MINISTRY OF HEALTH’S COVID-19 UPDATE #59

The Ministry of Health would like to advise the public that as at 12am on 8th May, 2020:

THE TCI CONTINUES TO SEE SOME CHANGE IN ITS COVID-19 POSITION.

NO NEW COVID-19 DEATHS HAVE BEEN RECORDED.

CONFIRMED POSITIVE CASES REMAIN AT TWELVE (12), WITH EIGHT (8) CASES HAVING RECOVERED FROM COVID-19.

THE NUMBER OF SUSPECTED CASES OF COVID-19 HAS INCREASED TO six (6). THE SUSPECTED CASES ARE TCI RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING RELEVANT SYMPTOMS WITHOUT A HISTORY OF CONTACT WITH CONFIRMED CASES. ONE SUSPECTED CASE IS STILL HOSPITALIZED; ONE SUSPECTED CASE HAS PASSED AWAY. CONTACT TRACING FOR ALL CASES ARE UNDERWAY.

The current suspected cases met the WHO case definition for a suspected case of COVID-19. Samples have been collected and sent for testing.

THE QUARANTINE/OBSERVATION NUMBERS HAVE DECREASED TO 39. This includes: the active confirmed cases (patients in the TCI that are currently infected) (2), contacts of confirmed cases (7), suspected cases (5), relatives/contacts of suspected cases (22), symptomatic persons not meeting the case definition and their contacts (1), and travellers and their contacts (2). Persons under observation/quarantine, that are not confirmed or suspected cases, are either not displaying symptoms or have not met the case definition for COVID-19.

THE CHANGE IN QUARANTINE/OBSERVATION NUMBERS IS PRIMARILY A RESULT OF CONTACT TRACING; AND TEST RESULTS RECEIVED WHICH CONFIRMED THAT PERSONS WERE NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19, AND THESE INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR CONTACTS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM QUARANTINE/OBSERVATION STATUS. TO DATE, A TOTAL OF 563 individuals have been released from quarantine/observation status.

OVER THE PAST 24hrs, TWO TEST RESULTS WERE RECEIVED CONFIRMING THAT INDIVIDUALS WERE NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19. To date, the TCI has received a total of one hundred and eleven (111) test results, with ninety-nine (99) confirmed to be negative and twelve (12) positive confirmations. Persons confirmed not to have COVID-19, and their contacts, were moved from quarantined status and asked to continue following proper guidelines from the Ministry of Health. Those cases confirmed positive are in isolation with contact tracing aggressively continuing.

The Ministry of Health takes this opportunity to remind the public of offenses committed under section 27 of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (nO.4) Regulations 2020 in regard to false Statements/information. You do not have to be the originator of the statement/information in order to be charged under the law.

Please note the following definitions:

  • A suspected person is someone who meets the case definition as outlined by WHO and CARPHA - and is experiencing symptoms.
  • A person in quarantine is an individual on island who has come from infected country(ies) or may have come in proximity to suspected or confirmed cases - and have not exhibited symptoms.

Let's continue to reduce the risk by: 1. Washing our hands for 20secs or more 2. Practicing social distancing 3. Prepare your home, office and other surroundings by following the advice of the Ministry of Health and other credible health agencies.

For more information, please visit the Ministry of Health website, www.gov.tc/moh/coronavirus; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; or call our hotline numbers, (649) 232-9444 and (649) 333-0911, if you or someone you know has symptoms or signs of COVID-19.