“A time of crisis is not the time to paint the spread of misinformation as political. Concern about the spread of misinformation, though, is valid. This is more so during a time of crisis, such as the current Covid-19 pandemic, as it can seriously undermine efforts to contain the threat. …
Read More »Daly Bread: Lingering credibility questions; gov’t ‘trying to control media narrative’
When is an exemption to closed borders not an exemption after the borders are closed? I will return to this riddle, but let me first note that the limited testing for Covid-19 has been expanded in obvious response to queries about its previous deficiencies. There was room to acknowledge that the …
Read More »T&T records third coronavirus fatality, 74 positive cases thus far
Trinidad and Tobago’s death toll as a result of the novel coronavirus now stands at three, as the Ministry of Health informed the public of another fatality this afternoon. As usual, no information was provided on the deceased patient. At present, CARPHA has tested 500 local samples with 74 positive reports, …
Read More »TTPS arrest bar owner, Sirju, for conducting business despite Covid-19 restrictions
Twenty-nine year old bar owner/operator Daryl Sirju was arrested and charged on Friday night by PC Ramlochan under the ‘Public Health (2019) Novel Coronavirus (2019-Cov) Regulations’, after allegedly conducting business at his establishment at the Southern Main Road, California. A statement from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) stated …
Read More »More positive results, less info; T&T’s Covid-19 counter reaches 74
The Ministry of Health has reported nine new Covid-19 cases over the last 24 hours. Two of those positive readings came from the Costa Favolosa cruise ship. However, no information was given on the other seven cases. Chief medical officer Dr Roshan Parasram said the government stopped informing the public …
Read More »Dear Editor: Kudos to ‘a leader of considerable courage, wisdom, and grit’
“[…] A decision to shut down a nation can never be taken lightly or without consideration of the variety of implications, coordination of the various governmental functions, and severe inconvenience to the population. “But he delivered the decisions of his government with such equanimity, calmness and poise, he instantly transformed …
Read More »Noble: ‘Emotion exaggerates danger’, put anxiety in its place and trust professionals
In a 2002 US Pentagon news briefing, then US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld famously said: “Reports that say that something hasn’t happened are always interesting to me because, as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; …
Read More »Gov’t lists essential services for next two weeks, vehicles to operate at 50% capacity
National Security Minister Stuart Young named the essential services that will be asked to remain operational between 30 March and 15 April, as the rest of Trinidad and Tobago generally stays indoors to avoid the spread of new coronavirus Covid-19. The essential services mentioned are: Judiciary, Parliament, Cabinet, THA and its relevant sub-committees; …
Read More »Second Covid-19 death was a cruise ship passenger, Tobago health worker tests positive
The Ministry of Health has acknowledged its second Covid-19 related death. The deceased patient, according to a government statement, was ‘an elderly gentleman with pre-existing medical complications’, who passed away ‘despite the best efforts of the health care professionals’. Wired868 understands the deceased was one of the 73 citizens from …
Read More »Non-essential workers ordered home from 30 March; Gov’t addresses blanks on first Covid-19 death
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley advised today that only ‘essential workers’ should report to work between 30 March and 15 April. For the rest, the message was: stay at home. However, Rowley stressed, on multiple occasions, that he was not proposing a state of emergency, and he criticised a Trinidad …
Read More »Griffith temporarily closes Arouca Police Station, officers sent to self-quarantine
Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith today ordered the temporary closure of the Arouca Police Station, after ‘a police officer with a recent travel history developed flu-like symptoms this week’. “The officer left the country on 4 March without the necessary approval and knowledge and went to St Maarten,” stated the …
Read More »T&T suffers first Covid-19 related death, MoH mum on claims regarding deceased patient
Trinidad and Tobago has its first novel coronavirus death, after an elderly patient, believed to be 78 years old, passed away today. Wired868 was first alerted of the Covid-19 related death at 5.30pm and subsequently obtained corroboration from a senior employee at the Ministry of Health. However it would be …
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