BUSINESS leaders say the end of the state of emergency (SoE) brings to bear the reality that Trinidad and Tobago must learn to live with covid19 for the long term.

Weighing in on the issue on Sunday were Trent Restaurants Ltd chairman Peter George, Greater Confederation of Regional Chambers co-ordinator Jai Leladarsingh and Greater San Fernando Chamber of Commerce president Kiran Singh.

At a news conference at the Diplomatic Centre on Saturday, the Prime Minister announced that the House of Representatives will sit on Wednesday to lift the SoE on the same day.

Dr Rowley acknowledged the national vaccination programme had stalled and occupancy in the parallel health care system was around 86 per cent, with most patients being unvaccinated.

While all this shows that TT is in a dangerous place where covid19 is concerned, Rowley said, "The automatic response is not to shut the country down. The response is to work harder to live with the virus."

George said, "It's long overdue. We cannot be consumed by the covid19."

He said virus was not something that TT can run away from. "We have to live with it. You cannot put everything aside and say covid19 and just press 'Stop' on everything else."

George did not know what breathing room the SoE gave with respect to dealing with the covid19 pandemic.

"It has put us back to square one, exactly where we are, 20 months later – billions in economic destruction."

George expressed concern about the latest figures with respect to covid19 deaths. "What needs to happen now is another type of approach."

He accepted Rowley's statement about burnt-out medical personnel and the tremendous work they have been doing to battle the pandemic and try to keep the population safe for the last 20 months.

But, George observed, "There are burnt-out citizens and burnt-out businesses. Yes, there is a collapse of the medical system, but there is also a collapse of our economic way of life and our livelihoods.

"When you shut down an economy, naturally you are going to have tremendous economic repercussions."

He said with the lifting of the curfew, businesses would be able to operate as they normally would.

He did not know how effective the covid19 safe zones, established during the pandemic to allow fully vaccinated people to access certain businesses, have been.

George’s restaurant chain includes Trotters, Buzo, Amara, Blue Star Diner, and Tommy’s Restaurant. Under the public health regulations, in-house dining in restaurants is permitted to fully vaccinated people.

"The first incarnation of the safe zones did nothing from our perspective."

He reiterated the major issue which must be addressed immediately is the medical issue.

"We continue to work as hard as we can to get people vaccinated within the ambit of the law and practise in as safe environments as we can."

George added, "We have to face our demons now and face the reality of what this (covid19) is.