By Prior Beharry
THE recent upsurge in Covid-19 cases in Trinidad and Tobago has nothing to do with illegal migration.
This according to National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds speaking at a media conference at his ministry in Port-of-Spain on Sunday.
He said there was no compelling evidence to show that the spread of Covid-19 being experience in the country has anything to do with illegal migration.
Last Thursday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced further lockdown measures, closing all restaurants, malls, gyms casinos and theatres.
There were currently 2,355 active Covid-19 cases in the country with 171 deaths thus far.
Hinds said the spread was due to people disregarding Covid-19 protocols.
He said, “The spread the experts in the Ministry of Health has told us is as a consequence of community spread on the basis of our interaction, disregarding the protocols, disregarding the public health ordinance and its regulations.
“This is where the bulk of the problem comes. Peoples gathering for parties and wakes and limes and just being reckless.”
Hinds added, “It is also a fact that we have illegal immigrants but the evidence from the Ministry of Health… that is not the source or the challenge that we now face.
“I hope that I have made that abundantly clear while recognising that there is the potential for the importation of this virus and its various strains and variants if we continue to have illegal entry into our country unchecked by the health and other authorities.”
Hinds said the first case of the Covid-19 Brazilian variant in T&T was found in an illegal migrant.
He said, “From the general information I have I think that it was from an illegal immigrant.”
