With the Tobago count remaining at five positive COVID-19 cases for the past week, the Division of Health is warning folks on the sister isle not to become complacent.

Just about 103 persons have been screened in Tobago as part of surveillance testing required by Carpha.

“We have had no serious suspected cases at the Health Centres or the Hospitals or even calling into the hotlines, Secretary for Health Tracey Davidson Celestine said on Friday morning.

  As such she said that efforts are underway to upgrade the laboratory facility at the Scarborough General Hospital. Thirteen persons have already undergone a two day training period in collaboration with the University of the West Indies (UWI) the Pan American Health Organization (PAHOP) and CARPHA. New equipment will be reinstalled at the lab at the end of April and that will include testing equipment to deal with COVID-19.

The Tobago House of Assembly, meantime  has announced that it will provide

• 100  Food Hampers for persons in need
• 1000 Cotton Face Masks
•   Seedlings will be handed out at the end of next week.
• An increase in grants from TT$25,000 to TT$50,000
• An increase in loans from TT$250,000 to TT$500,000 with a three percent interest rate and a moratorium for three months. Priority will be given to  Agro Processing businesses.