The Ministry of Health wishes to advise the general public that an additional positive Covid-19 case has been identified. This brings the total number of Covid-19 cases in the TCI to 15 since the start of the pandemic.

This individual was identified through contact tracing which was carried out by the Public Health team. This person who is a contact of a positive case, was earlier placed on quarantine in response to the positive results received over the weekend. The individual is being managed by the Public Health Team and does not require admission to the Hospital.

The Public Health team has continued to carry out their contact tracing activities including the identification of close contacts, testing and quarantine. In addition, screening of front-line workers is ongoing.

The general public are reminded to contact the health hotlines on 232 9444 or 333 0911 if you are experiencing the following symptoms; cough, fever, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, body aches or diarrhea.

Continue to protect yourself and others by;

• Washing your hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer (70% or more alcohol)
• 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, sinks and ATM machines.
• Stay home and call the Health Hotlines if you have symptoms of Covid-19
• Stay informed about Covid-19-visit the Ministry of Health’s website: https://www.gov.tc/moh/coronavirus/

On March 11, 2020, COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic by the WHO (World Health Organization) Director General. COVID-19 is a viral illness which spreads from person to person in droplet form.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Ministry of Health over the last few months has taken a series of steps with great effort to enhance the country’s capacity to address the threat of COVID-19, including developing in-country diagnostic capacity. On 26^th May, 2020 the National Public Health Laboratory officially commenced testing samples for COVID-19 using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) technology, the approved and gold standard method for the identification of COVID-19. In addition to this achievement, the Ministry saw the coming into effect enabling legislation, namely the Public and Environmental Health (Testing Of Covid-19) Regulations 2020 on 30^th April 2020. The regulations make provision whereby persons being tested for this disease shall receive tests from scientifically proven and approved methods. The legislation has made it an offence for agents to perform or offer testing without proper scrutiny and subsequent approval of the methods being used by the Ministry of Health.

The Ministry so far has received one application for testing from the Private Sector which is currently under review. As with many new and emerging diseases, manufacturers have scrambled to create and produce recognized testing devices to be used to identify the causative agent of COVID-19. Unfortunately, not all of the testing methodologies and devices being offered are on par with the recommended gold standard and this has resulted in a significant amount of false diagnoses across the world. The Ministry of Health advises that persons who subject themselves to testing by agents who have not received proper approval are doing so at their own risk and may receive a result which is incorrect and cannot be relied upon.

The Regulations require all persons who carry out testing for COVID-19 to have written approval from the Ministry of Health and to report the results of all testing to the Ministry in a timely manner. 

Further, as COVID-19 is a notifiable disease as specified in Turks And Caicos Islands Public and Environmental Health (Infectious And Notifiable Diseases) Notice
2020, the Ministry of Health must be duly notified of results from all Covid-19 testing.

All facilities wishing to engage in testing for Covid-19, whether locally or through overseas laboratories, should contact the Ministry of Health on 649-338-5161. The Ministry remains committed to safeguarding the health of the nation. 

For up to date information on Covid-19, please visit the Ministry of Health’s website on https://www.gov.tc/moh/coronavirus/.

Mr. Speaker, on Friday 19^th 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 25^th  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, 15^th 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.

The Ministry of Health would like to advise the public that as at 12am on 23^rd June 2020:

THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS HAS SEEN MINIMAL CHANGES IN ITS COVID-19 POSITION SINCE THE PREVIOUS UPDATE. THE TCI CONTINUES TO RECORD TWO (2) ACTIVE CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CONFIRMED POSITIVE CASES TO 14. ONE CONFIRMED CASE IS A RETURNING RESIDENT AND THE SECOND CASE IS LOCAL TRANSMISSION; CONTACT TRACING IS AGRESSIVELY UNDERWAY.

TCI CONTINUES TO RECORD NO NEW SUSPECTED CASES.

TWENTY-FOUR TEST RESULTS HAVE BEEN RECORDED, OVER THE PAST 24hrs, CONFIRMING ALL PERSONS TESTED WERE NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19. To date, the TCI has recorded a total of four hundred and forty (440) test results, with four hundred and twenty-six (426) confirmed to be negative and fourteen (14) 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 REMIANS AT 187. This includes: Confirmed cases (2), contacts of confirmed cases (13), returning TCI residents (152), and other international travellers (20) – Ninety (90) 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.

TO DATE, A TOTAL OF 783 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 TOTAL NUMBER OF RECOVERIES FROM COVID-19 STANDS AT TEN (10); AND THE TCI CONTINUES TO RECORD ONE COVID-19 DEATH.

the public IS 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. 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.

The Ministry of Health would like to advise the public that as at 12am on 22^nd June 2020:

THE TURKS AND CAICOS HAS SEEN MINIMAL CHANGES IN ITS COVID-19 POSITION OVER THE PAST 24hrs. THE TCI CONTINUES TO RECORD TWO (2) NEW CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CONFIRMED POSITIVE CASES TO 14. ONE CONFIRMED CASE IS A RETURNING RESIDENT AND THE SECOND CASE IS LOCAL TRANSMISSION; CONTACT TRACING IS AGRESSIVELY UNDERWAY.

TCI CONTINUES TO RECORD NO NEW SUSPECTED CASES.

THE NUMBER OF PERSONS IN QUARANTINE/OBSERVATION HAS DECREASED TO 187. This includes: Confirmed cases (2), contacts of confirmed cases (13), returning TCI residents (152), and other international travellers (20) – Ninety (90) 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 CHANGE IN QUARANTINE/OBSERVATION NUMBERS IS AS A RESULT OF THE QUARANTINE/OBSERVATION PERIOD HAVING EXPIRED FOR SEVERAL PERSONS (65), INCLUDING CONTACTS OF A CONFIRMED CASE – THESE CONTACTS WOULD HAVE RECEIVED A NEGATIVE TEST RESULT BEFORE BEING RELEASED FROM QUARANTINE; AND RETURNING RESIDENTS BEING ADDED TO QUARANTINE OBSERVATION STATUS. TO DATE, A TOTAL OF 783 individuals have been released from quarantine/observation status. 

NO NEW POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE RESULTS HAVE BEEN RECORDED SINCE THE PREVIOUS UPDATE. To date, the TCI has recorded a total of four hundred and sixteen (416) test results, with four hundred and two (402) confirmed to be negative and fourteen (14) 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.

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 TOTAL NUMBER OF RECOVERIES FROM COVID-19 STANDS AT TEN (10); AND THE TCI CONTINUES TO RECORD ONE COVID-19 DEATH.

the public IS 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. 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.