attorney General, Faris Al-Rawi, clarified several facts about the recent adjustments to the curfew times on the two (2) public holidays this week specifically. AG Al-Rawi indicated that on both Monday 31st May and Thursday 3rd June 2021, the public holidays of Indian Arrival Day and Corpus Christi, the curfew time will shift to 10am to 5am the following day.

- The Attorney General stated that only essential workers either on their way to or on their way back from work will be allowed on the roads during this period of 10am on the public holiday to 5am the following day. He went on to say that all Curfew Permits already issued will be valid during these times. In cases where essential workers are not in possession of a Curfew Permit, they must simply present their work ID cards to Officers.

- AG Al-Rawi went on to say that persons seeking urgent medical treatment or with critical care appointments such as dialysis treatment or those attending already-scheduled funerals should explain to Officers where they are going. The Officers have been advised to accommodate persons in such cases.

- The Attorney General announced that all vaccination appointments scheduled for these two (2) days will be rescheduled and persons will be subsequently contacted with their new dates and times.

- Attorney General Al-Rawi stated that persons with emergencies or pressing matters that require them to be out of their homes during the curfew hours should contact the Operational Command Centre at 480-2000 or 612-3876 for the necessary clearance.

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

[Source: TTT Live Online]

The Ministry of Health is advising that the administration of the second dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will begin on Monday 7th June 2021. Members of the public who received the first dose are strongly encouraged to take the second dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as it provides increased protection against the virus.

In a Media Release on Sunday (30th May 2021)? the Ministry notes that this is being done in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, which recommend that the second dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine should be administered eight (8) to twelve (12) weeks after the first dose. Administration of the first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine began on Tuesday 6th April 2021.

Persons who received the first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will NOT be required to make their own appointment for the second dose. As of Sunday (30th May 2021), that number stands at 67,763.

The Regional Health Authorities will contact those who have received the first dose of the vaccine to advise of the location and date for the second dose. Members of the public will be contacted to receive the second dose of the vaccine in the same order in which they received the first dose, beginning with those who were vaccinated on Tuesday 6th April 2021.

The Immunization Card with the record of the first dose of the vaccine and a valid form of identification are required.

The second dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will be administered at the following locations:

• Eastern Region - National Racquet Centre (Tacarigua) and Mayaro Sport Facility.
• North Central - University of Trinidad and Tobago, Munroe Road.
• North West - Paddock, Queen's Park Savannah.
• South West - Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA).

The Ministry states that people may experience side effects after receiving the vaccine but these are typically minor and go away within two (2) days. These side effects mean that your body is building its immune response or developing your internal protection against the disease.

The general side effects of the vaccines are:

• Pain, soreness and swelling at the injection site.
• Feeling fatigued or tired.
• Fever or a high temperature.​

Even after receiving the second dose of the vaccine, people are reminded that the public health guidelines must still be followed. Additionally, continuing to follow the health guidelines reduces the risk of spreading the virus to others who are unable to take the COVID-19 vaccine at this time (e.g. children, breastfeeding women).

The Ministry will continue to update the public on COVID-19 vaccination roll-out.

The Ministry of Health revealed in its daily 4pm update this afternoon (Sunday 30th May 2021) that there are 637 new COVID-19 cases in Trinidad and Tobago plus nine (9) additional deaths. The number of new cases is the second-highest since the start of the Pandemic and represents a 67.19% increase in reported cases from yesterday. These new patients will be processed for admission at the discretion of the CMOHs.

The latest deaths are as follows:

• Four (4) elderly males (co-morbidities).
  
• One (1) elderly female (co-morbidities).
  
• One (1) middle-aged male (co-morbidities).
  
• One (1) elderly male (no co-morbidities).
  
• One (1) middle-aged male (no co-morbidities).
  
• One (1) middle-aged female (no co-morbidities).
  

There have been 12,814 new cases and 310 deaths so far in the month of May.

The Ministry reported 381 new cases yesterday plus twelve (12) deaths. The country’s death toll has increased to 479. T&T’s total positive cases now jumps to 23,638, with 9,607 being active cases. A total of 13,552 patients have recovered from the virus to date. 8,331 persons are in home self-isolation and there are 122 persons in total at State quarantine facilities.

A total of 93,293 persons have been vaccinated with a first dose and 1,179 have been fully vaccinated with a second dose. The breakdown of first dose vaccinations are as follows:

• AstraZeneca - 67,763
  
• ​Sinopharm - 25,530
  

The Ministry states that the number of positive cases reported reflects the samples taken during the period 21st - 29th May 2021 and not the last 24 hours.

In its latest update, the Ministry notes that fifty-eight (58) persons have been discharged from public health facilities and there have been 213 recovered community cases.

The Ministry also notes that there are currently 458 COVID-19 positive patients being treated at Hospitals:

• 133 at Couva.
  
• 70 at Caura.
  
• 47 at Augustus Long.
  
• 22 at St. Ann’s.
  
• 66 at Arima.
  
• 80 at Point Fortin.
  
• 38 at Scarborough Regional.
  
• ​2 at Scarborough General.
  

Among the patients at Couva, nineteen (19) are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and three (3) are in the High Dependency Unit (HDU). There are also currently 181 COVID-19 positive patients in step-down/transition facilities across T&T.

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

Commissioner of Police, Gary Griffith, is stating that based on the advice of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and drawing from the Regulations which allow for the Commissioner to vary the curfew times, the holiday curfew hours for Monday 31st May 2021 and Thursday 3rd June 2021 shall be 10am to 5am the following day. Those being the public holidays of Indian Arrival Day and Corpus Christi, respectively.

The Commissioner of Police is advising that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) will be out in full force during the public holidays.

A Media Release from the TTPS on Sunday (30th May 2021) states that, in response to the "adjusted curfew hours," Commissioner Griffith says only critical essential workers either on their way to or on their way back from work will be allowed on the roads during this period of 10am on the public holiday to 5am the following day. Such workers include (though are not necessarily limited to) the media, private security officers, healthcare workers, sea and airport workers, and energy sector workers. The CoP says that these persons must possess their work ID cards. Persons seeking urgent medical treatment or with critical care appointments such as dialysis treatment or those attending already scheduled funerals should explain to Officers where they are going. Officers have been advised to accommodate persons in such cases.

Commissioner Griffith points out that he has restricted the Curfew Permits to 13,000 out of 380,000 requested, based solely on those who needed to be on the roads between the 9pm and 5am curfew. For the purpose of the two (2) public holidays however, these Curfew Permits will apply to the adjusted curfew hours as well.

The CoP notes that he has briefed Officers who will be conducting road exercises on Monday and Thursday between 10am - 5am, to ticket, charge, or clear persons on a case-by-case basis.

The Commissioner recognizes that there will be those essential workers going to or returning from shift duty without Curfew Permits. In those circumstances, the employee simply needs to produce the company identification card and explain to the Officer where he or she is going to or coming from. Employers are also encouraged to provide letters, if possible, to these employees. These letters will be acceptable, even if electronic.

Should provision of this additional support document not be possible for Monday, the Commissioner has asked Police Officers to exercise their discretion and as far as possible to ensure essential workers are allowed to go to and return from work.

Commissioner Griffith says he has also received several calls and messages from persons including owners of livestock, persons who have to feed the elderly, and those with emergencies. He asks that these persons, along with those who have to go to the Airport for an early morning flight or any other persons with a legitimate emergency to contact the Operational Command Centre at 480-2000 or 612-3876 for the necessary clearance.

Finally, the Commissioner advises that while commercial fishing remains allowable, movement of pleasure crafts during the holiday curfew hours is strictly prohibited. If boats are anchored at homes ‘down the islands’ by 10am they will have to remain at those homes until 5am Tuesday morning and likewise for Thursday into Friday.

The CoP says if you do not fall within the categories mentioned above, then you would have no right to be on the streets or waterways during the curfew period. He asks that persons with no legitimate business during this period, remain at home.

Please note that these adjustments are applicable to the holiday curfew days only.