(CMR) Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley announced stricter measures on Thursday to curb the spread of COVID-19 after the country recorded 328 new cases of the virus in a 24 hour period.
There were 223 new COVID-19 cases reported on Wednesday from samples taken between April 25 and 27.
The new cases pushed the total number of cases recorded in the country to 10,170 cases since the first reported infection in March 2020. There are now 1 656 active cases. The death toll is 163 after the Ministry of Health recorded two new deaths on Wednesday.
“The numbers we are seeing now are slightly ahead of the projected numbers that we would have made in some quarters, and in some other quarters, we would see the curve not going in the direction we would like it to go,” said Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley.
“But taking the raw number 328, as against 250, as against 180, and as against 15, you don’t have to be an Einstein to understand what we are dealing with,” Rowley added, pointing to the severity of the situation.
Rowley said that all restaurants, bars, malls, places of worship, gyms, fitness centers, spas, hairdressing and beauty places, casinos, cinemas, theatres, and clubs would be closed from midnight Thursday, April 29 until May 23.
Public Service will operate essential services only. There will now be three flights each day from Trinidad to Tobago. The sea bridge will operate at a 35 percent capacity.
Secondary schools are still allowed to conduct face-to-face classes for students of Forms 5 and 6 only where necessary to complete practical subject components for 2021 examinations. All other classes will be held online.
“Difficult as it is, it is the best option open to us,” added Rowley, who just recovered from the virus.
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