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The number of positive cases of the Coronavirus has been increased to 139.

Two new cases were confirmed yesterday.

Yesterday afternoon the Ministry of Health said one of the cases is imported.

It is said the patient recently returned from Canada.

The origin of the second infection is being investigated.

The ministry said the total number of samples submitted to the Caribbean Public Health Agency and the University of the West Indies for testing is 6,174.

There are now 7 patients at the Caura Hospital and 124 people have been discharged.

In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of National Security said in the past week 2 large groups of nationals returned from Grenada, and Canada.

Most of the returnees are said to be in quarantine at the expense of the state.

The Ministry said 4 persons who recently returned tested positive, 3 from Grenada and 1 from the United States.

The MET office says tropical depression number seven is showing more organization this morning and is expected to become a tropical storm later today.

It says at 5 o’clock this morning, the system was located at approximately 2065 km east of the Windward Islands, centered near 10.0 north, 42.4 west

The system is moving west-northwest at 19 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h.

The MET office says a further increase in forward speed is expected and westward motion should continue through to Friday.

It says some strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days.

Current analyses suggest that on its current track, the center of the system is forecast to reach the southern Windward Islands by Saturday morning and is expected to move just north of Trinidad and Tobago.

The body of a baby estimated to be about 3 days old has been found at the landfill in Claxton Bay.

Scavengers at the Forrest Park Landfill found the body of the baby among garbage on Monday.

Reports say the find at the landfill was made shortly before midday.

It is said at around 11:30 police officers performing extra duties at the landfill were alerted by a security officer.

The officers found the child’s body in a brown cardboard box in a part of the landfill called “The Pit.”

Officers of the Couva CID responded and the body was removed to the San Fernando Mortuary.

A Venezuelan national is being sought by police in connection with an incident, which has a Claxton Bay man hospitalised.

According to the TTPS, the victim was slashed across the face and neck during an altercation with the foreigner last Sunday night.

Police suspect a dispute over narcotics led to the attack.

The incident reportedly occurred around 11.45pm at Junon Street, Carapichaima.

Police were told that the victim and a Venezuelan man were seen arguing on the street.

During the heated exchange the Venezuelan male took a glass bottle and smashed it on the victim’s face.

He then slashed the victim on his neck with the broken bottle.

The Venezuelan man ran off and escaped.

Witnesses assisted the victim and took him to the Couva District Health Facility.

Police are investigating the gun attack on radio announcer Andy Williams.

He was shot 4 times by 2 men who are said to have confronted him in the garage of his home in Edinburgh 500 yesterday morning.

Forty-three-year-old Mr. Williams was hit in the back and arm.

The men fled the scene.

Relatives are said to have heard the explosions and took Mr. Williams to the Chaguanas District Health Facility.

He was treated and transferred to a hospital.

Mr. Williams was up to yesterday in a stable condition.

Police are searching for a motive behind the shooting.

A reminder from Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh to the public that gatherings should be limited to no more than 25 persons at any given time.

The Minister yesterday stressed that this must be adhered to in order to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.

He said bars and beaches still fall in that bracket.

However, the Minister noted that while places of worship may exceed that number he is confident that persons will maintain physical distancing.

On the issue of bars, Police Commissioner Gary Griffith warned that the regulation on closing times would be upheld.

As of yesterday bars and pubs reverted to a shut off time of 10pm.

Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago stuck or living in foreign territories will not be allowed to vote on August 10^th.

The Elections and Boundaries Commission says categorically there is no provision in the constitution for persons to vote while outside of the country.

With the Electorate set to go to the polls on August 10^th scores of individuals remain stuck in foreign lands due to the COVID-19 pandemic border closures.

The question was addressed by Chief Elections Officer Mrs Fern Narcis-Scope during a webinar series hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Publishers and Broadcasters Association yesterday.

However Mrs Narcis-Scope revealed that persons who are quarantined would be treated as special voters.

The CEO added that the Commission went further to ensure that no one, not even those warded as a COVID-19 patients will be dis-enfranchised.  

The EBC has said just over a million persons are eligible to vote.

Nineteen parties have filed nomination documents for their candidates who will be contesting the 41 seats in the Parliament.

The EBC says there are 150 candidates in the race and among them 4 independents.