Prime Minister Keith Rowley, speaking at the Spotlight On The Budget 2021 presentation a few minutes ago, declared, “I see no future for Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago in the months ahead. Unless there's some dramatic change in the wind that will blow across us by Christmas, Carnival is not on.”

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The Ministry of Health revealed in its 10am update this morning (Monday 28th September 2020) that there is another unfortunate death in Trinidad and Tobago, plus twenty (20) additional cases. The latest death is an elderly female with co-morbidities. The Ministry reported a total of fifty (50) cases plus another death just yesterday. The country’s death toll now stands at seventy-two (72). T&T’s confirmed cases now rises to 4,382, with 2,035 being active cases.

Five (5) persons have been discharged from public health facilities and there have been thirty-six (36) recovered community cases. Recovered community cases refer to persons who were previously COVID-19 positive and in self-isolation at home, and subsequently met the discharge criteria and were released from self-isolation.

​The Ministry also notes that there are currently 106 COVID-19 positive patients being treated at Hospitals:

• 59 at Couva.
  
• 27 at Caura.
  
• 6 at Arima.
  
• 1 at Augustus Long.
  
• 10 at St. Ann’s.
  
• 2 at Scarborough Regional.
  
• ​1 at Scarborough General.
  

Among the patients at Couva, five (5) are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and five (5) are in the High Dependency Unit (HDU). Among the patients at Arima, four (4) are in the ICU. There are also currently 112 COVID-19 positive patients in step-down/transition facilities.

The twenty (20) new patients will be processed for admission at the discretion of the CMOHs.

The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) has extended its initial Adverse Weather Alert (Yellow Level) until 2pm on Monday 28th September 2020. The Met Office notes that while many areas across Trinidad and Tobago would have experienced periods of showers and occasional Thunderstorms today, conditions have now become settled across both islands.

However, while a lull in activity is likely for the major part of the night, conditions will deteriorate again towards early morning with an increase in showers across many areas as well as isolated Thunderstorm activity. As such, Flash Flooding and gusty winds in excess of 40 Km/h can occur in areas of heavy showers and Thunderstorms. There is also a possibility of landslips or landslides in areas so prone.

The Ministry of Health revealed in its 6pm update this evening (Sunday 27th September 2020) that there are forty-one (41) additional cases of COVID-19 in Trinidad and Tobago plus another unfortunate death. The latest death is an elderly female with co-morbidities.

The Ministry stated that of these forty-one (41) positive cases, twelve (12) were from one source - a centre for children. All the necessary protocols are being implemented.

The Ministry reported nine (9) cases this morning, bringing today’s total to fifty (50). The country’s death toll now stands at seventy-one (71). T&T’s confirmed cases now jumps to 4,362, with 2,057 being active cases.

The Ministry provided no other information about these forty-one (41) new cases.

COVID-19 has claimed the lives of more than 1 Million people worldwide since the outbreak emerged in China late last year. The startling figure comes a day after the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the global death toll could hit 2 Million before an effective vaccine is widely used.

The virus has been recorded in 210 countries and infected at least 32 Million people across the globe, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.

Six (6) months after Coronavirus was first detected at a Wuhan wet market in December 2019, the global death toll had claimed at least 500,000 lives. In half that time, the known death toll is now believed to have doubled.

The true number of deaths and infections are likely to be significantly higher due to insufficient testing and reporting in many countries. The United States, India and Brazil have recorded the most cases, with more than 15 Million between them.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the United States’ top Infectious Disease Specialist, told a Harvard Medical School audience earlier this month that the U.S “has been the worst-hit country in the world,” reflecting “the lack of success that we have had in containing this outbreak.” The country has recorded over 7 Million cases and 208,000 deaths. On Saturday, the U.S recorded the highest number of new cases in a single day since August, after several States saw record daily spikes.

Europe is now battling a second surge of the virus as the continent enters its winter months, prompting warnings of new national lockdowns.

India is expected to become the Pandemic's worst-hit country within weeks, surpassing the United States. The country has registered 88,600 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours in a declining trend with recoveries exceeding daily infections.

The global Pandemic has also had an unprecedented impact on the economy, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) describing the resulting global recession as “a crisis like no other” earlier this year.

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The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) has issued an Adverse Weather Alert (Yellow Level) from 6:08am to 8pm today (Sunday 27th September 2020). Periods of showers, at times heavy, and occasional Thunderstorms are expected today, due to the passage of a Tropical Wave.

Flash Flooding and gusty winds in excess of 40 Km/h can occur in areas of heavy showers. There is a high possibility of landslips or landslides in areas so prone.

At 10:40am this morning, the Met Office noted that conditions over T&T have settled over the past hour, however showers and Thunderstorms are still ongoing in our general area. Partly cloudy conditions and some sunshine are expected as we go into the afternoon, but periods of heavy showers and isolated Thunderstorms are still possible in some areas.

Tonight will be generally settled, however a resurgence of showers and isolated Thunderstorms is likely as the night progresses.