The Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services (MoHASHS), in response to an US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory, is advising all local healthcare facilities, other local suppliers and the general public to discontinue the sale and/or use of any hand sanitizers manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico. The advisory results from information gathered that there is a potential presence of methanol (wood alcohol) – a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested – in these hand sanitizers.

The hand sanitizers in question have been identified below:

• All-Clean Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-002-01)
• Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-007-01)
• CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-008-04)
• Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-006-01)
• The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-010-10)
• CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-005-03)
• CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-009-01)
• CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-003-01)
• Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-001-01)

Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers and should not be used due to its toxic effects. Therefore, consumers who have been exposed to hand sanitizers containing methanol should seek immediate treatment. Immediate treatment is vital to reverse potential toxic effects of methanol poisoning. Symptoms associated with methanol exposure/poisoning include nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.

The MoHASHS therefore implores all local healthcare facilities and other local suppliers to:

1. Stop supplying the brands listed above immediately.
2. Notify your overseas suppliers.
3. Quarantine all remaining stock(s) of the identified brands for disposal by the Environmental Health Department.

Additionally, the MoHASHS wishes to implore members of the public not to flush or pour these products down the drain and recommends that consumers dispose of them immediately in separately labelled containers. Persons may contact the Environmental Health Department at 338-2142 for more information on how best to dispose of these hand sanitizers.

The MoHASHS further reminds consumers to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially:

• after going to the bathroom
• before eating
• after coughing, sneezing, or blowing one’s nose.

If soap and water are not readily available, the MoHASHS recommends that consumers use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% ethanol or 70 % isopropyl alcohol.

The MoHASHS’ top priority is to ensure public health safety and will therefore continue to monitor this situation as investigations continue.

For further information, please contact the MoHASHS at 338-3072.

The Ministry of Health would like to advise the public of the national COVID-19 outlook as at 12am on 29th June 2020. Please note that due to the recent and pertinent situation of the TCI recording its second COVID-19 related death, the Ministry of Health thought it would be in the best interest of the public to provide as much information as possible without breaching patient confidentiality. This necessitated the release of the dashboard at an irregular time.

THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS HAS SEEN SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT IN ITS COVID-19 POSITION SINCE THE PREVIOUS UPDATE; WITH THE TCI NOW TRAGICALLY RECORDING ITS SECOND COVID-19 RELATED DEATH. The patient was an elderly resident who was admitted, with other underlying medical conditions, for care at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre. The patient succumbed to illness on Monday, 29 June 2020. An official joint press statement will be issued from the Ministry of Health and the Turks & Caicos Islands Hospital

No new confirmed positive cases have been identified since the previous update. The number of active confirmed cases currently stands at twenty-eight (28). Two cases are currently under hospital care. The Public Health Team is continuing its implementation of aggressive contact tracing and control measures.

The total number of confirmed positive cases identified in the TCI currently stands at forty-one (41). TCI continues to record no new suspected cases; with the total number of recoveries from COVID-19 remaining at ten (10).

FIVE (5) TEST RESULTS HAVE BEEN RECORDED SINCE THE PREVIOUS UPDATE; CONFIRMING ALL PERSONS WERE NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19. To date, the TCI has recorded a total of six hundred and fifty-two (652) test results, with six hundred and elven (611) confirmed to be negative and forty-one (41) 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 200. This includes: Confirmed cases (28), contacts of confirmed cases (52), indirect contacts of confirmed cases (46) returning TCI residents (54), and other international travellers (20) – Forty-six (46) 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 CONTACTS OF CONFIRMED CASES 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.

The Ministry of Health would like to advise the public that as at 12am on 28^th June 2020:

THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS CONTINUES TO SEE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN ITS COVID-19 POSITION SINCE THE PREVIOUS UPDATE. THIRTEEN (13) NEW CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19 HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. THESE PERSONS ARE CONTACTS OF OTHER CONFIRMED CASES. THIS BRINGS THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE CASES OF COVID-19 TO TWENTY-NINE (29). TWO CASES ARE CURRENTLY UNDER HOSPITAL CARE. THE PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM HAS IMPLEMENTED AGRESSIVE CONTACT TRACING AND CONTROL MEASURES.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CONFIRMED POSITIVE CASES IDENTIFIED IN THE TCI CURRENTLY STANDS AT FORTY-ONE (41). 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.

THIRTY-NINE (39) TEST RESULTS HAVE BEEN RECORDED SINCE THE PREVIOUS UPDATE; CONFIRMING THAT THIRTEEN (13) PERSONS WERE POSITIVE AND TWENTY-SIX (26) WERE NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19. To date, the TCI has recorded a total of six hundred and forty-seven (647) test results, with six hundred and six (606) confirmed to be negative and forty-one (41) 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 196. This includes: Confirmed cases (29), contacts of confirmed cases (48), indirect contacts of confirmed cases (45) returning TCI residents (54), and other international travellers (20) – Forty-six (46) 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, AND RETURNING RESIDENTS 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.

The Ministry of Health would like to advise the public that as at 12am on 27^th 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 25^TH 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.

Within the last 24hrs and confirmed this morning we now have twelve (12) new cases of Covid-19. This brings the total number of cases for TCI to 28. These new cases represent 16 new cases which have been reported this week.

Eleven of the new cases are contacts of the case reported on 25th June 2020 and resulted from a gathering whereby the participants were likely exposed.

The other case is unrelated to the group and has been admitted to the Cheshire Hall Medical Center for ongoing management and support.

All of the new cases and their contacts have been quarantined and additional individuals will be quarantined following the ongoing contact tracing being carried out by Public Health.

The Public Health team has been fully mobilized in response to these additional cases with active contact tracing, testing and control measures being implemented.

It is to be expected that additional positive cases will be identified over the coming days however this will allow control measures to be rapidly implemented in order to prevent spread within the community.

The Public Health England team who are in country on a technical visit have also been engaged by the Ministry of Health and are providing support to the activities which are currently underway.

The National Public Health Laboratory is playing a critical role in supporting the tracing and testing efforts and within country testing, the Ministry of Health has been able to identify positive cases of COVID-19 to assist with the implementation of control measures.

The Ministry of Health is urging all residents to take all of the precautions in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and also encourages persons who may be experiencing symptoms or signs of COVID-19 to stay at home and contact the Health Hotlines.

Continue to protect yourself and others by; 

• Staying home if you are experiencing the following symptoms; cough, fever, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, body aches or diarrhea.
• Contact the health hotlines on 232 9444 or 333 0911 if you are experiencing symptoms or signs of COVID-19.
• Washing your hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Practicing social distancing at all times-keeping 6 feet from other persons
• Using face coverings when in public (must cover mouth and nose)
• Cover your coughs and sneezes (use your elbow or a tissue which should be properly disposed of)
• Keep frequently touched surfaces clean e.g.  tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks.
• Protect those who are vulnerable in the community such as the elderly or those with underlying health conditions
• Do not discriminate against persons who have or are suspected of having COVID-19
• Stay informed about Covid-19-visit the Ministry of Health’s website https://www.gov.tc/moh/coronavirus/.