The general public is reminded that to date, the only laboratory within the TCI which has approval to carry out testing for Covid-19 is the National Public Health Laboratory. Under the Public and Environmental Health (Testing of COVID-19) Regulations 2020 which was published in the Turks and Caicos Islands Gazette on 1^st May 2020, volume 171 no. 30, the requirements for testing for Covid-19 are laid out including the application and approval process for facilities who may wish to test for Covid-19 in the Turks and Caicos Islands or to refer samples overseas for testing. To date, three applications have been received by the Ministry of Health and they are currently under review.

At this time, no lab other than the National Public Health Laboratory has completed all of the requirements for performing Covid-19 testing. The Testing Regulations set out the requirements which need to be met to establish testing outside of the National Public Health Laboratory. Such testing requirements are to ensure that all procedures are validated for in country testing and that all safety procedures are in place for the proper collection of specimens as well as processing, disposal, packaging and transportation, whether the tests are carried out locally or sent overseas for testing.

The testing for Covid-19 which is carried out by the National Public Health Laboratory is done via PCR testing which is the accepted gold standard and is carried out in accordance with the Testing Strategy which prioritizes testing samples for suspected cases of Covid-19, contacts of cases, persons traveling overseas for Treatment Abroad and Front-Line workers as outlined in the Testing Strategy.

Any testing which is carried out without the relevant written approval of the Ministry of Health is considered an offence in accordance with the Public and Environmental Health (Testing of COVID-19) Regulations 2020. A press release on this matter was previously published on 24.6.2020 and titled “UPDATE ON COVID-19 TESTING”.

The Primary Healthcare Clinic on the island of Grand Turk will be closed during the week of August 31^st to September 4^th, 2020. This is to facilitate contact tracing and other public health activities on the island of Grand Turk. During this time, residents are to visit the Cockburn Town Medical Centre if in need of medical attention.

Persons are reminded to contact the health hotlines if experiencing symptoms or signs of Covid-19 which may include fever, cough, shortness of breath, diarrhea, and loss of the sense of smell/taste. Please do not visit health care facilities if you have symptoms unless they are severe.

The Ministry of Health wishes to remind the general public to take the relevant precautions at all times to prevent the spread of Covid-19:

1. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds
2. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not accessible
3. Cover your cough/sneeze with your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of it
4. Wear face coverings in public
5. Practice social distancing of 6 feet
6. Stay home if you have symptoms of Covid-19 and call the health hotlines on 232 9444 or 333 0911
7. Avoid mass gatherings
8. Avoid non-essential travel including local, regional and international travel
9. Cooperate fully with contact tracing teams if you are contacted
10. Do not discriminate against persons suspected of having Covid-19
11. Stay informed-visit the Ministry of Health website for up to date information on https://www.gov.tc/moh/coronavirus/.

The Ministry of Health wishes to advise the public that as at 12am on 30^th August 2020:

Except in the case of emergencies, the National Public Health Laboratory currently operates a 6-day work week to allow for appropriate deep cleaning and other preparatory work to be done on Sundays. As such, regular activities are minimized or suspended during weekends to allow for such processes to be completed.

Taking the above into consideration, the Turks & Caicos Islands has experienced considerable changes to its COVID-19 position since the previous update. two (2) new cases of covid-19 have been identified. both cases are located in providenciales, and under investigation with no clear epidemiological link.

Fifty-two new recoveries have been recorded, bringing the total number of recoveries to two hundred (200). The number of active confirmed cases in the TCI has now decreaseD to three hundred and three (303). two (2) confirmed cases continue to be under hospital care. The Public Health Team continues to implement aggressive contact tracing and control measures in relation to all active cases.

total confirmed positive cases identified in the TCI to date now stands at five hundred and seven (507). No new covid-19 related deaths have been recorded since the previous update, which leaves the total number of covid-19 related deaths at three (3).

four (4) new test results have been recorded by the National Public Health Laboratory over the past 24hrs. these Results confirmed two (2) indivduals positive and two (2) negative for covid-19. To date, the TCI has recorded a total of two thousand four hundred and twenty-nine (2429) test results, with one thousand nine hundred and twenty-two (1922) confirmed to be negative and five hundred and seven (507) 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 decreased to 727. This includes: Confirmed cases (303), primary contacts of confirmed cases (409), secondary contacts of confirmed cases (15). 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 new confirmed cases and their contacts being added to quarantine/observation status; with the new recoveries, and persons whose quarantine periods have expired, being removed from quarantine/observation status. To date, a total of 1,567 individuals have been released from quarantine/observation status.

Local testing is being conducted for persons in a range of categories, according to the national testing strategy. This includes frontline workers and those who may need to travel for treatment abroad. These persons would not be reflected in quarantine numbers.

The public is strongly urged to follow all 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.

Due to the need for the Public Health Team to prioritize other important work in the interest of public health and safety, at this time the Ministry of Health will not be providing its usual full COVID-19 update with accompanying dashboard. We will be providing a slightly reduced update, and the full update and dashboard will be provided tomorrow. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

the Turks & Caicos Islands has seen an increase of covid-19 cases, with fifteen (15) new cases recorded since the previous update. one (1) new case was recorded in North Caicos, two (2) new cases in Grand Turk and the other twelve (12) new cases located in Providenciales.

two (2) confirmed cases continue to be under hospital care. total confirmed positive cases identified in the TCI to date now stands at five hundred and five (505). No new covid-19 related deaths have been recorded since the previous update, and the total number of covid-19 related deaths stands at three (3). The Public Health Team continues to implement aggressive contact tracing and control measures in relation to all active cases.

Fifty-eight (58) new test results have been recorded by the National Public Health Laboratory over the past 24hrs. these Results confirmed fifteen (15) indivduals positive and forty-three (43) negative for covid-19. To date, the TCI has recorded a total of two thousand four hundred and twenty-five (2425) test results, with one thousand nine hundred and twenty (1920) confirmed to be negative and five hundred and five (505) 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, according to the national testing strategy. This includes frontline workers and those who may need to travel for treatment abroad. These persons would not be reflected in quarantine numbers.

The public is strongly urged to follow all 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 remind the general public that only essential travel is permitted between the islands. This is in response to the outbreak of Covid-19 which is currently being experienced by the TCI. The public is reminded that persons should not travel between the islands unless it is absolutely essential. This is to prevent the further spread of Covid-19 between the islands.

The Ministry is updating its previous release to reflect the updated Regulations concerning restrictions on domestic travel which came into effect today 28^th August 2020.

Persons are only permitted to travel for the following reasons in accordance with Public And Environmental Health (Covid19)(Control Measures)(No. 2) Regulations 2020 (Legal Notice 91 Of 2020).

12 (1) From 28 August 2020 to 5:00 a.m. on 15 September 2020, no person shall offer for hire or seek to travel on any interisland private or commercial air or sea transport that is nonessential, provided that an airline or a boat shall reduce the number of persons traveling on interisland transportation to permit physical distancing.

(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1), travel for the purpose of banking, businesses under regulation 4(3)(q)- any water, electricity, telecommunications (including internet services) or other sector encompassing the provision of electronic communications including print and electronic media, doctor and hospital visits, funeral, international travel or continuing one’s journey to an island of destination upon arrival in the Islands, emergencies and cargo shall be considered essential travel.

(3) A member of the House of Assembly may travel from and return to another island, to attend a meeting of the House of Assembly in the island of Grand Turk.

13 (4) A person who intends to travel interisland shall before undertaking such travel apply to the Ministry of Health for travel authorisation by completing the Interisland Travel Authorisation Form set out on the Ministry of Health website and subject himself to a temperature check prior to his travel.

(5) Every person travelling interisland shall adhere to all health protocols relevant for domestic travel.

Applications should be submitted within 48 hours of travel and subject caption should include the intended date of travel and purpose. Application forms should be completed clearly for review and must indicate that the purpose of travel is essential in accordance with the Regulations, otherwise they will not be approved.

Local travel authorization forms can be located on the MOH website; https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mCXMgc5ugwScoyy_EH2iZ8fc6aqCMfQU/view and completed forms should be submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..