The Ministry of Health revealed in its daily COVID-19 update this afternoon (Tuesday 31st August 2021) that there are 241 new COVID-19 cases in Trinidad and Tobago plus six (6) additional deaths. The number of new cases represents a 92.8% increase in reported cases from yesterday. These new patients will be processed for admission at the discretion of the CMOHs.

In the month of August there have been 6,036 new cases (up by 0.3% from July) and 214 deaths (down by 6.96% from July). There were 6,018 new cases and 230 deaths in July.

The Ministry reported 125 new cases yesterday plus seven (7) more unfortunate deaths. The country’s death toll has increased to 1,291. T&T’s total positive cases now rises to 44,847, with 4,404 being active cases. A total of 39,152 patients have recovered from the virus to date. 3,777 persons are in home self-isolation and there are 134 persons in total at State quarantine facilities.

A total of 509,516 persons have been partially vaccinated with a first dose and 399,116 have been fully vaccinated (including single-dose Johnson & Johnson).

The Ministry states that the number of positive cases reported reflects the samples taken during the period 27th - 30th August 2021 and not the last 24 hours.

The Ministry also notes that there are currently 284 COVID-19 positive patients being treated at Hospitals and 102 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.

The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) just announced that Prime Minister Keith Rowley will chair a three-day Cabinet Retreat in Tobago from Wednesday 1st to Friday 3rd September 2021.

The OPM said these meetings will be held at Blenheim House, the Prime Minister’s official residence in Tobago. No further details were given.

A Charlieville man appeared before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate on Monday (30th August 2021), charged with the murder of Shanice Cooper, who was reported missing in August 2019.

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), Valentine Radix, aka “Aneal Young”, 37, of Caroni Savannah Road, was charged with the offence following advice received from Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), George Busby, on Sunday 29th August 2021.

Cooper, 31, was last seen on Wednesday 28th August 2019, after she left her Belmont home to go to work. She was reported missing to the Police shortly after. She has not been seen since.

Extensive investigations into her disappearance were conducted over a two-year period by Officers of the Belmont Police Station, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Research Analytical Unit, and the Homicide Bureau of Investigations (HBI), Region 1.

The accused was arrested by Officers of HBI Region 1, on Monday 23rd August 2021, in connection with the incident.

Investigations were supervised by Insps. Lynch and Jones of HBI, Region 1, while Radix was charged by WPC Clinton, also of HBI Region 1, on Monday 30th August 2021.

The National Insurance Board of Trinidad and Tobago (NIBTT) is advising the public that full walk-in services will be available at all locations from 8am to 3pm, starting on Wednesday 1st September 2021. The Arima Collection Centre, however, will open from 10am to 5pm.

The following walk-in services (among others) will be available:

• Funeral Grants.
• Contribution Statements.
• Registration Services (Employers & Employees).
• Benefit Letters.
• National Insurance Number and NI Cards.

Contribution Payments can also be made, as follows:

• Cash and cheque - over the counter.
• Online - visit www.nibtt.net.

Drop boxes are also conveniently located for cheques. Claims submissions continue to be by appointment only. Benefit Claims Guidelines and Checklist available on NIBTT's website to assist with verification before claims submission.

All COVID-19 protocols continue to be observed.

For further information, contact the Customer Care Centre at 625-4NIS (625-4647) or customercare@nibtt.net.

The Ministry of Health revealed in its daily COVID-19 update this afternoon (Monday 30th August 2021) that there are 125 new COVID-19 cases in Trinidad and Tobago plus seven (7) additional deaths. The number of new cases represents a 32.43% decrease in reported cases from yesterday. These new patients will be processed for admission at the discretion of the CMOHs.

There have been 5,795 new cases and 208 deaths so far in the month of August.

The Ministry reported 185 new cases yesterday plus four (4) more unfortunate deaths. The country’s death toll has increased to 1,285. T&T’s total positive cases now rises to 44,606, with 4,432 being active cases. A total of 38,889 patients have recovered from the virus to date. 3,932 persons are in home self-isolation and there are 135 persons in total at State quarantine facilities.

A total of 506,676 persons have been partially vaccinated with a first dose and 395,743 have been fully vaccinated (including single-dose Johnson & Johnson).

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

The Ministry also notes that there are currently 278 COVID-19 positive patients being treated at Hospitals and ninety-seven (97) 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.

The Ministry of Health held a virtual Press Conference at 11am this morning (Monday 30th August 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:

- Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Roshan Parasram, in providing an update on vaccination uptake, indicated that 505,067 persons have received at least one (1) dose while 393,916 persons have completed vaccination. He stated that this means that 899,243 persons have yet to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

- Dr. Parasram shared that the percentage of fully vaccinated persons admitted to the HDU since 27th July 2021 was 1.9% with 17.9% admissions having received one (1) dose and 80.2% unvaccinated admissions. The CMO also shared that the percentage of fully vaccinated admissions to the ICU stands at 0.6% with 21.9% of admissions having received one (1) dose and 75.5% unvaccinated admissions.

- The Chief Medical Officer stated that to date, three (3) fully vaccinated persons have died from COVID-19, making up 0.3% of the total figure. Dr. Parasram explained that these persons would have had severely compromised immune systems due to medical conditions. He went on to share that 5.4% of the deaths, representing fifty-eight (58) people, had received their first dose of a vaccine with 93.4% of the deaths being unvaccinated individuals.

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

[Source: TTT Live Online]

One of the country’s four (4) water taxis, the “Carnival Runner,” is currently taking in water in the Gulf of Paria near the San Fernando Harbour, where it is now docked and in danger of sinking.

According to reports, a massive effort involving teams from the Water and Sewage Authority, T&T Port Authority and the Mon Repos Fire Headquarters is underway. These teams are currently on the scene attempting to pump out water to save the sinking ship.

The passenger ship apparently began taking in water over the weekend and when workers arrived this morning, they saw the ferry tilted, with the back partially submerged. The ship is now lopsided in the Harbour. One side of the ferry was raised as the sea flooded the back of the ferry.

According to CNC3, the “Carnival Runner” was built in 2010 and is one of four (4) passenger ships that transports people from San Fernando to Port-of-Spain. It can accommodate over 400 passengers. The other water taxis are the “Calypso Sprinter,” “Trini Flash” and the “Paria Bullet.”

It is uncertain what caused the “Carnival Runner” to take in water over the weekend, however, an investigation had been launched by the relevant authorities.

[Source: CNC3]

Principal Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Maryam Abdool-Richards, disclosed at a Press Conference on Saturday (28th August 2021), that ten (10) children are currently hospitalised with COVID-19 in Trinidad and Tobago. Two (2) of these children are in critical condition. Dr. Abdool-Richards also reported an overall increase in the number of pediatric COVID-19 cases in the country.

Additionally, she revealed that one (1) child is currently warded in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), one (1) in the High Dependency Unit (HDU), while eight (8) others are receiving Ward-level care. She noted, "This is a trend that is causing great concern to us on the health team.”

​Ten (10) children currently being treated for the virus means that two (2) more were admitted to Hospital since Wednesday (26th August 2021), when Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said that eight (8) children were hospitalized. Dr Abdool-Richards noted that as of 8am on Saturday, there were 394 patients in total hospitalized for COVID-19. “We are noticing a trend of an increasing number of children being hospitalized or admitted for management of COVID-19.”

She also said that another trend that remains consistent is the high occupancy levels of patients requiring ICU treatment and HDU treatment.

When pressed for more information about the children by journalists at the Press Conference, Dr. Abdool-Richards cited privacy policies for patients that the Ministry strictly adheres to.

We may get an update on the condition of these children at the Ministry’s next virtual Press Conference on Monday (30th August 2021).

The Ministry of Health revealed in its daily COVID-19 update this afternoon (Sunday 29th August 2021) that there are 185 new COVID-19 cases in Trinidad and Tobago plus four (4) additional deaths. The number of new cases represents a 37.71% decrease in reported cases from yesterday. These new patients will be processed for admission at the discretion of the CMOHs.

There have been 5,670 new cases and 201 deaths so far in the month of August.

The Ministry reported 297 new cases yesterday plus seven (7) more unfortunate deaths. The country’s death toll has increased to 1,278. T&T’s total positive cases now rises to 44,481, with 4,592 being active cases. A total of 38,611 patients have recovered from the virus to date. 4,035 persons are in home self-isolation and there are 139 persons in total at State quarantine facilities.

A total of 505,067 persons have been partially vaccinated with a first dose and 393,916 have been fully vaccinated (including single-dose Johnson & Johnson).

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

The Ministry also notes that there are currently 283 COVID-19 positive patients being treated at Hospitals and eighty-nine (89) 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.

A 19-year-old man was tragically killed in a car crash in Manzanilla on Saturday afternoon (28th August 2021), after attempting to overtake his brother’s car at an alleged high rate of speed. According to reports, the force of the impact was so severe that the vehicle split into two (2). The deceased has been identified as Alex Sookraj of Eastern Main Road, Manzanilla.

Around 3:40pm on Saturday, Police said Sookraj was driving a beige Mitsubishi Lancer, in a westerly direction along the Manzanilla/Mayaro road, with two (2) other occupants in the vehicle, when upon reaching the vicinity of the primary school, he attempted to overtake a silver Volkswagen, which was driven by his 21-year-old brother. In doing so, he came into contact with his brother's vehicle, causing the Lancer to run off the roadway. The vehicle reportedly collided with a concrete wall, where it split into two (2) upon impact.

Sookraj died on the spot. The other two (2) occupants of the car were thrown from the vehicle and taken to Hospital for medical attention.

A team of Officers led by Insp Ramlakhan responded and is continuing inquiries.

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

[Source: Loop]