Trinidad and Tobago to reopen borders on July 17

Barbados Today – Trinidad and Tobago’s borders are expected to reopen on Saturday July 17, however there will be restrictions to entry.

This was announced by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley at a media conference held at the Diplomatic Centre, St Anns, on Saturday.

The Prime Minister provided the following details about three categories of people:

Category 1 – Fully vaccinated citizens or legal residents

A fully vaccinated person is defined as someone who has received the required number of doses of a WHO-approved vaccine and two weeks have elapsed since the final dose has been administered.

Those who are fully vaccinated and show proof of a negative PCR test, no older than 72 hours, will not be required to quarantine. Children of fully vaccinated parents will be allowed to go home.

Category 2 – Unvaccinated citizens or legal residents

Those who are unvaccinated and show proof of a negative PCR test no older than 72 hours must go into state-supervised quarantine for 14 days at their own expense.

Category 3

Non-nationals who are unvaccinated will not be allowed to enter Trinidad and Tobago at this time. A digitalised system in the form of an app will be used to allow people to submit their information.

Dr Rowley said the Attorney General will work on legislation that will stipulate adequate punishment for persons attempting to flout the system.

The Prime Minister also made the following announcements:

– Only Government construction will reopen on Monday, July 5. Private sector construction will be considered for reopening thereafter.

– Curfew hours will revert to 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekends for the month of July. Regarding vaccinations, Dr Rowley said Trinidad and Tobago can expect to conduct a majorvaccination programme in July based on the upcoming scheduled vaccine procurement and acquisition.

– St Vincent and the Grenadines has donated 4,000 doses of vaccines. These vaccines will be used for second doses. Attempts are being made to retrieve them.

– Government is close to confirming the procurement and delivery of upwards of 200,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines in early July.

– Government has received confirmation of a shipment of 33,600 doses from COVAX in mid-July.

– Vaccines are expected from the African Medical Supplies Platform in the coming weeks.

– Dr Rowley said in the last week to 10 days, there has been progress and positive contact with the United States regarding vaccine commitment by the Biden-Harris Administration and in the very near future those discussions will be concluded.