Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley's Media Conference On COVID-19: Saturday July 10th 2021

Key Points from Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley’s Media Conference On COVID-19 – Saturday July 10th, 2021 Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley announced that on Monday July 19th, 2021, restaurant and food services will reopen for curbside pickup, takeout, delivery, and drive through only. Itinerant and non-itinerant businesses food services will also be allowed. The Prime Minister said it is no accident that they are reopening on a Monday, given what can take place on weekends. He urged all involved to "take it slowly." Restricted outdoor activity, in groups of five or less with physical distancing in place, will also be allowed from Monday July 19th, 2021. Team Sport is not allowed at this time. The entire manufacturing sector will reopen this Monday, July 12th, 2021. Car dealerships will reopen this Monday, July 12th, 2021. As T&T gets set to reopen its borders on Saturday July 17th, 2021, the Prime Minister said there will be a major presentation to the country this Wednesday to explain the processes involved in safely managing the arrival of persons into the country. Prime Minister Rowley said he expected to get his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine this week. The Prime Minister said T&T's target is to vaccinate 900,000 people out of the entire population of 1.4 million people. He confirmed that 800,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines are expected to arrive on Tuesday morning, and a shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from Africa is also expected soon. PM Rowley said the Ministry of Health will be embarking on an aggressive vaccination drive this month. This will be properly managed and there will be no overcrowding at centres etc. Minister of Health, Terrence Deyalsingh, noted that so far, 140,233 persons, or roughly 10% of the population, have received their two doses of COVID-19 vaccine and are now fully vaccinated. Thoracic Medical Director at the Caura Hospital, Dr. Michelle Trotman, made an appeal for the population to get vaccinated as this will help reduce mortality and morbidity (how sick a person will get). She said the COVID-19 vaccines used in T&T are all WHO-approved.