So yeah, just to update from the last journal here, our Prime Minister addressed the nation on Saturday 21-NOV-2020, to update the Nation on the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions currently in place to combat the spread of it.

- Food service will be allowed in casinos, and hunting will resume by next weekend. However, the Hunting Season will NOT be extended.

- Our Prime Minister said that there will be no State-sponsored Christmas parties in the public sector this year, and this is to ensure there is no congregating. He called on citizens to have a responsible Christmas by observing the Public Health protocols on COVID-19, including social distancing and mask wearing. The Prime Minister again stated that it is his hope to allow children to go back to school in January 2021 but this would be misplaced if people "free up" for Christmas and congregate in large numbers. The Health Minister also made a call to businesses, religious groups and Non-Government Organisations to forego Christmas parties and events this year. He said, "Let this be a holy and quiet Christmas. Celebrate within your family unit."

- An announcement on the opening of schools will be made in January 2021 - after the Christmas Season. The Prime Minister said if the COVID-19 numbers are high over the Christmas Season, schools will not open in January. He also clarified that the entire school population will not return to school but a cohort will start the process.

- Most villas/guesthouses in Tobago are booked for the Christmas/New Year period. Noting that this is good for the Tobago economy, the Prime Minister called on (local) travelers to Tobago to maintain health protocols. "It would not take very many mistakes of misconduct to make Tobago highly infected.". The Prime Minister also noted that Caribbean Airlines (our local airline company) has made proposals to use an early result testing programme which will have benefits for travel to and from Tobago.

- The Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roshan Parasram reported that there has been a slight increase in COVID-cases, with a daily average of thirty-seven (37). He said this is a cause for concern. Dr. Parasram said the clusters are between families, friends, workplaces, and gatherings where people are taking off their masks because they are comfortable. He said if we do not continue to observe the public health protocols, fifty (50) cases can soon become one hundred (100) cases.

- The Prime Minister again clarified that bars are open in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) to sell alcohol. However, congregation is NOT ALLOWED.

- The Minister of Finance has been instructed to find an additional TT$10 million to treat with employees at bars and restaurants who have lost their jobs or suffered reduced income. Proprietors can also apply for small business support. An additional TT$20 million will also go towards Social Services, including support for self employed citizens who lost income over the period.

- T&T’s borders remain CLOSED but exemptions continue to be granted for Nationals to return home, as well as those who want to leave T&T.

- Tobago House Assembly Health Secretary Tracy Davidson-Celestine confirmed that Tobago has had no new COVID-19 cases in the last twenty-five (25) days but she said this does not mean the island is COVID-free. Secretary Davidson-Celestine urged people to come forward for testing if they develop COVID-19 symptoms. She also called on citizens to engage in a "reset" at this time. There are many options and facilities available to help.

- General Manager of Primary Care at the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA), Dr. Roxanne Mitchell, credited a very aggressive Primary and Secondary contact tracing effort for no new COVID-19 cases in the last twenty-five (25) days in Tobago. However, she noted that people are still not wearing their masks properly, and they should not be lulled into a sense of complacency.

- The Health Minister again calls on citizens to get the flu vaccine. He is hoping to complete the Flu Vaccination Drive by April 2021.

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So yeah, from all accounts, if you've read this far, our T&T Government is urging the population NOT to congregate for the Christmas parties/celebrations/festivities and to continue practicing ALL COVID-19 Health protocols, proper mask-wearing, social distancing and washing of hands with soap and water and/or sanitizing.

I think what I will miss the most are the Christmas celebrations. December is usually a busy season for me as I partake in a lot of Christmas Activities, from the Christmas office parties to actual Christmas Day celebrations with family, friends and loved ones. It's busy for me as I usually prepare an assortment of festive drinks for said celebrations: Sorrel, Sorrel Liqueur, Ginger Beer & Ponche-De-Creme. Feel free to Google those drinks or you can watch this YouTube video. You'll see some of the Christmas foods and drinks we here in T&T partake in.



Of course, none of that will be happening this year and more so, we won't be gathering with extended family on Christmas Day, which is a BIG thing for us as it's the time of the year where we all get to see one another (as we may not have been able to visit family, for one reason or another).

So yeah, dunno what'll happen come December 25th. Maybe I can hang out with you guys on a Discord party or something? 😅