[UPDATED] PM says beaches open, time to dine, play sports

All establishments, including bars and beaches, will be allowed to reopen on Monday, the Prime Minister has announced.

At a press conference in Tobago on Saturday afternoon, he said restaurants for in-house dining, bars, cinemas, theatres, casinos, private members clubs, malls and their food courts, amusement parks, zoos, beaches, rivers, and gyms can reopen. Team sports and horse racing will also be allowed but without spectators.

All establishments will have to be closed by 10 pm and follow covid19 policies including social distancing, and the wearing of masks. However, Dr Rowley said party activities, including party boats will not be allowed to operate. The borders of the country will also remain closed “and we will keep them closed as long as there is a health requirement.”

Also on Monday, all public servants are expected to be back out to work under the direction of the various permanent secretaries. Rowley said the public service would continue to apply flexi-time, work from home, and virtual meetings to reduce interactions. He added that public transport, including inter-island transport, would return to full service. However, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh stressed that public health guidelines would still apply so car windows should remain open, and people need to continue to sanitise their hands and wear masks.

Rowley also said the limit to gatherings would increase from ten to 25 with social distancing, but there would be no numerical limit at funerals, weddings, christenings and other religious events. Instead, these numbers would be limited by regulations in place for places of worship, which includes sitting arms length apart and using every other pew or row. However, the length of these services can return to normal.

Educational institutions will also open for examinations and preparation for the reopening of schools on September 1. Schools, daycares and pre-schools will also be allowed to open on September 1.

Expanding on public health guidelines, Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram said those for restaurants, bars, gyms, places of worship, cinemas and theatres were available on the Ministry of Health’s website.

He said the general guidelines of 25 people in a public space and sanitisation of surfaces applied to beaches, rivers, and community pools, particularly in changing rooms.

“However it can’t be underscored (enough), the new normal needs to continue but we can’t expect someone to be having a bath in the sea and wearing a mask. So we have to use different parts of the public health measures in different ways so that we are able to satisfy the general principle, which is not getting infected with covid or any other viral illness.”

With that in mind he also encouraged people to stay at home when they have a viral illness.

In a clinical update, Parasram added that the last six positive cases, which came from the Enchantment of the Seas cruise ship, already received their first negative and would be released soon if the second test also showed a negative result. As of Saturday, TT has 123 confirmed cases, eight deaths, with 109 people discharged.

This story has been updated with additional details. Below is the original story.

All establishments, including bars and beaches, will be allowed to reopen on Monday, the Prime Minister has announced.

At a press conference in Tobago on Saturday afternoon, he said restaurants for in-house dining, bars, cinemas, theatres, casinos, private members clubs, malls and their food courts, amusement parks, zoos, beaches, rivers, and gyms can reopen. Team sports and horse racing will also be allowed but without spectators.

All establishments will have to be closed by 10 pm and follow covid19 policies including social distancing, and the wearing of masks.

Also on Monday, all public servants are expected to be back out to work under the direction of the various permanent secretaries. He said the public service would continue to apply flexi-time, work from home, and virtual meetings to reduce interactions.

He added that public transport, including inter-island transport, would return to full service.

Rowley also said the limit to gatherings would increase from ten to 25 with social distancing, but there would be no numerical limit at funerals, weddings, christenings and other religious events. Instead, these numbers would be limited by regulations in place for places of worship, which includes sitting arms length apart and using every other pew or row.

Educational institutions will also open for examinations and preparation for the reopening of schools on September 1. Schools, daycares and pre-schools will also be allowed to open on September 1.

However, the borders of the country remain closed “and we will keep them closed as long as there is a health requirement.”