NEWS
CMO: People getting complacent with stay-at-home regulations
Six or seven days without a confirmed positive covid19 case may have made some people complacent about the spread of the disease, Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram said Thursday. “I think it’s way too early to have that sort of behaviour occurring so we need to tighten up and go into a more rigid (position). I know it is difficult for everyone but we have to stay the course. Hold our positions as long as possible,” he said at the daily covid19 media briefing. Without having physical data on mobility, Parasram said he believed the majority of the population, even when out and about, were adhering to social distancing. However, there was a small group of people not complying and health officials would have drafted a regulation a few days ago to tighten the way the population moves. Read more here
Food prices increase at groceries
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an impact on the global supply of goods and services, consumers are already facing increased prices at the groceries and are now being told to brace for more increases. Confirming this was Supermarket Association of T&T (SATT) president Rajiv Diptee yesterday. “People will always assume that it’s the supermarkets raising the prices, but there have been a plethora of price increases from suppliers,” Diptee said. He pointed out that the supermarkets can normally access discounts or specials on certain items from suppliers, but with COVID-19 causing major disruptions in international supply chains this has been eliminated. Citizens have been complaining to Guardian Media about the increases in grocery bills and unsavoury price gouging during the COVID measures. Read more here
POLITICS
Sinanan: Cross Crossing bridge on hold due to covid19
WORK on Bridge B1/35, at Southern Main Road in San Fernando (Cross Crossing) was stopped a month ago by the Works and Transport Ministry due to the covid19 pandemic. According to Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan, all construction in the country has been temporarily stopped as a result of restrictions implemented to minimise the spread of the virus. Once things begin to normalise in the country, post covid19, permission will be given by the ministry to resume construction work on several projects including the bridge at Cross Crossing. “The construction of the bridge started at the end of 2018 and should be completed within six weeks of recommencement of work,” Sinanan told Newsday. This project by the National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (NIDCO) was expected to be completed last October. Read more here
BUSINESS
Small pharmacies complain about ‘patchy’ supplies
Some small pharmacies in less commercial areas have complained that suppliers are favouring large companies in the distribution of goods, including vitamins and immune boosters, which they view as a “dishonest” attempt to take advantage of consumers under the current pandemic conditions. Read more here
REGIONAL
PPP frustrating recount process
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has made significant strides in finalising the operational plan for the national recount; and is reportedly one step closer to finalising a draft order for the plan to take effect; but the process continues to be frustrated by opposition-nominated commissioners, who are bent on reviving old issues that have long been decided on. This is according to Vincent Alexander – a government nominated elections commissioner. On Thursday, after exiting a meeting of the elections commission, which was held for more than seven hours, Alexander expressed his frustration. Read more here
Dry cry - Manchester farmers losing millions to drought amid COVID-19 fallout
Farmers in Manchester are battling on two fronts – a near five-month drought that has ravaged crops, leaving them reeling from millions of dollars in losses made worse by the closure of dozens of large hotels from the impact of COVID-19. In Christiana, for example, famed for its usually high production of Irish potatoes and sweet peppers, the ground was scorched by the heat of the afternoon sun. And even though the Meteorological Sevice of Jamaica has forecast that farmers may see some relief, starting in May, when consistently wet weather is expected, it may be too late for cultivators to find redemption. “The best hope is really when the rainy season starts, so our biggest hope for the farmers is to get over the last of this dry season,” Evan Thompson, who manages the Weather Branch of the Met Service, told The Gleaner last night. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Coronavirus: Disinfectant firm issues warning after Trump comments
A leading disinfectant producer has issued a strong warning not to use its products on the human body after Donald Trump suggested they could potentially be used to treat coronavirus. Reckitt Benckiser, which owns Lysol and Dettol, said "under no circumstance" should its products be injected or ingested. President Trump faces a backlash over his comments at a briefing on Thursday. Disinfectants are hazardous substances and can be poisonous if ingested. Even external exposure can be dangerous to the skin, eyes and respiratory system. Read more here
Wuhan weathered Covid-19. But can it survive what comes next?
It was just three months ago that Mr Wang was paying the workers at his Wuhan restaurant their Chinese New Year bonuses and celebrating his third year in business. Now, after 76 days under lockdown in the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, he has been left mentally and financially drained, with his business facing ruin. The lockdown on Wuhan was lifted on April 8. But two weeks later Wang's restaurant is still not allowed to fully reopen, due to restrictions on eat-in dining. Despite having no business, he's still had to pay three months rent -- worth almost $8,500 (60,000 yuan). With fears rising of a second wave of infections which could cause even more financial pain across China, Wang said he has no choice but to close shop. Read more here
24th April 2020