Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Keith Rowley announced Friday new restrictions that will last for at least 28 days as the country continues to face an increase in coronavirus cases.
It came on a day in which the Ministry of Health announced 48 new cases from batch testing, taking the number of positive cases in T&T since the start of the virus to 474. Ten people have died.
Beginning Monday morning, all in-house dining in restaurants and bars ceased, including at food courts and malls. This also includes the precincts of those establishments. Takeaway services, however, will be allowed to continue.
Among other restrictions: Beaches and rivers will close; all places of worship will close; all gyms will close; all contact sports will cease; waterparks will close; casinos and members clubs will remain closed; cinemas will be closed; authorized gatherings of people outside of homes will not be more than five people; weddings, funerals, christenings and so on will be allowed with no more than 10 people; maxis and taxis will operate at 50% capacity; air and sea-bridge transportation to and from Tobago will be restricted to essential people; and all teaching institutions will remain closed until this phase is over.
The prime minister said it appears at this stage that the government will likely have to shut down schools for the rest of the year.