Prime Minister’s Media Conference – Saturday 31st July, 2021.

Prime Minister Dr the Hon. Keith Rowley has appealed to members of the public to become vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.

Dr Rowley also said, “Once retail workers get vaccinated, in about two weeks they could be back to work.”

The Prime Minister made the comments at a media conference held at the Scarborough Library Facility today (Saturday 31st July, 2021).

Dr Rowley stated that Trinidad and Tobago has enough World Health Organization approved COVID-19 vaccine doses to fully vaccinate 600,000 people.

In anticipation of the arrival of the COVID-19 Delta variant into the country, the Prime Minister said “I’m appealing to the average person in this country, to use the vaccines that we have.

Tomorrow is Emancipation Day, make a resolution to emancipate yourself from COVID.”

Dr Rowley also encouraged politicians to mobilise members of the public to become vaccinated.

He said, “Go out there and mobilise people. Transport them to the vaccination stations. Go into the communities that you go for the votes.”

The Prime Minister said that he will discuss with the Minister of Finance additional support for people employed in the bar industry.

Minister of Health, the Hon. Terrence Deyalsingh said while the Ministry of Health was able to meet their vaccination target for the month of July (Adults vaccinated with two doses 188,900), it is “one step in a long journey”.

Minister Deyalsingh said the month of August needs to be a “big vaccination month”, calling on all sectors to make themselves available.

The Prime Minister also said there will be no change to the existing curfew hours for the upcoming Emancipation holiday.