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Resources While Staying At Home During the COVID-19 Outbreak
44 MINUTE READ
May 6, 2020

Overview

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago’s Stay at Home order has been extended to May 15.  These measures will help stop the spread of COVID-19 and U.S. citizens are advised to observe the stay at home policy and limit movement outside the home to authorized purposes and essential business only. Here are some resources that you may find useful during the stay at home policy.

For reliable and updated information regarding the current situation in Trinidad and Tobago please continue to check the Embassy website and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.

Staying Healthy and Safe

Stay well informed: During this time, we ask all U.S. citizens to please pay attention only to authoritative sources of information, such as U.S. Embassy messages, the Embassy website, and our official social media feeds for the most current and accurate information on Embassy efforts to assist U.S. citizens. Unofficial social media platforms, word-of-mouth, well-meaning friends, and other forms of secondhand information are often unreliable, containing inaccurate information. Please encourage concerned friends and family to visit our website to confirm the validity of any information.

If you feel sick: U.S. citizens experiencing symptoms, or who have reason to believe they have been exposed to COVID-19 are advised for their own health to stay at home, to follow the guidance provided by the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Health and contact them at +1 (868) 627-1047; 1 (868) 623-8492; +1 (868) 627-0010; +1 (868) 627-0012; +1 (868) 627-0014, and follow their instructions.

Protect Yourself:  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Watch this video for more information.

FAQs and Mythbusters: Below you can find reputable online resources and pages to assist in dispelling myths and for useful guides such as how to protect your home, mask use, and other COVID-19 prevention guidance.

What is COVID-19?

General Information regarding COVID-19

Protecting your home from COVID-19

Testing and Screening for COVID-19

COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions and Myth busters

Mental Health

Health Facilities

Center for Disease Control & Prevention

Tobago Regional Health Authority

Local Emergency Contact numbers:

  • Ambulance: 811
  • Police: 999
  • Fire Service: 990

Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management — (ODPM): 511

Tobago Emergency Management Agency — (TEMA): 211

Find a Public Health Facility Near You in Trinidad and Tobago

Insect Vector Control: 800-IVCD

Chemistry, Food and Drugs: 800-CFDD

Chronic Disease Assistance: 800-CDAP

The listing and links above are provided as a point of reference and is not intended to be exhaustive. The inclusion of a specific company or organization does not constitute a recommendation and the Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by the company or organization whose names appear on such lists.

Know the Law

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago’s Stay at Home order has been extended to continue beyond April 30 to May 15. The borders will also remain closed until at least May 15. These measures have been implemented to limit the spread of COVID-19 and U.S. citizens are advised to limit movement outside the home to authorized purposes and essential business only. 

U.S. citizens are also advised that everyone is required to wear masks covering the nose and mouth in public.

U.S. Citizens are further reminded that gatherings above 5 persons is prohibited at this time.

Please note that individuals out in public may be stopped by law enforcement and asked to justify their movement. The Embassy advises carrying your ID with you; if you fall under essential staff at your place of employment, you may wish to request an authorization letter from your employer. Anyone determined to have breached this public health ordinance may be found liable for a fine of 50,000 TT and imprisonment for up to six months.

For a complete list of essential and non-essential services and businesses and other details, please view the complete Public Health Ordinance and visit the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of National Security Facebook page.

Most recent alerts on the Stay at Home order:

Stay at Home Order Extended until May 15

Stay at Home Order Still in Effect – Grocery Stores, Pharmacies Remain Open; Restaurants Remain Closed

Information on Government of Trinidad and Tobago Stay at Home Order/Public Health Ordinance

For daily updates on the situation in Trinidad and Tobago and our emergency services efforts please refer to the Embassy webpage on COVID-19.

Nourish

Currently, all restaurants in Trinidad and Tobago are closed until May 15.  In addition, the following restrictions on shopping hours are in effect.

  • Retail services such as discount stores, supermarkets, fruit/vegetable stalls, bakeries, and corner shops providing food are to be closed to the public by 6 PM.
  • Wholesale stores for provision of food/medicine are to be closed by 4 PM
  • Pharmacies are to be closed to the public by 8 PM.
  • Hardware stores including electrical and plumbing establishments are open Monday to Saturday from 8 AM to 12 PM as of April 27.

The following resources are available to ensure you have food and other necessities for daily life. Please contact the store directly or review their webpages to ensure accuracy for store opening and closing hours.

Massy Stores, Price Smart, Tru Valu Supermarket, Peppercorns, Super Pharm, UPICK TT, Linda’s Bakery, Kappa Drugs, Starlite Pharmacy, Local grocery delivery services

The listing and links above are provided as a point of reference and is not intended to be exhaustive. The inclusion of a specific company or organization does not constitute a recommendation and the Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by the company or organization whose names appear on such lists.

Educate

With a good Internet connection, families can access websites that offer learning tools for all levels.

The listing and links above are provided as a point of reference and is not intended to be exhaustive. The inclusion of a specific company or organization does not constitute a recommendation and the Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by the company or organization whose names appear on such lists.

Entertain

Here are some entertainment suggestions for you and your family:

Stay Connected with Loved Ones 

Skype.com

hangouts.google.com

Online Reading Resources

JSTOR, a digital library that normally requires a subscription, is putting 6,000 of its e-books and more than 150 journals online for free.

Scribd, an online library, containing e-books, audiobooks, and magazine articles, is making all of its content accessible for free for 30 days.

Virtual Library in TT

Take an Online University Course

Find free online courses being offered by universities such as Yale, Oxford and Harvard:

Class Central

Virtually visit the U.S. National Parks

Share America

Watch Professional Sports

Complimentary offerings will provide access to full length and condensed replays of all games from the 2019-20 season, as well as an expansive archive of classic games and content. Check terms and conditions.

Virtual Opera

Enjoy the opera online!

Caribbean Cooking Recipes 

Here are a few places to find Caribbean recipes to try out while staying home:

https://eatahfoodtt.com/

https://www.simplycaribbean.net/?v=920f83e594a1

https://caribbeanpot.com

Virtual Museum Tours

Now’s the time to appreciate many of the museums of the world online.

Virtual Tour of Mount Saint Benedict Abbey

The listing and links above are provided as a point of reference and is not intended to be exhaustive. The inclusion of a specific company or organization does not constitute a recommendation and the Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by the company or organization whose names appear on such lists.

Stay Active

Plan a physical activity or exercise break either by yourself, by joining an online class, or by setting up a time to be active online with your friends, family or colleagues.

One Yoga

Planet Fitness

Golds Gym

Live-Stream Workout Class Options

The listing and links above are provided as a point of reference and is not intended to be exhaustive. The inclusion of a specific company or organization does not constitute a recommendation and the Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by the company or organization whose names appear on such lists.