Trotters Restaurant Group Limited has announced the suspension of its restaurant operations, effective from Monday 2nd August 2021 at 9pm. The restaurant group, which operates Trotters, Buzo, Blue Star Diner, Amara and Tommy’s Brewing Company, said in a statement on Saturday (31st July 2021) that they are making the announcement “with a very heavy heart.”

A total of 275 employees are expected to be affected by this indefinite closure.

The statement continued, “Our business is predicated around world class, experiential dining and as much as we have tried, there is no viability in just curbside and take away operations. We stand ready, if and when that time comes, to resume full dine in operations.”

Trotters concluded the announcement by saying, “Thank you for your understanding and unwavering support as we remain in hope for a bright and prosperous future for our nation.”

Prime Minister Keith Rowley confirmed at a Press Conference this afternoon (Saturday 31st July 2021) that there will be NO change to the curfew hours for the Emancipation Day public holiday on Monday (2nd August 2021).

​The Prime Minister said the current curfew hours will remain the same - from 9pm to 5am, daily.

If you missed the Press Conference, you can catch up on the key points for everything announced today.

Commissioner of Police, Gary Griffith, issued a Media Release a few days ago to refute social media claims alleging the hours for the curfew this weekend had changed. The Commissioner informed the public that this was FAKE NEWS.

Prime Minister Keith Rowley held a Press Conference at 2:30pm this afternoon (Saturday 31st July 2021) to update the public on the latest decisions made by Government with respect to COVID-19 restrictions in Trinidad and Tobago. ​

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

- Prime Minister Keith Rowley issued a call to personal service workers like caretakers, and gardeners along with hairdressers, barbers and masseurs to get vaccinated in the hopes that they would be able to return to work in two (2) weeks’ time.

- Prime Minister Rowley also indicated that if the retail sector becomes heavily vaccinated, they can be cautiously re-opened in about two (2) weeks.

- The Prime Minister stated that due to the socialization aspect of bars, they cannot be re-opened at this time. However, Prime Minister Rowley said that Finance Minister Colm Imbert will be asked to offer further assistance to people who earn a living from bars.

- P.M Rowley confirmed that there is to be no change to the 9pm to 5am curfew at this time.

- Prime Minister Rowley indicated that T&T has enough vaccine doses to immunize approximately 600,000 people.

- Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Roshan Parasram, stated that 90.4% of High Dependency Unit (HDU) admissions were unvaccinated persons with 9.6% being partially-vaccinated. 84.4% of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions were unvaccinated with 15.6% being partially-vaccinated and 96.9% of deaths were unvaccinated persons with 3.1% being partially-vaccinated.

- The Chief Medical Officer indicated that there have been no fully-vaccinated persons admitted to HDU, ICU or among the recorded COVID-19 related deaths in T&T.

- Technical Director of Epidemiology, Dr. Avery Hinds, indicated that COVID-19 cases are continuing to slightly increase across T&T with the current positivity at 27%.

- Principal Medical Officer of Institutions, Dr. Maryam Abdool-Richards, stated that as of 8am this morning, there are 399 patients hospitalized across the parallel healthcare system which adds up to 39% total occupancy - with Trinidad at 38% and Tobago at 46%. Dr. Richards also stated that Ward level occupancy is at 37% with ICU at 64% and HDU at 58%.

- Minister of Health, Terrence Deyalsingh, announced that to date, 388,805 persons have received one (1) dose of a COVID-19 vaccine with 194,710 persons receiving both doses. Minister Deyalsingh indicated that excluding the roughly 400,00 persons that are ineligible for vaccination, there are currently over 600,000 persons who have yet to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

- Minister Deyalsingh announced that in preparation for the Delta variant, thirty (30) more ICU Specialist Nurses have been brought in from Cuba and that some of them will be sent to Tobago.

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

[Source: TTT Live Online]

The Ministry of Health revealed in its daily COVID-19 update this afternoon (Saturday 31st July 2021) that there are 254 new COVID-19 cases in Trinidad and Tobago plus seven (7) additional deaths. The number of new cases represents a 18.06% decrease in reported cases from yesterday. These new patients will be processed for admission at the discretion of the CMOHs.

For the month of July, there have been 6,018 new cases (down 32.26% from June) and 230 deaths (down 34.66% from June).

The Ministry reported 310 new cases yesterday plus thirteen (13) more unfortunate deaths. The country’s death toll has increased to 1,077. T&T’s total positive cases now rises to 38,811, with 5,951 being active cases. A total of 31,783 patients have recovered from the virus to date. 5,298 persons are in home self-isolation and there are 174 persons in total at State quarantine facilities.

A total of 388,805 persons have been vaccinated with a first dose and 194,710 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 27th - 30th July 2021 and not the last 24 hours.

The Ministry also notes that there are currently 311 COVID-19 positive patients being treated at Hospitals and eighty-eight (88) patients are in step-down/transition facilities across T&T. Additional details related to today’s COVID-19 update can be found on the Ministry’s website as soon as it’s available.

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

Prime Minister Keith Rowley announced at a Press Conference this afternoon (Saturday 31st July 2021) that retail stores, including Malls, will NOT re-open from this Tuesday (3rd August 2021) as previously hoped by many.

The Prime Minister appealed to the retail sector to get vaccinated in the next two (2) weeks, at which point, once that largely happens, the sector may re-open at that time - once all goes well. He said, “Once retail workers get vaccinated, in about two weeks they could be back to work.”

Watch the live stream of the ongoing Press Conference here.

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

At a Press Conference this afternoon (Saturday 31st July 2021), Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roshan Parasram indicated that 1,022,161 persons are unvaccinated at this time in Trinidad and Tobago. Just under 400,000 of these persons are under eighteen (18) years of age and therefore cannot receive the vaccine at this time. Dr. Parasram said 82,149 persons have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 191,881 have received two (2) doses.

According to the CMO, no fully-vaccinated persons have been admitted to the High Dependency Unit (HDU) or the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) so far in T&T. Also, no fully-vaccinated people have died.

Dr. Parasram noted that 90.4% of HDU admissions were unvaccinated persons with 9.6% being partially-vaccinated. 84.4% of ICU admissions were unvaccinated with 15.6% being partially-vaccinated. Meanwhile, 96.9% of deaths were unvaccinated persons with 3.1% being partially-vaccinated.

Prime Minister Keith Rowley appealed to members of the public during the Press Conference to become vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. He stated that Trinidad and Tobago has enough World Health Organization (WHO) approved COVID-19 vaccine doses to fully vaccinate 600,000 people.

In anticipation of the arrival of the COVID-19 Delta variant into the country, the Prime Minister said “I'm appealing to the average person in this country, to use the vaccines that we have. Tomorrow is Emancipation Day, make a resolution to emancipate yourself from COVID.”

P.M Rowley also encouraged politicians to mobilise members of the public to become vaccinated. He said, “Go out there and mobilise people. Transport them to the vaccination stations. Go into the communities that you go for the votes.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Health, Terrence Deyalsingh, said while the Ministry of Health was able to meet their vaccination target for the month of July (188,900 adults vaccinated with two doses), it is “one step in a long journey”. Minister Deyalsingh said the month of August needs to be a “big vaccination month”, calling on all sectors to make themselves available.

Prime Minister Keith Rowley will be hosting a Press Conference at 2:30pm this afternoon (Saturday 31st July 2021) to update the public about the Government’s latest decisions to deal with COVID-19 in Trinidad and Tobago. Today’s Press Conference was announced by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) only a few hours ago.

The Ministry of Health reported 310 new cases yesterday along with thirteen (13) more unfortunate deaths. The country’s death toll has reached 1,070. The record for the most daily cases was set on 21st May 2021 with 708 cases and the record for most daily deaths was set on 18th May 2021 with twenty-three (23) deaths. There have been 5,764 new cases and 223 deaths so far in the month of July.

​Watch the live stream of the Press Conference below when it begins at 2:30pm, courtesy of TTT.

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

Minister of Finance, Colm Imbert, said on Friday (30th July 2021) that his Ministry is adjusting the qualifying date for the Salary Relief Grant (SRG) for May 2021. Minister Imbert indicated that 29th April 2021 is the new cut-off date for which persons would have been given notice for suspension/loss of employment, with loss of employment effective from 30th April 2021. The Minister said this will allow employees of bars, restaurants, casinos, etc, to qualify for the May SRG.

​The Minister notes that Legal Notice No. 121, dated 29th April 2021, lists the affected entities such as pre-schools, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCEs), day-care centres, water parks, amusement parks, bars, restaurants, street vending, clubs, dancehalls, theatres, gaming houses, betting offices, gyms, etc.

A 24-year old man from Diego Martin was shot and wounded during a confrontation with Police. According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), Police Officers were on mobile patrol around 6:30pm on Thursday (29th July 2021) when, based on information received, they proceeded to a house at Union Road, Four Roads.

They observed several men drinking in the yard who, upon seeing the Officers, began to run in different directions. One of the men was walking hastily in the opposite direction when one of the Officers shouted for him to stop and held his shoulder. The suspect pulled away aggressively, turned to face the Officer, raised his shirt, and allegedly pulled a firearm from his waist.

The TTPS notes that the Officer, “believing his life and that of his fellow Officers were in danger, discharged four (4) rounds from his service firearm in the direction of the man.” The man fell to the ground with gunshot wounds to his abdomen. A Glock 17 pistol with a magazine was allegedly retrieved from him.

The wounded man was taken to the St. James Medical Complex where he was treated and transferred to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. He is currently under observation in critical condition.

The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) just announced that Prime Minister Keith Rowley will host a Press Conference today (Saturday 31st July 2021) at 2:30pm at the Anne Mitchell-Gift Auditorium, Scarborough Library Facility in Tobago. What can we expect?

In the two-and-a-half months since the State of Emergency was announced on 15th May 2021, Trinidad and Tobago has recorded a staggering 22,658 new cases and 794 deaths.

​The Ministry of Health reported 310 new cases yesterday along with thirteen (13) more unfortunate deaths. The country’s death toll has reached 1,070. The record for the most daily cases was set on 21st May 2021 with 708 cases and the record for most daily deaths was set on 18th May 2021 with twenty-three (23) deaths.

​There have been 5,764 new cases and 223 deaths so far in the month of July.

​Prime Minister Rowley last hosted a Saturday Press Conference on 17th July 2021, exactly two (2) weeks ago, where he announced that Government hopes to receive Pfizer vaccines from the United States in August and use them to vaccinate secondary school students in time for the re-opening of the school term in September. He once again emphasized his hope that schools can in fact re-open for in-person learning in September.

​All restaurants and food services re-opened on 19th July 2021 for curbside pickup, takeout, delivery, and drive-through only. Restricted outdoor activity, in groups of five (5) or less with physical distancing in place, was also allowed from that date. Team sport, however, was not given the green light. The Government recently increased the public transport capacity from 50% to 75% and the entire manufacturing sector was re-opened on 12th July 2021, along with car dealerships.

​What will Prime Minister Rowley announce today? Given the recent increase in cases, as admitted by Ministry of Health Officials, it is unclear which direction the Prime Minister will choose - keep the status quo as-is, or continue to re-open other sectors of the economy. He hinted at the last Press Conference that we may see further sectors re-open towards the end of this month (July) - once cases do not spiral out of control.

The retail sector, including Malls, could be next to re-open from as early as this Monday (2nd August 2021) - if the Prime Minister chooses this path. Gyms, barbers and hairdressers are unlikely to re-open as yet.

​What do you think the Prime Minister will announce today? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.