PM declares 10 people, up from five, for funerals

Funerals can now have ten people, as the Prime Minister made an on-the-spot decision to increase the number from five during a covid19 media briefing on Saturday.

"The reason I am advocating for ten is because of the bonding (among families) .... it will bring a lot of emotional relief," Dr Rowley said.

The Prime Minister made the appeal to the public health doctors present at the briefing at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's.

Dr Margaret Trotman was cautious about the PM's request. "We feel just as you do, I personally have had losses," she said. Trotman noted that some funeral homes were managing services virtually, and observed they have been allowing five people at a time at services.

She said there was concern about the numbers of people who would now be on the move in different sectors. "We are trying to get a new normal," she said. She told the Prime Minister if it was his decision to have more than five people at funerals it could be done.

The Prime Minister said he felt the number can be higher.

"We can manage it in groups of ten," he said, calling on the public to minimise their exposure by practising social distancing.

The Prime Minister had the personal experience of holding a funeral of five people for his eldest brother Mathias Joseph., on April 2, in Tobago.

Also addressing opening up places of worship, the Prime Minister said this should happen by the third week of June. Beaches and rivers would also reopen later in the month.