Trinidad and Tobago close to activating healthcare system backup plans Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh - Ministry of Health AS the number of covid19 cases continues to rise, so do the chances of the Health Ministry needing to activate its backup plans for the parallel healthcare system. On Thursday, the ministry recorded 291 new cases and two more deaths. There are now 3,236 active cases and the death toll is 191. A total of 303 patients are in hospital. On Wednesday morning, principal medical officer of institutions Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards said, "There are currently 542 beds available with supporting staff. If things continue as they are, we will have 226 spaces available, which gives us seven days to full occupancy.”