Avellon Williams
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD – Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Keith Rowley announced today at a media conference held at Blenheim House, Tobago that places of worship will reopen from Monday 6, September.
Churches were closed on April 29 along with other sectors of the country.
PM Rowley said these religious institutions will operate at 25% capacity and services should be limited to one hour. PM Rowley urged religious leaders to encourage their congregation to get vaccinated so that their members will have an added layer of protection.
“In four weeks, if projections remain on course and there is an increase in vaccinations during September, certain aspects of business can become ‘safe zones’ where vaccinated persons can visit places like gyms, restaurants in house-dining, cinemas, casinos, bars, etc.
The PM also announced that 50,000 Pfizer vaccines will be made available to the general public.
PM Rowley strictly indicated that there will be no party events or large congregations, and dismissed calls for the reopening of beaches at this time, ‘the last time there was a spike in COVID-19 cases, the health experts were unable to trace it back to the opening of beaches.
He also noted that the sea bridge capacity will be expanded from 50 to 75%; arrangements will be made to increase the number of flights on the air bridge.”
PM Rowley assured that suppressing the spread of COVID-19 remains a priority for his government; stressing that there’s a proven benefit that vaccination allows the population to respond better to the virus as it provides some level of immunity.
He, therefore, appealed to the population to make use of the available vaccines.
