Ministry Of Health’s Virtual Media Conference on COVID-19 – Monday June 29th 2020

Key Points From The Ministry Of Health’s Virtual Media Conference on COVID-19 – Monday June 29th 2020: - National Security Minister Stuart Young announced that the Public Health Regulations will be amended today as it relates to the opening of bars. Under the new regulation, bars will open from 8AM to 8PM. Bar operators are asked to use the ‘last call’ system by 7:30PM. Anyone found inside a bar after 8PM from Monday June 29th 2020 will be charged. - Congregation at bars must be limited to 25 people INSIDE the establishment. Congregation OUTSIDE the establishment, in public spaces, must be limited to 25 people. Police are authorised to close bars if operators/patrons do not maintain physical distancing at these establishments, or follow other Public Health Guidelines. - National Security Minister Stuart Young said if there is no reversal in the type of behaviour at bars and people refuse to follow the COVID-19 guidelines, Government will not hesitate to roll back the regulations even further. - National Security Minister Stuart Young reminded that all public parties and fetes are PROHIBITED. He noted that an establishment at One Woodbrook Place was open on Friday night in breach of the regulations. Nightclub owners are warned that they will be subject to fines/imprisonment for breaching the Public Health Regulations. - Restaurant operators with bar licenses are also warned to follow the Public Health Guidelines. Restaurants are allowed to remain open until 10PM. - Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said officials are carefully observing what is taking place since the reopening of bars and will continue to monitor this industry. He said they cannot allow one industry to set back the country, especially in light of the strides made to protect citizens from COVID-19. He said: "I am personally disappointed with this one part of the opening which has the potential to erase every single gain that we have made." - Minister Deyalsingh noted that there are over 10 million cases of COVID-19 worldwide, with just over half a million deaths recorded. - Minister Deyalsingh said T&T is too small and the risk will be too great to conduct vaccine trials here. - The following is the breakdown of Returning Nationals quarantined at various facilities in T&T: CAURA: 9 COVID-19 patients (cruise ship workers on Enchantment of the Seas – four patients are expected to be discharged today) CHANCELLOR HOTEL: 19 HOME OF FOOTBALL: 1 KAPOK HOTEL: 48 NAPA: 6 health care workers who completed their tours MAERSK DEVELOPER RIG: 94 SANGRE GRANDE BROOKLYN SETTLEMENT: 24 UWI FREEDOM HALL: 46 (to be discharged soon) UWI Debe Campus: 42 VISION ON MISSION: 18 - 1,804 Community Tests administered throughout Trinidad and Tobago with all returning Negative for COVID-19. - TT Nationals/students in Cuba and India will be granted exemptions to return home but must provide their flight details and agree to remain in quarantine on arrival.