The Ministry of Health is pleased to inform the general public that the Government is now in receipt of our first PCR analyzer; MIC qPCR Cycler- 4 Channel Unit. This machine was cleared out of customs on Friday afternoon, April 17, 2020. This analyzer is now in the Government's Public Health Laboratory. Virtual training for the Medical Laboratory

Technologists on operating, care, and maintenance of this particular PCR analyzer will immediately take place.

The PCR test is the gold standard throughout the world for testing and confirming the presence of the COVID-19 Coronavirus. It detects the genetic information of the virus, the RNA. That is only possible if the virus is present and someone is actively infected.”

In contrast to antibody testing, PCR tests directly detect the presence of the virus, rather than the presence of the body’s immune response, or antibodies, towards the virus. By detecting viral genetic material, which will be present in the body before antibodies form or symptoms of the disease are present, the tests can tell whether or not someone has the virus very early on.

“PCR is the most accurate and conclusive test for early detection of the virus in persons who are infected.

Testing with the COVID-19 PCR Analyzer is intended for use by trained clinical laboratory personnel specifically instructed and trained in the techniques of real-time PCR and in vitro diagnostic procedures.

Before the general use of this analyzer begins, the laboratory is mandated to perform all quality assurance measures; negative and positive controls must be run; validation of the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the testing system.

The first batch of patient samples tested on the PCR analyzer would also be sent to the respective reference laboratories for comparing and contrasting results, which is also a part of our quality assurance.

The PCR analyzer can perform 48 test per batch, each batch can be analyzed in the fast time of 25 minutes. Additional time would be required for sample extraction and preparation.

The Ministry of Health, is jubilant   that   the   Government   now   has   the   ability to immediately carry out additional testing on: persons currently in quarantine, contact persons of positive or suspected cases, persons in need of urgent medical care, and persons who may qualify to be placed in quarantine. In addition, the Ministry of Health is now in the position to roll out the strategy and protocols for wide spread community testing throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands, which will give Government and Health officials accurate information on the prevalence of this Coronavirus strain in our country.

It is my Government's mandate to fully form, and coordinate, local and international multi-sector partnerships with all key stakeholders, in our local fight of this global COVID-19 Pandemic. This includes private healthcare providers and private laboratories. To this end, my ministry is finalizing the regulations, protocols, and guidelines aimed at ensuring there are proper reporting and notifying, and that the necessary provisions are in place for ensuring the that all COVID-19 testing carried out for TCI residents are carried out in accordance with accepted international guidelines and quality standards, and that the relevant public health protocols are adhered to.”

As Minister of Health, I am committed to continued strengthening of the response to COVID-19. As such, the Ministry will be receiving more PCR analyzers, and is actively reviewing all COVID-19 Antibody Quick Test for procuring the most reliable testing system, for inclusion into our existing testing protocols.

The Ministry of Health will continue to update the general public on further developments in this area, and all other aspects of this COVID-19 Pandemic.

WE ALL MUST DO OUR PART, IF WE ARE TO BEAT THIS VIRUS. STAY SAFE!

HON. EDWIN ASTWOOD

MINISTER OF HEALTH, AGRICULTURE, SPORTS AND HUMAN SERVICES

The Ministry of Health would like to advise the public that as at 12am on 18^th April, 2020:

ONE COVID-19 DEATH CONTINUES TO BE RECORDED IN TCI.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CONFIRMED POSITIVE CASES REMAINS AT ELEVEN (11). Two confirmed positive cases are currently under hospital care.

THE NUMBER OF SUSPECTED CASES OF COVID-19 REMAIN AT TWO (2). THE TWO SUSPECTED CASES ARE TCI RESIDENTS WITH A POSSIBLE HISTORY OF CONTACT WITH CONFIRMED CASES.

The 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 INCREASED TO 55. This includes: The active confirmed cases (patients in the TCI that are currently infected) (9), contacts of confirmed cases (15), indirect contacts of confirmed cases (11), suspected cases (2), relatives/contacts of suspected cases (5), symptomatic persons not meeting the case definition and their contacts (13). Persons under observation/quarantine are either not displaying symptoms or have not meet the case definition for COVID-19.

The change in quarantine/observation numbers is as a result of the quarantine period expiring for several individuals, with them being removed from quarantine/observation status; and symptomatic persons not quite meeting the case definition and their contacts being added to quarantine/observation status.

On 1^st 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.

OVER THE PAST 24hrs, NO NEW TEST RESULTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. As it currently stands, the TCI has received a total of eighty-three (83) test results, with seventy-two (72) confirmed to be negative and eleven (11) 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 GUIDENCE.

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.

Ministry of Health responds to COVID testing being offered in the private sector.

The Ministry of Health has been made aware of information circulating on social media regarding testing for COVID-19 being offered by the Private Sector. The Ministry of Health has not received a formal application from any private medical facility to carry out testing for COVID-19. The testing currently carried out through the National Public Health Laboratory until local capacity is established, is being performed by the internationally accepted gold standard method (PCR) to identify SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19.

The Ministry of Health would like to advise the public that as at 12am on 17^th April, 2020:

ONE COVID-19 DEATH CONTINUES TO BE RECORDED IN TCI.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CONFIRMED POSITIVE CASES REMAINS AT ELEVEN (11). Two confirmed positive cases are currently under hospital care.

SINCE OUR LAST UPDATE AS AT 16 aPRIL, 2020, THE NUMBER OF SUSPECTED CASES OF COVID-19 HAS INCREASED SLIGHTLY TO TWO (2). THE NEW SUSPECTED CASES ARE TWO TCI RESIDENTS WITH A POSSIBLE HISTORY OF CONTACT WITH CONFIRMED CASES.

The 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 INCREASED TO 51. This includes: The active confirmed cases (patients in the TCI that are currently infected) (9), contacts of confirmed cases (15), indirect contacts of confirmed cases (11), suspected cases (2) persons under investigation (2), relatives/contacts of person under investigation/suspected cases (10), and TCI residents returning from overseas (2). Persons under observation/quarantine are either not displaying symptoms or have not meet the case definition for COVID-19.

The change in quarantine/observation numbers is as a result of the quarantine period expiring for several individuals, with them being removed from quarantine/observation status; and with the suspected cases, one person under investigation, and their contacts being added to quarantine/observation status.

On 1^st 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.

OVER THE PAST 24hrs, NO NEW TEST RESULTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. As it currently stands, the TCI has received a total of eighty-three (83) test results, with seventy-two (72) confirmed to be negative and eleven (11) 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 GUIDENCE.

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.

The Ministry of Health would like to reassure the general public that all COVID-19 related health advice sent out via text messages from our mobile service providers, Digicel and FLOW, and purporting to be from the Ministry of Health is in fact authentic advice from the Ministry. The Ministry and the wider TCIG continues to work along with all stakeholders to respond to this national public health emergency, and this includes the dissemination of text messages through our mobile service providers.

As such, the Ministry would like to ease public concern regarding a particular message which was disseminated recently, giving advice in relation to COVID-19 spread and pets. According to guidelines from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), as per their website, evidence has shown that it is possible for humans to infect animals with COVID-19. However, there has been no confirmations of passing the virus from animals to humans. As investigations continue and new information is being learnt about COVID-19, it is still recommended that pet owners continue to practice good hygiene when handling and interacting with their pets.

We love and care dearly for our pet companions, so let’s safeguard them and ourselves. The Ministry of Health trusts that this advice will help to ensure that pets and their owners continue to have a loving and healthy relationship that last beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Further advice will be added to the Ministry of Health’s Coronavirus website, www.gov.tc/moh/coronavirus/, in the coming days. For more information on the OIE’s guidance, please visit their website: https://www.oie.int/en/scientific-expertise/specific-information-and-recommendations/questions-and-answers-on-2019novel-coronavirus/

For general COVID-19 related health inquiries, you can contact the Ministry of Health via (649) 244-WASH (9274) or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or through any of our Health Promotions & Advocacy Unit social media accounts. For the latest news, information and advice from the Ministry of Health please visit our Coronavirus website, www.gov.tc/moh/coronavirus/. If you are experiencing symptoms or have a COVID-19 related emergency, then please call our Coronavirus Hotline via (649) 333-0911 and (649) 232-9444. We also reemphasize the importance of staying home during this time of lockdown, please help our frontline essential workers by all of us doing our part.