Another family was left cursing the impact of Covid-19 today as the novel coronavirus claimed its 17th victim this month and the 39th since the onset of the pandemic. The Ministry of Health described the deceased patient as ‘an elderly male with co-morbidities’.
There were also another 44 positive cases, which took Trinidad and Tobago’s active case load to 1,609 persons—with close to 1,400 of them in home isolation.
On 18 August, the government announced a series of measures designed to address the spread of the virus, such as the closure of beaches, churches and gyms, an end to contact sport, in-house dining and drinking, and the rotation of public sector staff, while public transportation was ordered to operate at 50 per cent.
In the month before those roll-backs, the country recorded 436 local infections with four deaths. In the 22 days since, there were 1,699 new cases with 27 deaths.
On 31 August, the public health ordinance was amended with masks now mandatory for all citizens in public.
Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh and chief medical officer Dr Roshan Parasram remain adamant that the country can again ‘flatten the curve’ by following health guidelines and learning new behaviours in our daily lives.
Trinidad and Tobago vs Covid-19 (in numbers)
Local infections of Covid-19 in first wave (27 March to 26 April)
- 50 cases in 31 days with 8 deaths.
Local infections of Covid-19 in second wave (20 July to 17 August)
- 436 cases in 29 days with 4 deaths.
Local infections of Covid-19 since gov’t roll-backs (18 August to 8 September)
- 1,699 cases in 22 days with 27 deaths.