PORT OF SPAIN – Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said on Tuesday, a member of his Cabinet had tested positive for COVID-19.
Speaking at a virtual public meeting of the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM), he said the government minister and their entire family are now isolated.
“Today, one of my Cabinet colleagues isolated for COVID,” he said. “The whole family is now isolated. COVID is still with us.”
Rowley did not disclose the identity of the minister, but he mentioned the development and reiterated the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic across the region.
He told residents of the two-island nation that “even in our situation, we are a whole lot better than very many people that we know”.
Rowley said other countries of the region had it even worse, as he had realised on Monday during an emergency Caribbean Community (CARICOM) meeting to discuss the regional response to the recent surge in COVID-19 infections, hospitalisations and deaths.
It was reported that more than 100 000 new cases and 1 400 deaths had been recorded between July and September 12, 2021.
“Very many CARCOM leaders reported on the state of affairs in their countries,” Rowley said. “In fact, in some situations, the presentations were that their very existence and their security are threatened, and they needed help.”
The T&T prime minister, who served as CARICOM chairman for the first half of this tear, added: “I was there from January to July, and I knew at that time that we were in big trouble, but the report on Monday was that the trouble was here, because even countries that thought they had control of the situation inside a fortnight realised that they’d lost control of the situation.”
Rowley said a major step towards dealing with the pandemic would be made next week when United States president Joe Biden hosts a meeting of world leaders, which CARICOM, under Rowley’s leadership, had requested since March to address vaccine availability and other COVID-19 matters.
Rowley said preparations for that meeting began on Tuesday.
(CMC)
