MINISTRY OF HEALTH’S COVID-19 UPDATE #47
The Ministry of Health would like to advise the public that as at 12am on 26th April, 2020:
THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS HAS SEEN SEVERAL CHANGES IN ITS COVID-19 POSITION SINCE THE PREVIOUS UPDATE AS AT 25th APRIL, 2020.
NO NEW COVID-19 DEATHS HAVE BEEN RECORDED.
CONFIRMED POSITIVE CASES HAVE INCREASED TO TWELVE (12). HOWEVER, THERE ARE NOW FIVE (5) CASES WHICH HAVE RECOVERED FROM COVID-19; with one confirmed positive case continuing to remain under hospital care.
THE NUMBER OF SUSPECTED CASES OF COVID-19 HAVE FALLEN to TWO (2). THE SUSPECTED CASES ARE TCI RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING RELEVANT SYMPTOMS WITHOUT A HISTORY OF CONTACT WITH CONFIRMED CASES. CONTACT TRACING IS CONTINUING; BOTH SUSPECTED CASES ARE CURRENTLY UNDER HOSPITAL CARE.
All individuals met the WHO case definition for a suspected case of COVID-19. Samples have been collected and sent for testing.
QUARANTINE/OBSERVATION NUMBERS HAVE DECREASED TO 52. This includes: the active confirmed cases (patients in the TCI that are currently infected) (5), contacts of confirmed cases (19), indirect contacts of confirmed cases (4), suspected cases (2), relatives/contacts of suspected cases (9), symptomatic persons not meeting the case definition and their contacts (1) and TCI residents returning from a country with local transmission and their contacts (12). Persons under observation/quarantine are either not displaying symptoms or have not met the case definition for COVID-19.
The Decrease in quarantine/observation numbers is as a result of TEST RESULTS CONFIRMING suspected cases AND SYMPTOMATIC PERSONS (NOT MEETING THE CASE DEFINITON) WERE NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19 – THESE PERSONS and their contacts HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM Quarantine/observation status. TO DATE, 500 individuals have been released from quarantine/observation status.
On 1st April, 2020 the case definition for COVID-19 was amended for TCI; a travel history is no longer needed to fit the criteria. Given the closure of the TCI borders it is likely that new case would be as a result of local transmission.
EIGHTEEN (18) NEW TEST RESULTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED; OF WHICH SEVENTEEN (17) CONFIRMED NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19 AND ONE (1) POSITIVE CONFIRMATION. To date, the TCI has received a total of one hundred and one (101) test results, with eighty-nine (89) 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 PUBLIC IS HEREBY REMINDED THAT LOCKDOWN MEASURES HAVE BEEN EXTENDED AND YOU ARE TO STAY AT HOME – ONLY LEAVING FOR ESSENTIAL TRAVEL UNDER THE SPECIFIED GUIDANCE.
The Ministry of Health ALSO takes this opportunity to remind the public of offenses committed under section 18 of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) 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.
