The Ministry of Health is advising the public that the Public Health Regulations [2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019 nCoV)] (No 2) 2023, will end at Midnight on 31st July 2023. As such, the Ministry said wearing of masks at all Public and Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics will no longer be mandatory.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the end of the global Pandemic on 5th May 2023, declaring it an established and ongoing health issue, which no longer constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The Ministry said it takes this opportunity to remind the public, particularly the vulnerable, “to continue to maintain the principles and practice of good hygiene, such as hand washing and social distancing when ill.” For more information, please visit the Ministry's website at www.health.gov.tt or any of its social media pages.
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In a Media Release today (Friday 14th July 2023), the Ministry of Health is advising members of the public that the Pfizer Comirnaty COVID-19 Vaccine is available at Health Centres. A full listing of vaccination sites can be found on the Ministry's website.
The Ministry said it received 5,760 doses of the vaccine on 6th July 2023 through a donation from the Government of Greece, facilitated through the COVAX facility. The public is advised that this vaccine is suitable for individuals twelve (12) years and older and will only be administered as a booster dose. The Ministry wishes to further advise of the availability of the following COVID-19 vaccines and their usage: Pfizer
Pfizer
Sinopharm
Johnson & Johnson (J&J)
Further details on COVID-19 vaccination sites and booster eligibility can be obtained by visiting the Ministry's website at www.health.gov.tt. Trinidad and Tobago will support the World Health Organization’s new international accord on Pandemic preparedness and response. Prime Minister Keith Rowley made the statement during a joint Press Conference held with the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at the Diplomatic Centre in St. Ann’s today (Thursday 15th June 2023).
The Pandemic Accord is a pact between member nations to work together for a shared response to shared threats. While still in the negotiation phase, it is set for completion by 2024. The agreement aims to strengthen Pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. Prime Minister Rowley said, “What the Pandemic experience has demonstrated is that we need equivalent commitment to govern behaviour in circumstances like that. That is to be anchored in the issue of moral responsibility and equity and respect for human life in general.” He said, “small developing countries like Trinidad and Tobago, we need to ensure that while we are small in size and income levels, we are not insignificant in the defence of the human condition.” The WHO Director-General clarified that the negotiations of the new international accord on Pandemic preparedness and response will be negotiated for countries by countries, and will be implemented under each country’s laws. He said the WHO will not have the power to impose lockdowns on countries and “WHO will not gain any power to override domestic policy decisions nor would we want to.” Prime Minister Rowley thanked the WHO/PAHO for defending small island nations during the COVID-19 Pandemic. He said, “You had the onerous responsibility of guiding the world through this horrible experience. You distinguished yourself by your insistence that small countries like ours should be noticed, taken care of, and listened to. We in Trinidad and Tobago want to acknowledge the role played in assisting the Government in providing the people with the effective response with this dangerous Pandemic.” Dr. Tedros acknowledged Prime Minister Rowley for his leadership during the Pandemic domestically, regionally, and globally. He said, “The tough decisions he took helped prevent infections and saved lives.” The WHO Director-General said he appreciated the Prime Minister’s advocacy for vaccine equity on behalf of CARICOM and other small States.” Dr. Tedros said while WHO declared the global emergency response to COVID-19 to be over, nations must continue to do their part to make the changes needed to keep countries safer. Dr. Tedros congratulated Trinidad and Tobago for playing a leading role in the fight against Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) for more than fifteen (15) years. The Ministry of Health have now ceased providing regular COVID-19 updates to the public after three (3) years, two (2) months, and nine (9) days since the first update was issued on 4th March 2020. The Ministry said today (Friday 12th May 2023) as a result of a low level of circulation in Trinidad and Tobago with low numbers of cases, deaths, hospitalizations, and positivity, the COVID-19 updates in their current format would no longer be issued.
The 7-day rolling average of COVID-19 cases, which is the number of new COVID-19 cases recorded daily during the 7-day-period between 29th April through 12th May 2023, is ten (10). That figure is down from two (2) weeks ago, when the Ministry recorded thirteen (13) cases per day on average. It is the lowest rolling average in over two (2) years, when it was ten (10) on 22nd March 2021. Within the last two (2) weeks, the Ministry said there has only been one COVID-19-related death. The positivity rate is 6.7%, which means for every patient tested at public and private healthcare facilities, 6.7 out of every 100 people were positive. The Ministry notes there are currently no patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or the High Dependency Unit (HDU) for the second fortnightly period in a row, with an average of nineteen (19) patients in Hospitals across the parallel and hybrid healthcare systems. Over the course of 1,250 COVID-19 Media Releases from the Ministry of Health, T&T has recorded over 191,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 4,391 COVID-19 deaths. [Source: T&T Guardian] Prime Minister Keith Rowley announced at a Press Conference this afternoon (Tuesday 9th May 2023) that Minister of Health, Terrence Deyalsingh and Attorney General, Reginald Armour, will meet later this week to discuss removing COVID-19 restrictions, which were previously set to remain in place until July 2023. Mask-wearing will most likely remain as a restriction within the health system.
The Prime Minister said more will be revealed by the weekend. Watch the live stream of the ongoing Press Conference here. Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, declared COVID-19 “over as a global health emergency” at a Press Conference on 5th May 2023. This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded the 2023 Article IV consultation with Trinidad and Tobago, praising the country's progress in recovering from the COVID-19 Pandemic and achieving fiscal discipline. The Executive Board of the IMF endorsed the staff appraisal following consultations in Port-of-Spain with the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), as well as several other Government agencies, financial institutions and private organizations.
In a Media Release this afternoon (Friday 5th May 2023), the Ministry of Finance said the IMF, that praised the “decisive policy response of the authorities” during the Pandemic, highlights that “Trinidad and Tobago's economic activity is recovering, supported by higher global energy prices and the rebound of the non-energy sector.” The Ministry sad the report also noted that public debt has declined and the external position has improved. Looking ahead, the Ministry said economic recovery is expected to “gain broad-based momentum in 2023” and the IMF expects “inflation to slow to 4.5 percent by end-2023 and to continue declining with international prices.” The IMF further commended Trinidad and Tobago's fiscal discipline, stating that: “The authorities' commitment to balancing the budget over the medium term is prudent and welcome” and emphasized that “capital expenditure will support the economic recovery.” The Ministry added that the IMF “recommended to continue prudently managing the energy revenue windfall, avoiding procyclical spending, and rebuilding fiscal buffers, while providing targeted support to the most vulnerable.” The report also suggests that the country should take steps to promote economic diversification. “We welcome the IMF's policy recommendation, which aligns with our efforts to encourage private investment and promote innovation,” explained The Honourable Colm Imbert, Minister of Finance. The IMF pointed out several strengths of Trinidad and Tobago, most notable being: “international reserve coverage is expected to remain adequate at around 7.2 months of prospective total imports and is complemented by large public external buffers in the Heritage and Stabilization Fund of about 18.4 percent of GDP;” and “the financial sector appears well-capitalized.” “Today, our country is one of the few in the world to record both a primary budget surplus in 2022 and a current account surplus,” concluded Minister Imbert. The Ministry ended its Media Release by saying, “In those trying international times, Trinidad and Tobago appears as a safe harbor for investors.” The Ministry of Health said it notes the declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO), which signals the end of the COVID-19 global Pandemic. In a Media Release today (Friday 5th May 2023), the Ministry said, “At the fifteenth meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee, held on 4th May 2023, regarding the COVID-19 disease, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO, concurred with the advice of the Committee and therefore determined that COVID-19 is now an established and ongoing health issue, which no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
In Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry notes that COVID-19 continues to circulate at a very low level. “The transmission continues to be classified as ‘community’ in nature. Morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 has been on a downward trend, in keeping with the global epidemiology picture over the last few months. As such, the Ministry of Health takes the opportunity to remind the public, particularly the vulnerable amongst us (those with chronic diseases, pregnant patients and the unvaccinated) to continue to maintain the principles and practice of good hygiene, such as hand washing, social distancing and wearing of masks where appropriate. The Ministry also encourages the unvaccinated to get vaccinated and those who are vaccinated to get boosted.” The Ministry is reminding the public that current vaccine stock expires in June 2023. “As such, every effort should be made to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The public is reminded that vaccines are available at all health centres throughout Trinidad and Tobago. These measures will certainly assist in the maintenance of our low levels of transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases,” the Ministry said.
Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, declared COVID-19 “over as a global health emergency” at a Press Conference today (Friday 5th May 2023). According to Dr. Ghebreyesus, “Yesterday, the Emergency Committee met for the 15th time and recommended to me that I declare an end to the public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice. It is therefore with great hope that I declare COVID-19 over as a global health emergency.”
However, he cautioned, “that does not mean COVID-19 is over as a global health threat. Last week, COVID-19 claimed a life every three minutes — and that’s just the deaths we know about. As we speak, thousands of people around the world are fighting for their lives in intensive care units. And millions more continue to live with the debilitating effects of post-COVID-19 condition.”
Below are the full remarks by Dr. Ghebreyesus at today’s COVID-19 Press Conference:
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening. The United States Government will end the COVID-19 vaccine requirements for international air travelers at the end of the day on 11th May 2023, the same day that the COVID-19 public health emergency ends in the U.S.
In an update today (Thursday 4th May 2023), the U.S. Department of State said, “The Administration will end the COVID-19 vaccine requirements for international air travelers at the end of the day on May 11, the same day that the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. This means starting May 12, noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers will no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States. CDC’s Amended Order Implementing Presidential Proclamation on Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic will no longer be in effect when the Presidential Proclamation Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic is revoked. [Source: U.S. Department of State] The Ministry of Health revealed in its weekly COVID-19 update on Tuesday (2nd May 2023) that there have been 146 new COVID-19 cases in Trinidad and Tobago plus three (3) unfortunate deaths over the period 19th April - 2nd May 2023. The rolling 14-day average of new positive cases is ten (10) while the rolling 14-day average of new deaths is less than one (1). T&T’s total active positive cases is currently at twenty-eight (28).
The country’s death toll has increased to 4,390. As of 2nd May 2023, 335 deaths were fully vaccinated persons while 3,665 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 718,969 persons have been fully vaccinated, representing 51.4% of the population. Meanwhile, 681,031 persons are not fully vaccinated (only received a first dose or no doses), representing 48.6% of the population. 174,836 persons in total have taken a booster shot. The Ministry states that the number of positive cases reported reflects the samples taken during a 15-day period between 17th April - 1st May 2023 and not the last twenty-four (24) hours. The Ministry also notes that there are currently twenty-four (24) hospitalized COVID-19 positive patients — twenty (20) in the parallel healthcare system and four (4) in the hybrid system. No patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or the High Dependency Unit (HDU). |
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