MINISTER OF HEALTH, AGRICULTURE, SPORTS, & HUMAN SERVICES MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Latest News

Mr. Speaker, on Friday 19th June 2020, the National Public Health Laboratory reported two new cases of Covid-19. These were the first reported positive cases of Covid-19 since 25th  April 2020, some seven weeks ago, and brings the total number of Positive cases for the TCI to 14, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr. Speaker, both individuals are presently in quarantined and neither has been hospitalized. One of the persons who tested positive is a returning resident who was already in quarantine at the time of the test, as per the requirements for returning residents from overseas.

The second individual, Mr. Speaker, was identified in the community and was placed in quarantine pending the test results. Contact tracing including quarantine and testing of close contacts is being undertaken by the Public Health Team.

The general public is advised that as a part of the Ministry of Health’s protocols, all returning residents are being tested prior to being released from quarantine.

National Public Health Laboratory

Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Health, through the National Public Health Laboratory, has been carrying out wider testing following the priority sequence of; suspected cases, contacts of cases, treatment abroad patients, domestic travellers, returning residents from regional and international countries, and frontline workers.

Testing

Mr. Speaker, as of 18th June, 2020, 236 tests completed locally, in the National Public Health Laboratory, Providenciales. The National Testing Strategy along with its budget has been approved in cabinet, and is being immediately implemented.

Mr. Speaker, I do not understand why persons would persons misrepresent the facts and state that the Minister, and persons in the Ministry of Health are not speaking the truth about testing being conducted in the Islands. In addition, why are they hoping that the Ministry fails in protecting and mitigating against COVID-19. The Coronavirus is no respecter of persons, it does not care if a person is PDM or PNP, Methodist or Baptiste, local or foreigner. It only cares about biology and infectivity.There is also a move to villainize the Minister of Health and the Ministry, and to turn the public against us, why Mr. Speaker ?

Recruitment of personnel

Mr. Speaker, shortlisting and interviews concluded for additional Medical Technologists, which would exponentially increase the daily testing output of the Laboratory.

Arrival of Cuban Health Professionals

Mr. Speaker, On Monday, 15th June, the Cuban contingent of 20 medical professionals were welcomed into the TCI. These individuals are currently in quarantine and are being acclimated to the TCI. There has already been engagement with TCI Hospital virtually to orientate the group to the hospitals and will also include assessment and training on the hospitals’ systems and structures.

I want all to pay attention to which country is sending health personnel to all parts of the world, lending assistance to countries. It is not the USA, not Japan, not Germany, not Canada, it is Cuba, our Caribbean neighbour.

Arrival of Public Health England (PHE)

Mr. Speaker, Professor Ian Cumming and Dr Autilia Newton from Public Health England have arrived in country and will be providing technical support to the Ministry of Health with specific focus on public health response, laboratory testing and surveillance/epidemiology and will also give support to the team from Cuba in integrating into the Hospital.

I want to thank them for assisting the TCI from the beginning in particular with COVID-19 technical assistance - sourcing hard to obtain supplies, and sourcing of staff.

Gas Installation

Mr. Speaker, the Electrical and Gas piping works has commenced to the Outpatient Department of the Cheshire Hall Medical Center. The contract for the purchase and installation for the Gas Generator has already been done. It has to now be shipped to Miami and then onto Providenciales, followed by installation.

National Epidemiology Research Unit

Mr. Speaker, NERU continues to perform its ongoing collection and analysis of national data on COVID 19.

  • Reports are produced on a daily basis for update of the national dashboard, and on a weekly basis for regional and international update (through the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization). As of June 22nd, situation report #102 was shared locally and situation report #9 was shared regionally/internationally.
  • NERU is also working in collaboration with other health professionals and CITU on the development of an online tool for COVID-19 testing registration. The actual development of the system is being outsourced. Once functional the website will allow for online test registration, (through the provision of key demographic and risk information) and scheduling.

Primary Health Care Department

Mr. Speaker, the department continues to perform contact tracing of suspected cases and surveillance of severe acute respiratory illness.

  • The clinics continue to operate on shortened hours, while practicing social distancing and other safe hygiene practices for staff and clients.
  • The Migrant Health Unit in Provo is open and is operating smoothly. There is still some planning going on for the opening of the unit in Grand Turk which is expected to be in operation this week.
  • The department continues to monitor the clients in the quarantine facilities with daily visits. Swabbing of persons wishing to return to other islands within the TCI from Provo is ongoing.
  • Swabbing of frontline workers from across government is ongoing.

Health Policy and Planning

Mr. Speaker, the major activities of this unit during this stage of the pandemic, are focused primarily on the Ministry’s emergency response planning efforts for reopening of borders to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19 within the TCI.

  • The unit assisted with the formulation and finalization of various SOPs and guidelines for the various sectors in line with the Ministry’s public health policies and strategies for COVID-19.
  • Reviewed and provided feedback on several COVID-19 related documents including the testing strategy and cabinet papers for the phased reopening of TCI.
  • Assisted in the formulation and finalization of various SOPs for phased reopening and in particular the tourism sector including consultations with different stakeholder groups.

Guidelines

Mr. Speaker, additional SOPs and guidelines have been drafted for restaurants and bars, smaller hotels/villas/guest houses/inns, spas, recreational sports (scuba diving)-updated, TCI ports of entry (updated). Many of these documents are up loaded on the MOH website and any additional SOPs will be uploaded shortly. It is being suggested that each business area come together and form committees to draft their reopening guidelines which will be submitted to MOH for review and approval.

Compliance and Enforcement

Mr. Speaker, as work continues in this area of compliance and enforcement, there is a need to increase staff capacity. This has been given priority with the HR Department to provide the Ministry of Health with the additional staff needed. The job description has already been drawn up to guide the staff. It is anticipated that these individuals would be in place for July.

Returning Residents and Quarantine Facilities

Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Tourism continue to work together with regard to returning residents. It is expected that additional flights will arrive from the US and other locations soon. The utilization of several facilities is in place in Providenciales. Due to the volume of residents returning in a relatively short time, persons who can safely quarantine at home will be allowed to do so under the supervision of the Public Health Team. With the demands on this group of health professionals, the much needed additional public health manpower has been approved, and recruitment to commenced immediately.

Mr. Speaker, we urge all our returning residents to strictly adhere to the established guidelines for the 14 days quarantine, both those quarantined at the facilities and those at home. It only takes one infected person disregarding the guidelines to re-infect the population of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Mr. Speaker, our people here in the TCI have collectively done an excellent job, adhering to the protocols and guidelines put in p lace by the government, but we must not let our guard down at this time, and we all must insist that our friends and family returning home follow our lead in getting our country COVID-19 FREE again.

Delivered by the Honourable Edwin Astwood, Minister of Health, Agriculture, Sports & Human Services, in the House of Assembly on 23 June, 2020.