The active Tropical Wave east of the Lesser Antilles, which the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) has been closely monitoring, has now been upgraded by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to Potential Tropical Cyclone Five.

A Potential Tropical Cyclone means that the system is not yet a Tropical Cyclone, but it poses a threat of bringing Tropical Cyclone conditions to land areas within forty-eight (48) hours.

The Met Office states that at 5pm today (Wednesday 30th June 2021), the system was located approximately 1,920 Km East of the Windward Islands, centered near 9.6N 43.7W and moving towards the West-Northwest near 33 Km/hr. Current analyses suggest that on its projected track (see graphic above), the center of the system is forecast to move across the Windward Islands, North of Trinidad and Tobago, on Friday 2nd July 2021 and then move into the Eastern Caribbean Sea by late Friday night. It is likely that feeder band activity associated with the system will produce periods of rain/showers and isolated Thunderstorm activity with possible gusty winds on Friday (2nd July 2021) into Saturday (3rd July 2021) over Trinidad and Tobago.

The Met Office underscores that at this time, the system poses no direct threat to Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada and its dependencies.

The following is a summary of Tropical Storm Watches in effect for portions of the Lesser Antilles:

• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• St. Lucia
• Barbados
• Martinique
• Guadeloupe

A Tropical Storm Watch means that Tropical Storm conditions are possible within the watch area within forty-eight (48) hours.

The TTMS says it will continue to closely monitor this system and will issue an update at 6am tomorrow (1st July 2021) or earlier if the situation warrants.

Detectives believe they have foiled the kidnapping of a 15-year-old girl who was found at an unoccupied house in Talparo yesterday. A 30-year-old man, of San Fernando, and a 33-year-old man, of Arima, who were detained during the rescue operation has since been assisting Police with their investigations.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) said in a Media Release on Wednesday (30th June 2021), that the girl, who is from Mayaro, is currently in the care of Officers attached to the Child Protection Unit (CPU).

According to reports, at 2pm on 29th June 2021, information was sent directly to Commissioner of Police, Gary Griffith, about a possible kidnapping involving three (3) suspects and a girl. The CoP passed on the information to the Northern Division Commander.

A massive exercise which involved Officers of the Northern Division Intelligence Team was initiated and resulted in the girl being located at an unoccupied building along Talparo Main Road, Talparo.

Police later detained two (2) men in connection with the report, who are currently being interrogated by Officers at the Maloney and Arima Police Stations, respectively.

The Media Release states that Commissioner Griffith “would like to thank the person who sent the information to him.” He is also asking members of the public, “if you see something, say something, and WhatsApp him at 482-GARY.”

The Ministry of Health revealed in its daily 4pm update this afternoon (Wednesday 30th June 2021) that there are 265 new COVID-19 cases in Trinidad and Tobago plus fourteen (14) additional deaths. The number of new cases represents a 43.24% increase in reported cases from yesterday. These new patients will be processed for admission at the discretion of the CMOHs. Information on the latest deaths will be available shortly.

There have been 8,884 new cases and 352 deaths in the month of June, compared to 13,085 cases and 326 deaths in the month of May. Cases in June declined by 32.11% but deaths increased by 7.98%. June is now the deadliest month since the start of the Pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Ministry reported 185 new cases yesterday plus eleven (11) deaths. The country’s death toll has increased to 847. T&T’s total positive cases now jumps to 32,793, with 7,125 being active cases. A total of 24,821 patients have recovered from the virus to date. 6,330 persons are in home self-isolation and there are 222 persons in total at State quarantine facilities.

A total of 213,632 persons have been vaccinated with a first dose and 88,916 have been fully vaccinated with a second dose.

The Ministry states that the number of positive cases reported reflects the samples taken during the period 26th - 29th June 2021 and not the last 24 hours.

The Ministry also notes that there are currently 388 COVID-19 positive patients being treated at Hospitals and 142 patients are in step-down/transition facilities across T&T.

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

The Ministry of Health held a virtual Press Conference at 11am this morning (Wednesday 30th June 2021) 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:

- Principal Medical Officer of Institutions, Dr. Maryam Abdool-Richards, in providing a clinical update shared that 389 persons are currently hospitalised with COVID-19. Dr. Richards indicated that this means that the total occupancy in the parallel healthcare system stands at 51% with Ward occupancy at 48%, HDU occupancy at 59% and ICU occupancy at 90%.

- Dr. Richards stated that as of yesterday, 212,774 persons have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine with 80,029 persons receiving both doses.

- Dr. Richards also indicated that repatriation exercises continue with 116 persons being ticketed so far to return from New York on 3rd July 2021. She also stated that a repatriation flight from Toronto is scheduled for 6th July 2021 and another for students from Barbados on 13th July 2021.

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

[Source: TTT Live Online]

Prime Minister Keith Rowley is hosting a Press Conference from 1pm this afternoon (Wednesday 30th June 2021). Watch the live stream of the Press Conference below when it begins at 1pm, courtesy of TTT.

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

The Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs has published the updated Public Health [2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)] (No. 17) Regulations, 2021 on Wednesday (30th June 2021). The updated Regulations include an increase in passenger capacity of taxis and maxi-taxis from 50% to 75% (see Schedule 3 here).

Sub-regulation (5) states the following:

(1) During the period specified in regulation 14, a person who provides public transport in a motor vehicle shall not carry, where the motor vehicle is--

​(a) a motor car, more than seventy-five per cent; or

(b) every other type of motor vehicle, more than seventy-five per cent, of the number of passengers for which the motor vehicle is licensed to carry.

(2) The seating requirements for maxi-taxis shall be in accordance with Schedule 3.

The Regulations have also been extended to 18th July 2021.

The Ministry of Health will be hosting a virtual Press Conference at 11am this morning (Wednesday 30th June 2021) to update the public about the latest developments with COVID-19 in Trinidad and Tobago.

​The Ministry reported 185 new cases yesterday along with eleven (11) deaths. The country’s death toll has reached 833. There have been 8,619 new cases and 338 deaths so far in the month of June. The number of deaths in June has already surpassed that of the entire month of May (326) - making June the deadliest month in T&T since the start of the Pandemic.

​Watch the live stream of the Press Conference below when it begins at 11am, courtesy of TTT.

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

The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) is closely monitoring two (2) active Tropical Waves, TW1 and TW2, in the Atlantic. The first wave, TW1, is located approximately 500 Km East of the Lesser Antilles, centred near 13N 55W and is moving Westward to West North-Westward near 40 Km/hr. This Wave has a 10% (low) chance of development into a Tropical Depression over the next forty-eight (48) hours. TW1 has already begun to produce locally heavy rainfall over portions of the Lesser Antilles. Current analyses suggest that on its projected track, the centre of the system is forecast to reach the Leeward Islands by tonight.

The second wave, TW2, is located approximately 2,100 Km East of the Lesser Antilles, centred near 8.5N 40W and is moving Westward to West North-Westward near 35 Km/hr. This Wave has a 60% (medium) chance of development into a Tropical Depression over the next forty-eight (48) hours. However, it continues to show signs of additional development with a 80% (high) chance of formation over the next five (5) days. Regardless of development, this system will likely produce gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall across portions of the Lesser Antilles islands between Friday (2nd July 2021) and Saturday (3rd July 2021).

At this time, both TW1 and TW2 pose no direct threat to Trinidad and Tobago or Grenada and its dependencies.

The TTMS says it will continue to closely monitor these systems and will issue an update at 6pm today (30th June 2021) or earlier if the situation warrants.

Meanwhile, both systems are also being closely monitored by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami. Its latest update this morning on both systems are as follows.

​- TW1: Disorganized showers and Thunderstorms continue in association with a Tropical Wave located just East of the Lesser Antilles. Significant development of this system is unlikely while it moves quickly, passing through the Lesser Antilles today and then across the Eastern and central Caribbean Sea later this week. Regardless of development, this system could bring locally heavy rainfall to portions of the Lesser Antilles during the next day or two (2). Formation chance through forty-eight (48) hours is low (10%). Formation chance through five (5) days is also low (10%).

- TW2: A broad area of low pressure, associated with a Tropical Wave, is located about midway between the West coast of Africa and the Windward Islands. This system is producing a large area of showers and Thunderstorms that continues to show some signs of organization. Environmental conditions appear generally favorable for development, and a Tropical Depression is likely to form during the next few days. Interests in the Windward and Leeward Islands should closely monitor this system as it will likely be moving through that region on Friday. Formation chance through forty-eight (48) hours is medium (60%). Formation chance through five (5) days is high (80%).

The Ministry of Health revealed in its daily 4pm update this afternoon (Tuesday 29th June 2021) that there are 185 new COVID-19 cases in Trinidad and Tobago plus eleven (11) additional deaths. The number of new cases represents a 27.59% increase in reported cases from yesterday. These new patients will be processed for admission at the discretion of the CMOHs. Information on the latest deaths will be available shortly.

There have been 8,619 new cases and 338 deaths so far in the month of June. The number of deaths in June has already surpassed that of the entire month of May (326) - making June the deadliest month in T&T since the start of the Pandemic.

The Ministry reported 145 new cases yesterday plus five (5) deaths. The country’s death toll has increased to 833. T&T’s total positive cases now jumps to 32,528, with 7,177 being active cases. A total of 24,518 patients have recovered from the virus to date. 6,464 persons are in home self-isolation and there are 274 persons in total at State quarantine facilities.

A total of 212,774 persons have been vaccinated with a first dose and 80,029 have been fully vaccinated with a second dose.

The Ministry states that the number of positive cases reported reflects the samples taken during the period 25th - 28th June 2021 and not the last 24 hours.

The Ministry also notes that there are currently 389 COVID-19 positive patients being treated at Hospitals and 139 patients are in step-down/transition facilities across T&T.

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

Several recent fatalities that were allegedly caused by the COVID-19 vaccine were persons who only took the first dose, according to Technical Director of Epidemiology, Dr. Avery Hinds. He made the revelation during the Ministry of Health’s virtual Press Conference on Monday (28th June 2021).

He said the victims became ill less than two (2) weeks after receiving the first dose of the vaccine. However, the Ministry is still awaiting clinical information to verify that the fatalities were indeed caused by the COVID-19 vaccines.

Dr. Hinds noted during the Press Conference, “In those where it has happened, and there are maybe 4 or 5 that we have on record, they are usually persons who would have contracted illness pretty soon after having had the vaccine but we’re still attempting to get the documentation on the vaccine itself from some of these individuals - so that is something that would be refined and clarified as soon as that information becomes available.”

He encouraged people to get both doses of the vaccine to boost their immunity.