MINISTRY OF HEALTH’S COVID-19 UPDATE #109

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The Ministry of Health would like to advise the public that as at 12am on 27th June 2020:

THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS HAS EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN ITS COVID-19 POSITION SINCE THE PREVIOUS UPDATE. TWELVE (12) NEW CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19 HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. AS EXPLAINED IN OUR EARLIER PRESS RELEASE, ELEVEN (11) OF THESE PERSONS ARE CONTACTS OF THE CASE REPORTED ON 25TH JUNE AND RESULTED FROM A GATHERING WHEREBY THE PARTICIPANTS WERE LIKELY EXPOSED. THE OTHER CASE IS UNRELATED TO THE GROUP AND IS CURRENTLY UNDER HOSPITAL CARE. THE PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM HAS IMPLEMENTED AGRESSIVE CONTACT TRACING AND CONTROL MEASURES.

THIS INCREASES THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19 TO SIXTEEN (16). OF THE OTHER FOUR ACTIVE CASES, ONE IS A CONTACT OF AN EARLIER CONFIRMED CASE AND WAS IDENTIFIED THROUGH CONTACT TRACING; ONE CASE IS A RETURNING RESIDENT AND TWO CASES ARE LOCAL TRANSMISSIONS IDENTIFIED IN THE COMMUNITY.

THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CONFIRMED POSITIVE CASES INDENTIFIED IN THE TCI TO TWENTY-EIGHT (28). TCI CONTINUES TO RECORD NO NEW SUSPECTED CASES. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RECOVERIES FROM COVID-19 REMAINS AT TEN (10); AND THE TCI CONTINUES TO RECORD ONE COVID-19 DEATH.

FORTY-SIX (46) NEW TEST RESULTS HAVE BEEN RECORDED SINCE THE PREVIOUS UPDATE. RESULTS HAVE CONFIRMED THAT TWELVE (12) PERSONS WERE POSITIVE AND THIRTY-FOUR (34) WERE NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19. To date, the TCI has recorded a total of six hundred and eight (608) test results, with five hundred and eighty (580) confirmed to be negative and twenty-eight (28) positive confirmations. All persons confirmed not to have COVID-19, and any contacts, (if quarantined, will be removed from quarantine/observation status) are asked to continue following proper guidelines from the Ministry of Health.

THE NUMBER OF PERSONS IN QUARANTINE/OBSERVATION HAS INCREASED TO 171. This includes: Confirmed cases (16), contacts of confirmed cases (55), indirect contacts of confirmed cases (40) returning TCI residents (40), and other international travellers (20) – Forty-four (44) of these persons are currently being quarantined at a non-medical facility. Persons under observation/quarantine, that are not confirmed or suspected cases, are either not displaying symptoms or have not met the case definition.

THE INCREASE IN QUARANTINE/OBSERVATION NUMBERS IS AS A RESULT OF THE NEW CONFIRMED CASES AND THEIR CONTACTS BEING ADDED TO QUARANTINE/OBSERVATION STATUS. TO DATE, A TOTAL OF 895 individuals have been released from quarantine/observation status. 

LOCAL TESTING IS BEING CONDUCTED FOR PERSONS IN A RANGE OF CATEGORIES, INCLUDING FRONTLINE WORKERS, THOSE THAT MAY NEED TO TRAVEL LOCALLY TO OTHER ISLANDS, TRAVEL FOR TREATMENT ABROAD AND OTHER REASONS. THESE PERSONS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN QUARANTINE.

the public IS STRONGLY URGED TO FOLLOW THE HEALTH ADVICE AND GUIDELINES FROM THE MINISTRY, ESPECIALLY AS WE PROGRESS WITH THE PHASED REOPENING.

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 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. Wearing of masks required in public.
  3. Practicing social distancing.
  4. Prepare your home, office and other surroundings by following the advice of the Ministry of Health and other credible health agencies.
  5. Cover your coughs and sneezes (use your elbow or a tissue which should be properly disposed of).
  6. Keep frequently touched surfaces clean e.g. tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks.
  7. Protect those who are vulnerable in the community such as the elderly or those with underlying health conditions.
  8. Do not discriminate against persons who have or are suspected of having COVID-19.

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.