Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley’s Media Conference On COVID-19 – Saturday May 16th 2020

Key Points From Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley’s Media Conference On COVID-19 – Saturday May 16th 2020: - Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley announced further tentative adjustments on reopening, with Phase 2 now starting on Thursday May 21st 2020. - The following sectors will open from Thursday May 21st 2020: The entire manufacturing sector. The construction sector. Laundry and dry cleaning shops. Mechanic and tyre shops (car dealerships are NOT opening). - These businesses must ensure employees and customers follow the Public Health Regulations on COVID-19 (maintain physical distance, wear masks etcetera). The Prime Minister endorsed "No Mask, No Service." at all business places. Police will be patrolling with Public Health Officers to ensure compliance with Public Health Regulations. - Public Transportation will continue to operate at 50% passenger capacity and police will enforce this regulation. A one-off $2,000 Fuel Support Grant for maxi/taxi operators will be put into effect to help them. - Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley said if all goes well, Phase 3 of the Reopening will also advance. - Domestic workers and personal services like spas and barber shops present a great risk in COVID-19 spread. The PM lamented that it is still too early to open these areas. He urged owners/employees to have patience. The Ministry of Social Development will now give priority to workers in these sectors. - Bars remain CLOSED. - On continued calls to reopen the economy, Prime Minister Rowley highlighted countries like China, Germany, Singapore and South Korea where there had been an ease of COVID restrictions and now an increasing fear of a second wave as most have recorded an upsurge in Coronavirus cases. As such, he said: "We say no to politics and impatience. We will do nothing to tempt a relapse so that we can lose the gains that we have made." - Prime Minister Rowley said it seems some people think it’s no longer about saving lives but making money and this could have a worse effect on the "tribulations" that we are experiencing in the economy. He said T&T must continue to measure the risk, follow the Science, and make opening up decisions. The Prime Minister urged citizens to be responsible. He said the biggest danger Trinidad and Tobago faces right now is self interest. He said the Government has been making decisions in the interest of all of Trinidad and Tobago. - Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley reminded that the Stay At Home Order remains in place for our protection. He noted that countries in the Western Hemisphere have all recorded COVID-19 cases, with deaths amounting to about 100,000 in this part of the world alone. - T&T’s borders remain CLOSED except for the carefully managed return of TT Nationals abroad, including UWI students at Barbados and Jamaica. - Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roshan Parasram confirmed that the Ministry of Health continues to review the process for private labs to conduct COVID-19 tests. Three labs have been shortlisted thus far. A decision on the suitability of these labs is expected to be made next week. - Technical Director of the Epidemiology Division at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Avery Hinds, encouraged persons with viral illnesses to visit the hospitals for testing. He said there is a risk of encountering a "super spreader" as more sectors are open and there is freedom to move around. A super spreader can infect several people at once. Dr. Hinds said there is a concern about people moving from household to household to carry out cleaning duties as they can carry the virus from one household to the next. - Thoracic Medical Director at Caura Hospital, Dr. Michelle Trotman, reminded citizens to Sanitise, Maintain Physical Distance, and Wear Face Masks in public. - The following is the update on COVID-19 patients and quarantined persons across the various facilities: CAURA: 1 patient (Stable and Ambulatory) 874 Community Tests have been administered in Trinidad and Tobago, and all returned Negative. Community Testing to continue indefinitely. The Ministry of Health Virtual Media Conferences/Updates will now be held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. PM Rowley said Government will come to the population if something develops outside of those days. In the meantime, citizens should see it as: "No News Is Good News."