The covid19 pandemic has irreparably reshaped the world. Some countries are now in fourth and fifth waves, battling the omicron variant. Newsday takes a look back and maps the timeline of the covid19 virus in Trinidad and Tobago.
For more information on each, click the date which leads to full Newsday stories.
2020
March 12: First recorded case of covid19 in TT. It is reported that it was a 52-year-old man who arrived from Switzerland and who started exhibiting symptoms on March 12, 2020.
March 12: To address rising covid19 cases and to ensure that TT's health system did not buckle under the weight of the pandemic, the Government announced a parallel healthcare system.
March 12: Supermarkets adapted to pandemic change; implementing sinks, soap, sanitisers and thermometers.
March 13: The Prime Minister announced all schools, universities and learning centres closed for a week in the first instance to slow the spread of the virus.
March 16: The Government announced TT’s borders closed to all non-nationals for 14 days after five imported cases of the virus were reported. The Prime Minister also announced all bars closed.
March 25: TT marked its first covid19 death: an elderly man with a pre-existing medical condition.
March 26: Government called on all non-essential workers to stay at home unless it was necessary to go out. The measures were to stay in place until April 15 initially.
In fact, the stay-at-home measures lasted until May 15.
March 31: Ministry of Health held its first virtual press conference. It then had updates three times a week or as the situation developed. Since the pandemic began waning, the pressers have been reduced.
March 31: The Government restricted public gatherings to no more than five people.
May 9: The Prime Minister announced a phased reopening of the country, which began on May 10.
[caption id="attachment_945848" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Covid19 rate of infection [/caption]
May 10-23: Restaurants and roadside street vending were allowed to reopen for business, but a ban remained on in-house dining. These businesses were to close by 8 pm.
Outdoor exercise was also allowed once more, but people were required to maintain the six-foot distance rule and not congregate.
Three manufacturing businesses were allowed to restart: West Indian Tobacco Company, Trinidad Cement Ltd and Nu Iron.
May 24-June 6: The Prime Minister allowed the reopening of the manufacturing sector and the resumption of public-sector construction.
Public transport was allowed to operate at 50 per cent capacity.
June 7 – 20: All public services were to resume; flexi-time and alternate-day office working were considered. Public transport was allowed to carry 75 per cent capacity.
August 16: The Prime Minister announced mandatory mask-wearing for the entire country.
August 29: It was announced that children will resume school virtually.
[caption id="attachment_945847" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Covid19 deaths statistics [/caption]
2021
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