Prime Minister’s Media Conference – Wednesday 01 April, 2020.

Here are the highlights from today’s Media Conference

The Government continues to appeal to citizens to heed the advice from the Ministry of Health to be responsible and adhere to the protocols set during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government through the Office of the Attorney General and the Judiciary are considering the release of low risk, non-violent, minimal threat prisoners or persons who are unable to access bail. This is in a bid to reduce overcrowding at the prisons given the COVID-19 threat.

In an effort to increase testing capacity, the Ministry of Health confirms once approvals are granted by CARPHA, additional COVID-19 testing will be done by the North Central Regional Health Authority, San Fernando General Hospital and the Medical Research Foundation Of Trinidad & Tobago. Minister of Health, the Hon Terrence Deyalsingh noted that this could increase the testing capacity to up to 1000 COVID-19 tests a day.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Roshan Parasram says arrangements have been made for the UWI psychiatrists and psychologists to conduct video conferencing with patients to address their mental health and well-being. He also indicated that there is no restriction of the use of mobile phones to persons who have been quarantined for COVID-19 at hospitals. A hotline will be established to assist patients with coping mentally.

Ministry of Health will communicate homecare guidelines to the population for persons who are in quarantine. The Ministry will also present a Geographic Information System of persons who have been tested positive for COVID-19 in Trinidad and Tobago.