The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (the ‘GoRTT’), like many other countries around the world, has begun easing, and in some cases lifting, the restrictions previously imposed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Among other things, the restrictions previously imposed on businesses such as bars, cinemas, seated dining establishments, gyms; religious services, public transportation and essential services have been relaxed. The following summarises these relaxation measures implemented by the GoRTT.
Last updated: July 07 2020
The primary measures and restrictions currently in force in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago are, as of June 30 2020, consolidated in the Public Health [2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)] (No. 21) Regulations 2020 (“Regulation No. 21”). This reflects the most current measures in force as well as the relaxation of restrictions in place to date.
RESTRICTED BUSINESSES/ACTIVITIES
Bars
June 25 2020: The applicable regulations were amended to:
- allow bars to open only between the hours of 8am and 10pm;
- give the Minister the power to permit businesses, including bars to have opening hours other than those prescribed in the regulations; and
- permit day cares, pre-schools for children, and educational establishments to open.
June 30 2020: The applicable regulations were amended to allow bars to open only between the hours of 8am and 8pm with the exception of premises operating under a restaurant licence or special restaurant licence.
Religious Services
June 11 2020: The applicable regulations were amended so that:
- religious and ecclesiastical services could resume if Ministry of Health guidelines on social distancing are observed;
- religious and ecclesiastical services are also exempt from the requirement which provides that a person shall not without reasonable justification be at any work place unless the workplace is an ‘essential service’ as prescribed by the Regulations, the presence of the person at work is essential and, it is not practicable to work from home; and
- the restriction on the number of persons present in a public gathering no longer applies to religious gatherings or services.
June 22 2020: Religious or ecclesiastical services were required to comply with the guidelines for Places of Worship issued by the Ministry of Health.
Gaming Houses
June 25 2020: The applicable regulations were amended to:
- allow casinos to open only between the hours of 8am and 10pm; and
- give the Minister the power to permit businesses, including casinos, to have opening hours other than those prescribed in the regulations and to permit day cares, pre-schools for children, and educational establishments to open.
Cinemas
June 22 2020: Cinemas and theatres were allowed to reopen for business, subject to compliance with the guidelines for Cinemas and Theatres issued by the Ministry of Health.
Seated Dining / Food Services
May 10 2020: The applicable regulations were amended so that street vending, retail food services, delivery and take away food services were permitted to be open to the public until 8pm every day; however, seated dining at restaurants and the onsite consumption of any food or beverage provided by street vendors were still prohibited.
June 22 2020: Food establishments were allowed to reopen and provide indoor or outdoor dining, subject to compliance with the guidelines for Restaurants and Bars issued by the Ministry of Health.
Sporting Activities / Gyms
May 10 2020: Outdoor and other sporting activities in any public place were permitted provided that no more than five (5) persons were partaking.
June 22 2020: Team sports were allowed to resume unless there were more than 25 persons in congregation. In addition, gyms and fitness centers were allowed to reopen for business, subject to compliance with the guidelines for Gyms and Fitness Centers issued by the Ministry of Health.
Public Transport
June 8 2020: The number of passengers permitted to be carried via public transport means increased to three-quarters of the number of passengers which a vehicle is licensed to carry.
June 21 2020: The restriction on the number of passengers allowed in public transport vehicles was removed (so that full capacity is now allowed).
Shelter-in Place / Non-Essential Services
May 10 2020: The applicable regulations were amended so that:
- services and workers engaged in construction related to agriculture and food production were included among the essential services; and
- the opening hours for hardware stores were extended to 8 am to 4 pm daily.
May 12 2020: The applicable regulations were amended so that trade union services were included among the essential services.
May 21 2020: The applicable regulations were amended so that:
- construction and manufacturing sectors were included among the essential services;
- auto repair/parts and tyre shops were allowed to be reopened; and
- laundry and dry cleaning services were allowed to be reopened.
June 01 2020: The applicable regulations were amended so that:
- professionals such as engineers, architects, valuators assessors, land, quantity and other surveyors were included among the essential services and could provide services until 6 pm daily.
- hotels with outdoor facilities were allowed to provide some degree of in-house service, provided that safety protocols were complied with;
- general retail services were permitted to be opened until 6 pm daily; and
- the National Lotteries Control Board’s business was allowed to resume but only until 6pm daily.
June 8 2020: The applicable regulations were amended so that:
- Spas, barbers, hairdressers, estheticians, nail technicians or such similar service providers were allowed to resume services until 6 pm daily; and
- domestic workers, gardeners and any other workers employed to assist a household could resume providing services.
Public Gatherings
June 11 2020: The applicable regulations were amended so that the number of persons permitted at public gatherings increased from five (5) persons to ten (10) persons.
June 22 2020: The applicable regulations were amended so that:
- the number of persons permitted at public gatherings increased from ten (10) persons to twenty-five (25) persons for the period 22nd to 30th June, 2020; and
- all business establishments were required to be closed at 10 pm at the latest, on any day.
Notably, there continues to be restrictions on educational establishments, public parties or public fetes, clubs and party boats. Further, until 19th July, a person shall not: (i) be at a public place where the number of persons at any time exceeds twenty-five; (ii) participate in any sport which involves the gathering of more than twenty-five persons; and (iii) attend any beach, river, stream, pond, spring or similar body of water in a group of more than twenty-five persons.
It is expected that further relaxation measures will be implemented in due course including, but not limited to, the reopening of our country’s borders.
