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Police are probing 2 murders, 1 in Biche and the other in Blanchisseuse.

The deceased have since been identified as Sherma Francis and Barry Boxhill.

Fifty-four-year-old Ms. Francis was killed in a drive by shooting near the Charuma Recreational Ground last Saturday night.

Reports say shortly after midnight she was liming with a group of friends when a vehicle passed by.

Shots were fired from within and Ms. Francis was hit in the abdomen.

She was taken to hospital where he died while undergoing emergency treatment.

Eyewitnesses told police there was an argument involving a group of men and some of the people with whom Ms. Francis was liming.

They told investigators the men left, promising to return.

In the second incident, the decomposing body of Barry Boxhill was found down a precipice in Blanchisseuse.

That incident occurred on Saturday.

Police say a passer-by detected a stench and, upon investigating, saw Mr. Boxhill’s body down the precipice in an area known as Christophene Field.

He had a bullet wound to the head.

The discovery was made around 4 p.m.

Police were contacted and officers of the Northern Division and the Homicide Bureau responded.

With the assistance of personnel from the Defense Force, police were able to remove the body.

Mr. Boxhill lived at Bon Air Gardens, Arouca.

Police Commissioner Gary Griffith has been tested for the coronavirus.

His result has come back negative.

The test was conducted over the weekend days after the Commissioner held a meeting with someone who was a secondary contact of another person suspected of being positive.

Two police officers are now confirmed positive for the virus.

According to Commissioner Griffith, the police service has been the frontline State agency since the COVID pandemic worsened in March this year.

He says this shows how susceptible the TTPS is due to interactions with the public.

Commissioner Griffith says since the closure of the borders men and women of the service have been out there ensuring that members of the public adhere to the rules.

In a release the Commissioner said this morning, officers have continued with their anti crime measures and have been successful, especially during the lockdown period.

He referred to the weekend seizure of 15 firearms and a wide assortment of ammunition at different locations.

The Commissioner said the interactions expose officers to persons with the virus.

He said his officers have been told to be very careful now that there are no longer just imported cases.

He said in the past 10 days the TTPS had temporarily close the Police Administration Building, the old police headquarters, Riverside Plaza, and the Moruga and Barrackpore stations.

They were closed for sanitisation after persons tested positive for COVID-19.

Prison Commissioner Dennis Pulchan says there will be no transfer of officers at this time.

This morning Commissioner Pulchan told Newscenter 5 given the recent spike in COVID-19 cases across the country that is not a practical move.

On Friday, President of the Prison Officers Association Cerron Richards expressed concern for what he described as mass transfers scheduled.

Today Mr. Pulchan says he does not understand Mr. Richards’ position.

He also noted this morning that 1 officer was infected; measures to stop the spread have been increased.

Attempts to contact the Prison Officers Association this morning were unsuccessful.

The Health Minister says it is wrong to believe that the coronavirus is raging in Trinidad and Tobago.

Terrence Deyalsingh this morning sought to shut down misinformation and rumors about the state of the virus in the country.

He said the language being used must be tempered.

But there are reports that several primary schools are being advised to close their doors for sanitization.

The Montrose and Irie Village Government Primary Schools have been closed for the exercise after reported exposures.

There is also confirmation that the St Jude’s School for Girls in Belmont has also recorded 2 infections, a member of staff and a resident.

Minister Deyalsingh is also appealing to members of the public to help protect health care workers by changing behaviors.

He feels members of the public need to change their mindset at this time.

The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association is demanding a change to the date of the Secondary Entrance Assessment.

The Ministry of Education has put the date at August 20^th.

However, TTUTA President Antonia De Frietas has suggested the date be moved to October.

She says this would give S.E.A. students more time to prepare.

Mrs. De Freitas also says with the recent spikes in COVID-19 infections and the closure of 3 schools, teachers are very concerned.

Meanwhile, National Primary School Principals Association sees no reasons to change the S.E.A date.

President Lance Mottley says these incidents did not warrant the stopping of the examination.

Yesterday Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said no decision has been made regarding the closure of schools.

He was speaking at the COVID-19 press conference.

The woman found dead in Paramin is identified as Alana Mason.

She was 37-years-old.

The find was made yesterday at La Finette Road.

Residents say they found the body face down near a river at around 10.45.

Police were contacted.

Officers of the Western Division Emergency Response Patrol responded.

According to police the body had wounds to the face and hands and a knife was found nearby.