Dr Rowley ‘negative’ but quarantined, after exposure to Covid-19 case

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is now under home quarantine after being ‘exposed’ to a Covid-19 patient.

Rowley, via his Facebook page, said he was informed last night that someone he interacted with on Monday 10 August—the day of the General Election—‘later tested positive for Covid-19’.

Photo: Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley during the 2020 General Election campaign.
(via PNM)

The prime minister said he was tested and found to be negative. However, ‘out of an abundance of caution’, he will quarantine for the remainder of the advised 14 day period, which ends on Monday 24 August.

“Given the circumstances under which we all now live I once again take this opportunity to appeal to all citizens to each do your part to help fight this virus,” stated Rowley, “by strictly following the health instructions of regular attentive hand washing and sanitisation, physical distancing and no congregation in groups above five persons.

“And additionally, most importantly, wear a mask once outside the home or in an enclosed space which is being shared at close quarters. With the discipline that is expected of us together we can fight and beat the uncontrolled expansion of this virus.”

Rowley is scheduled to meet his new Cabinet today and may still do so using a virtual online platform.

Yesterday, former Caroni East MP Tim Gopeesingh, the minister of education under the People’s Partnership government, confirmed that he tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Wednesday 19 August and was already a patient in the parallel health care system.

Photo: (From left) Tim Gopeesingh, Kieron Pollard, Terry Fenwick, Gary Griffith and Roodal Moonilal during an event at the home of the police commissioner in December 2019.

“I wish to confirm that I have tested positive for Covid-19, the results of which were communicated to me late last night,” stated Gopeesingh, on his Facebook page. “Under the existing health protocols and guidelines, I am currently in the state’s medical care, where I am being very well managed by a frontline team of nurses, doctors and support staff, for which I am very grateful.”

As of this morning, Trinidad and Tobago had 632 active cases of the coronavirus while the country has had 806 positive results since the onset of the pandemic. The Ministry of Health confirmed 39 new cases today while there have been 120 fresh positives in the past 24 hours.

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