Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley's Media Conference On COVID-19 - Saturday November 21st 2020

Key Points From Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley’s Media Conference On COVID-19 – Saturday November 21st 2020:

- Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley announced that food service will be allowed in casinos, and hunting will resume by next weekend. However, the Hunting Season will NOT be extended.

- Prime Minister Rowley said that there will be no State-sponsored Christmas parties in the public sector this year, and this is to ensure there is no congregating. He called on citizens to have a responsible Christmas by observing the Public Health protocols on COVID-19, including social distancing and mask wearing. PM Rowley again stated that it is his hope to allow children to go back to school in January but this would be misplaced if people "free up" for Christmas and congregate in large numbers. Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh also made a call to businesses, religious groups and NGOs to forego Christmas parties and events this year. He said, "Let this be a holy and quiet Christmas. Celebrate within your family unit."

- An announcement on the opening of schools will be made in January 2021 - after the Christmas Season. The Prime Minister said if the COVID-19 numbers are high over the Christmas Season, schools will not open in January. He also clarified that the entire school population will not return to school but a cohort will start the process.

- Most villas in Tobago are booked for the Christmas/New Year period. Noting that this is good for the Tobago economy, Prime Minister Rowley called on travelers to Tobago to maintain health protocols. "It would not take very many mistakes of misconduct to make Tobago highly infected." PM Rowley also noted that CAL has made proposals to use an early result testing programme which will have benefits for travel to and from Tobago.

- Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roshan Parasram reported that there has been a slight increase in COVID-cases, with a daily average of 37. He said this is a cause for concern. Dr. Parasram said the clusters are between families, friends, workplaces, and gatherings where people are taking off their masks because they are comfortable. He said if we do not continue to observe the public health protocols, 50 cases can soon become 100 cases.

- PM Rowley again clarified that bars are open in T&T to sell alcohol. However, congregation is NOT ALLOWED.

- The Minister of Finance has been instructed to find an additional $10 million to treat with employees at bars and restaurants who have lost their jobs or suffered reduced income. Proprietors can also apply for small business support. An additional $20 million will also go towards Social Services, including support for self employed citizens who lost income over the period.

- T&T’s borders remain CLOSED but exemptions continue to be granted for Nationals to return home, as well as those who want to leave T&T.

- THA Health Secretary Tracy Davidson-Celestine confirmed that Tobago has had no new COVID-19 cases in the last 25 days but she said this does not mean the island is COVID-free. Secretary Davidson-Celestine urged people to come forward for testing if they develop COVID-19 symptoms. She also called on citizens to engage in a "reset" at this time. There are many options and facilities available to help.

- General Manager of Primary Care at the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA), Dr. Roxanne Mitchell, credited a very aggressive Primary and Secondary contact tracing effort for no new COVID-19 cases in the last 25 days in Tobago. However, she noted that people are still not wearing their masks properly, and they should not be lulled into a sense of complacency.

- Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh calls on citizens to get the flu vaccine. He is hoping to complete the Flu Vaccination Drive by April next year.

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