Trinidad

and Tobago is bracing for more coronavirus (COVID-19) cases following its

general elections on Monday.

Dr Avery Hinds, director of the epidemiology

division at the Ministry of Health, said an increase in cases is expected due

to increased movement and gatherings over the past few days.

He said there has been a steady increase of

cases each day, with a high of 22 being recorded.

The director said there have been breakouts

in clusters including schools, workplaces and gatherings.

“At this point in time we have identified that certain settings are the highest risk for transmission. We said that the home setting sometimes the workplace and definitely those close gatherings in bars and other gathering places, religious organisations, religious gatherings formal and informal, those are in the highest risk scenarios,” Dr Hinds said at a press conference this morning.

Of the 161 actives cases currently on the

twin-island republic, Dr Hinds said 64 per cent are linked to existing

clusters.

Over the election campaign period, which saw

the Keith Rowley-led government win another term, there were several reports of

COVID-19 protocols being breached.

Trinidad and Tobago has recorded 308 COVID-19

cases, resulting in eight deaths.