Persons living in China or visiting China, regardless of nationality, will not be allowed entry into Trinidad and Tobago for 14 days after leaving China, the Minister of Health has announced.

That’s because the incubation period for the coronavirus is seven to 14 days and T&T is taking precautions.

Legal notices have to be prepared to give effect to the travel restrictions. It is nows being prepared by the Office of the Attorney General and will give the authority to the Chief Immigration Officer to bring it into effect.

 Health Ministers Terrence Deyalsingh said that 256 flights have been screened at Piarco International Airport and that 18,588 passengers and crew have been tested and none have proven to be febrile (having a fever).

 The Coronavirus is confirmed in 22 countries with 7,800 confirmed cases and 170 deaths to date.

 Deyalsingh said Trinidad and Tobago has the capacity to deal with suspected cases of the coronavirus.

 The  U.S.  on Thursday reported the first case of the person-to-person spread of the coronavirus from China.

It’s the man married to the Chicago woman who got sick from the virus after she returned from a trip to Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the outbreak. 

   The new case is the sixth reported in the United States. The other five were travellers who developed the illness after returning to the U.S. from China.

   The latest patient had not been to China.