With the Christmas season soon upon us, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley is urging citizens to maintain the gains this country has made in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic over the nine months, by upholding social distancing measures during the holiday season.

Dr. Rowley made the call at a Covid-19 press briefing held in Tobago on Saturday. 

“If we do not hold the line, we too will end up in that situation,” Dr. Rowley warned, referencing countries across the world who got relaxed in their fight against the virus. 

The government’s position is backed on there being somewhat of a reverse in the statistical pattern, with a slight upward increase with an average of 37 cases a day.

This reality has been described by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roshan Parasram as “a cause for concern”.

As for government- it will take steps to ensure there is no holiday parties held in the public sector to limit the spread of the virus.

“I will instruct the head of the public service on Monday…that as part of our virus control response, that there is to be no state sponsored or any Christmas party in 2020,” he said.

Meanwhile, with Tobago presently having zero cases, Dr. Rowley said this ought no to be taken as any signal that the threat of the virus has passed. 

He noted that it has come to his understanding that several of the villas in Tobago are already booked for the holiday season, by Trinidadians wanting to satisfy their appetite for travel during the pandemic. 

While he says government will make no move to block such action, as it can “significantly benefit the economy in Tobago”, the Prime Minister urged persons to be responsible in their celebration.