COVID-19 in Trinidad & Tobago (Local Updates & Discussions Only)

[paid_influencer]

this is the tipping point -

multiple vulnerable populations with confirmed cases - Prisons service, St. Jude’s School for Girls.

Super spreader events - 8 schools affected and currently closed

Mass mobilizations - house-to-house campaigning in every constituency and party groups moving around the country

No restrictions - malls, food courts, bars and schools still open as normal

The window of opportunity is closing quickly. If something isn't done NOW we are in for a major disaster

[pugboy]

Elections more important at this point

[paid_influencer]

TTUTA calls for immediate closure of schools

With three additional schools closed in the past week due to COVID-19 cases, the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) is calling for the immediate closure of all primary schools.

In a statement, TTUTA noted with “extreme concern” the upsurge in COVID-19 cases which has led to the closure of five schools.

On Sunday, nine new infections were recorded.

TTUTA said the steady increase in COVID-19 infections has significantly impacted students preparing for the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) examination.

In calling for the closure of schools for the safety of teachers and students, TTUTA called on the Ministry to provide teachers and students with devices and connectivity to enable preparation for the SEA exam online.

The necessary operational support must also be provided to teachers by the Ministry, TTUTA added.

TTUTA stressed that no child’s life, no educator’s life is worth the risk of being in public places for the sake of any examination.

https://www.looptt.com/content/ttuta-ca ... re-schools

[ron_28]

Another school

[killercow]

So in the last 7 days we've had 40+ new cases (untraceable community spread)...

In the next 7 days which are the last and most crucial for campaigning (and due to trinis being trinis will thus only severely aid in the exponential growth of more untraceable cases), we now have the dilemma choosing whether to suffer financially and protect the health and safety of ourselves and our loved ones, or place our lives in the chamber and play Russian roulette for the almighty $ (although even if you are infected and don't die you'll still have to face quarantine and will be forced to give up work in any case).

Then there's SEA / CXC which is already extremely stressful for both parents, teachers and of course pupils.

I anticipate that by the end of the week we'll have at least 500+ cases. Of course we won't get this information in the public domain until at least two weeks after the fact. Maybe by then we might be unfortunately up to 50+ deaths.

Lockdown or not, pick your poison and go forth...

[paid_influencer]

the CMO have a big chunk of contacts to trace through for all these 'pending epidemiological investigation' cases. Each of these schools have about 100+ students and teachers. We're looking at hundreds of primary contacts and thousands of secondary contacts.

The big issue here is asymptomatic transmission. People are walking around going to work, going bars, malls, food courts, motorcades, etc, and not show any symptoms. A lockdown + contact tracing is the only proven thing we have that can bring back some level of normalcy. But there's a time limit to that option and it is expiring fast

[redmanjp]

on MOH FB page ppl saying they waiting 9 days after being tested and still no results- and that is if they even lucky to get a test!

another person still waiting and getting breathing problems

[redmanjp]

the CMO have a big chunk of contacts to trace through for all these 'pending epidemiological investigation' cases. Each of these schools have about 100+ students and teachers. We're looking at hundreds of primary contacts and thousands of secondary contacts.

The big issue here is asymptomatic transmission. People are walking around going to work, going bars, malls, food courts, motorcades, etc, and not show any symptoms. A lockdown + contact tracing is the only proven thing we have that can bring back some level of normalcy. But there's a time limit to that option and the government must act NOW.

for the schools they may just consider the close contacts- those in the same classroom/circle of friends. i am in the same general office where someone was a contact. some got called by MOH-some didn't.

all this could be aided by contact tracing apps but they eh think bout dat yet.

[carluva]

This was inevitable.

As soon as restrictions were lifted, Trinis when out in numbers and congregated every which way.

I have been out and see just how shamefully unsanitary people are. Sinks are placed at the entrances to businesses for persons to use, yet a security guard must be posted to remind people to wash hands. That is but one example of how thoughtless we are.

And those election trucks packed with idiots wearing masks... On their chin or under their nose. I'm not even voting this rounds as I do not want to be near a crowd nor dip my finger in some ink that hundreds of unsanitary persons would have used.

I'm curious though, is there anything in our Constitution which speaks to situations such as that we're currently in? Is an election really necessary?

Trinidad never dealt with COVID, we just delayed the impact. And by merit of our behaviours and attitudes, Trinidadians, not Venezuelans are to blame. With all the conjecture that Venezuelans bringing COVID how is it that all the recent cases are Trinis? Stupes

[sMASH]

soo, if ur in quarantine, can u still go to vote?

[redmanjp]

only the President can postpone the elections but only for 30 days, and only on the advise from the Govt. or PM. Another political leader wrote twice to her but she couldn't do anything.

even if that does happen, a number of things would have to be done during that time to force down the spread of the virus. it eh go be easy. if most retail stores in T&T only had the sense to innovate and have eCommerce sites (instead of griping why ppl does buy online instead of going to their stores and making Govt introduce the OPT tax)), then at least some stores could still make money online even in a lock-down situation- it not that hard.

[redmanjp]

soo, if ur in quarantine, can u still go to vote?

nope. not unless you already registered as a special elector or something and you get the ballot delivered to you- some ppl in quarantine would have done that already- hard luck for ppl who now have to do that. perhaps they should have done away with the deadline this elections due to covid.

[FrankChag]

So welcome to Wave 2... keep your seatbelts on as we will be expecting turbulence.

At 42 cases, we're about where we were in March 30 when we were at 81 (40+41).
Another shut down is in order to control this again.
But we know that's not happening, so this is going to get significantly worse (a la 1918's wave2...)

nb, there's a data gap between may 2020 and june bc we were effectively down to zero, and i got fedup typing. Hoping some goodly person in the gov't releases the full dataset in a table, so we won't have to keep doing this.

The numbers look good, but cmo's right to be pessimistic. This whole thing can start all over again (wave 2, wave 3,...)

Frank, remove imported cases and that "first wave" is almost nothing. With borders closed and strong surveillance testing, the risk of a second wave or third wave being comparable to the first is not there, to the point of negligence if it happens.

True, but only in the near future when we keep this up. What about when borders start re-opening and trinis get complacent. We haven't eradicated the virus, we still don't know where 115 and 116 got it from eh.

Looks like we already getting complacent. Ppl calling my fam business asking why they not open.. um.. lockdown much?

Here's the raw data: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... Wv/pubhtml

Someone suggested this...

[screwbash]

i dont see contact tracing making sense any more, it will become too heavy, too contaminated and likely to have cross contact between cases in places such as malls and supermarket which was packed this weekend with $20 specials of old stock items. now have to be total lockdown let all cases come to light and to protect those that dont have it. i think those who can stay home do so asap and stay TF home. saw some chinese restaurants return to being closed similar what happened on march 19 where chinese started to closed cause thy know the value of money and value of they life.
i feel i looking to stay TF home from now on leaving only if important.

[EFFECTIC DESIGNS]

A lot more people have this than you all think.

I was at 2 mini marts today and I saw people sneezing and coughing really bad and not wearing any mask. Pretty sure they also have it and they gave everybody in the mini mart it also.

[shake d livin wake d dead]

8 doctors from SFGH went into quarantine

[ST Auto]

ED u get it. U gona dead

A lot more people have this than you all think.

I was at 2 mini marts today and I saw people sneezing and coughing really bad and not wearing any mask. Pretty sure they also have it and they gave everybody in the mini mart it also.

[ST Auto]

I can confirm this as well. They are secondary contacts to someone who tested positive

8 doctors from SFGH went into quarantine

[bluefete]

I hearing some doctors in San Do general, ALLEGEDLY, tested positive but it is being kept on the down low.

8 doctors from SFGH went into quarantine

I can confirm this as well. They are secondary contacts to someone who tested positive

[ismithx]

Now then why are Trinidad and Venezuela both increasing in cases at almost the same time? Check it on google, food for thought

[ST Auto]

...

[Dave]

Terrence Deyalsingh has once again emphasised no lockdown and we have to learn to live with the virus on TMB.

Only do the absolute necessary activities e.g. work, pharmacy, grocery, doctor etc.
He told the population to ask themselves if they really need to visit a bar?

[goalpost]

Terrence Deyalsingh has once again emphasised no lockdown and we have to learn to live with the virus on TMB.

Only do the absolute necessary activities e.g. work, pharmacy, grocery, doctor etc.
He told the population to ask themselves if they really need to visit a bar?

Until August 11 when all of a sudden it's a huge problem and we need to lockdown.

[maj. tom]

The entire country may shut down itself as persons at every establishment are tested positive for covid-19. Self imposed quarantine and lockdown. By the end of this week we'll see the numbers and see if the government can make a lockdown decision and an organized procedure to get people out to vote safely.

I still haven't received my polling card in the mail because TTPost is a waste of time as usual.

[nemisis]

I received my card weeks ago, the gov benefits from voluntary shut down and self quarantine as they don't have to worry about funding such.

The entire country may shut down itself as persons at every establishment are tested positive for covid-19. Self imposed quarantine and lockdown. By the end of this week we'll see the numbers and see if the government can make a lockdown decision and an organized procedure to get people out to vote safely.

I still haven't received my polling card in the mail because TTPost is a waste of time as usual.

[Dizzy28]

The entire country may shut down itself as persons at every establishment are tested positive for covid-19. Self imposed quarantine and lockdown. By the end of this week we'll see the numbers and see if the government can make a lockdown decision and an organized procedure to get people out to vote safely.

I still haven't received my polling card in the mail because TTPost is a waste of time as usual.

TTPost delivered polling cards yesterday morning. Dunno why but the TTPost delivery woman didn't put them in the mail box but instead choose to drop them on a chair in the open patio to the front our house (Our driveway gate is open during the day because no real reason). With the level rain that fell in the morning managed to save 2 (my wife and mines) but the remainder were destroyed.

[shake d livin wake d dead]

I hearing some doctors in San Do general, ALLEGEDLY, tested positive but it is being kept on the down low.

8 doctors from SFGH went into quarantine

I can confirm this as well. They are secondary contacts to someone who tested positive

results are expected today...from behind the scenes, look forward to at least 8 new cases today

[matr1x]

This is the worst government in the history on t&t. No contest

[pugboy]

elections more important than covid

This is the worst government in the history on t&t. No contest

[shake d livin wake d dead]

This is the worst government in the history on t&t. No contest

they still have a great opportunity to win...but lehwe discuss that in the election ched