The 2020 edition of the Tobago Jazz Experience has been cancelled. In addition, the 95th Annual Buccoo Goat and Crab Festival, which is a staple of the Easter weekend has been postponed.

These decisions follow the announcement on March 12th that a 52-year-old man, who arrived from Switzerland, was Trinidad and Tobago’s first confirmed case of COVID-19.

The individual arrived in Trinidad on March 9th and exhibited symptoms on March 11th. The relevant protocols have been followed and containment is the focus at this time.

Other islands in the Caribbean region with reported COVID-19 cases include the Dominican Republic, Martinique, Guyana, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Cuba and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Division of Tourism, Culture and Transportation also issued a release stating cruise ship calls have been suspended.

“The Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago has taken a decision to suspend all cruise ship calls to Trinidad and Tobago for the rest of the 2019/2020 cruise season, which ends on April 24th,” the release stated.

The decision will affect a total of twelve ships, seven of which were scheduled to call at Charlotteville and Scarborough in Tobago.