At the Ministry of Health’s virtual media conference, the technical director of the epidemiology division, Dr Avery Hinds, seemed to link the rise in new cases to recent changes to the public health ordinances relating to group sports. “The overall increase did begin approximately two weeks after one of the …
Read More »Falling cases, stubborn restrictions, uncertain vaccine rollout: one year with Covid 19
‘[…] Despite low Covid-19 stats that continue to trend downwards, the health minister has said that it is vaccinations that would lead to a return to life before Covid-19 restrictions … ‘[…] Whether that timetable is possible given the problems the government has had sourcing vaccines remains to be seen. …
Read More »Daly Bread: Strokes of the pen of life; the cost of ‘digital poverty’
Our beloved and vibrant niece Sarita had joined us for a day during a sunny Mayaro week. I did not know it at the time, but while the laughter and camaraderie overlooking the beach were at their height, she had shown her aunt something under her arm. Ten days later, …
Read More »Deyalsingh knocks Covid-19 breaches in sport, QPCC, Trim allegedly among guilty parties
Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh today urged the sporting fraternity to be patient and respect the public health ordinance, amongst growing evidence that football teams are flouting Covid-19 regulations. The Public Health [2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-ncov)] (No 32) Regulations, 2020 states: ‘During the period specified […] a person shall not, …
Read More »Daly Bread: Is there a real distinction between a ‘zesser’ party and a ‘pool’ party?
Last week, Natalee Legore, the host of Morning Brew, spoke for many when she stated: ‘we are not very clear as to why the police is able to take action in certain circumstances where people are gathered and not in others’. It seems, she said, ‘that what is public and …
Read More »Dr Rowley allows hunting, but warns against Christmas parties—sport and bars still on hold
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley outlawed Christmas parties within the public sector and kept a ban on the consumption of alcohol at public places, while contact team sport is also forbidden. The country’s international borders also remain closed, with the Ministry of National Security mandated to offer …
Read More »Dr Rowley permits in-house dining and national team sport, but no alcohol or ‘casual sport’
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley today announced the resumption of in-house dining at restaurants and cinemas (within certain guidelines), lengthened church services to 90 minutes, and permitted a return to team sport for international outfits. Restaurants must not exceed 50 percent capacity with no more than 10 persons per group, …
Read More »Is it me that has ‘faux concerns’? George Jr fires back, insists govt letting businesses down
“[…] We simply cannot continue like this without a massive fiscal intervention. My interviews last week were designed to get this message over to the policy makers and to the public. “Unfortunately the message seems to have been either misinterpreted or misunderstood as being hostile… And [Noble Philip] says it …
Read More »Noble: ‘Sheer arrogance wrapped up in faux concerns!’ The problem with selfish business rants
Planning for the unexpected and the unknown is a tough call. The Covid-19 disease has forced us to deal with a great deal of uncertainty. In many ways, the health issue, which has morphed into an economic one, represents an existential battle. The uncertainty and the weight of the expectations …
Read More »Dr Rowley opens beaches, relaxes restrictions on churches, gyms, casinos and cinemas
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced the re-opening of beaches and ‘coastal areas’ and promised a report on the reopening of the borders to citizens by 2 November, as multiple Covid-19 restrictions were relaxed today. From Monday, changes in the public health ordinance will permit the entire public sector to …
Read More »Deyalsingh: ‘Expect one Covid death per day’; T&T infection rate still too high for Caricom ‘travel bubble’
Last month, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley set Trinidad and Tobago a target of 20 infections per day by 11 October, so as to be granted access to a Caricom ‘travel bubble’ —in which member nations can visit each other without need for Covid-19 tests or a quarantine period. Barbados, …
Read More »Daly Bread: Putting certain mouths into quarantine; and holding PSC accountable
Just before his very welcome elevation to the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Boodoosingh gave a decision on the Public Health Ordinance and the Coronavirus Regulations made under it. The importance of the decision was blurred by claims of who won or lost the case made by politicians interested in …
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