A motorcade of vintage cars lumbered through High Street, San Fernando, on Thursday afternoon, carrying pro-vaccination messages as part of City Week celebrations.
The motorcade took place hours before the country recorded 11 more COVID-19 deaths yesterday and 491 new infections.
The daily update from the Ministry of Health also showed that active cases stood at 8,176.
Hospitalisations on Friday stood at 503 people receiving care in the various facilities in the parallel health care system.
This meant that hospitalisations have hit their highest record for the pandemic to date.
The Intensive Care Unit at the Couva Hospital and Multi-Training Facility was at 100 per cent capacity with 26 patients.
Also yesterday, the Arima, St Ann’s, Augustus Long, Point Fortin, and St James Hospitals were all above 75 per cent occupancy.
Tobago’s ICU had just one bed left.
The T&T Classic, Antiques and Replicas Club president Ish Mungroo said because of soaring COVID-19 infections they had decided to use the vintage motorcade to spread awareness about the need for mass vaccinations.
“We want to encourage and inspire people to vaccinate. The purpose here is to get people to vaccinate, as this is the only way forward,” he said.
Greater San Fernando Chamber of Industry and Commerce president Kiran Singh meanwhile said the vintage motorcade was a welcome sight at a time when many people were suffering from pandemic stress.
Mayor Junia Regrello, who held up a placard reading “Vaccinate Today, Don’t Delay,” said the owners of the vehicles take good care of the cars and he was pleased to have the vintage car museum on display to bring vaccine awareness to the population.
Meanwhile, nationals who are fully vaccinated with Sinopharm will soon be able to travel to Canada.
Yesterday, the Government of Canada announced that effective November 30, the list of COVID-19 vaccines that travellers can receive to be considered fully vaccinated will be expanded to include Sinopharm, Sinovac, and COVAXIN.
All travellers seeking to enter Canada will also be required to be fully vaccinated unless exempt and provide a negative PCR test.
Antigen tests are not accepted.
Travellers are encouraged to check the Government of Canada website to view the eligibility requirements to enter Canada and meet all entry requirements before heading to the airport.
Earlier this month, the UK announced that the Sinopharm vaccine was added to its list of accepted vaccines.
This meant that nationals of Trinidad and Tobago who were fully vaccinated with Sinopharm would count as vaccinated by UK officials.
That announcement will take effect from next week Monday.
With reporting by Brent Pinheiro