Turks and Caicos, April 5, 2020: It is with great sadness that I announce that a patient, from the Turks and Caicos Islands Caicos Cheshire Hall Medical Center, who tested positive for COVID19, unfortunately died last night, Saturday April 4, 2020. I offer my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the patient, and also to the persons in the community who knew him well.

The patient was a middle age male, with a pre-existing medical condition. This is a painful reminder that although 80% of those infected will do well, those with underlying health conditions, and those in certain risk groups are more vulnerable to the disease and will suffer more severe symptoms and outcomes.

In deference to the feelings of the family, the Ministry of Health delayed the public release of this information so that the family would have ample time to receive and process this information.

While this is a sad moment for all of us, we can only imagine how difficult this must be for the family. I urge everyone to take a humanistic approach and respect patient confidentiality, and the family' s right to privacy at this time. Please allow them to mourn in peace.

I would like to thank the medical team who acted professionally, and provided the highest possible level of care to this patient, and who continues to do so for all other patients.

This sad news underscores the need to remind the public to remain calm and to conscientiously adhere to all the public health recommendations of the Ministry of Health relating to; personal hygiene, social distancing, sanitization of frequently used surfaces, quarantine measures and other advisories outlined by the Ministry.

I assure you all, that together we have the power to overcome this global health challenge. We all must do our part to prevent the spread of this virus.

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JOINT PRESS RELEASE FROM TCI HOSPITAL AND TCI GOVERNMENT

(Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Sunday, 5 April, 2020): The Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital and Ministry of Health are saddened to advise that a confirmed COVID-19 patient who was under clinical management and isolation at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre has passed away.

The middle-aged male resident was admitted to the facility on March 21, 2020 in critical condition and had been receiving aggressive respiratory care. He succumbed to his illness shortly before midnight on Saturday, April 04, 2020.

He was the second person in the Turks and Caicos Islands diagnosed with COVID-19 and is now the country’s first confirmed COVID-19 related death. Prior to hospital admission, he had travelled to the United States and later developed fever and respiratory symptoms. Due to patient confidentiality no further details can be released. 

The family of the deceased has been formally notified. TCI Hospital and the Ministry of Health wishes to extend our deepest condolences to the grieving family on the unfortunate loss of their loved one.

Members of the general public are urged to adhere to the current national curfew and COVID-19 related legislation. Persons should also practice proper hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and social distancing. There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 and the nation’s best defense to prevent and suppress the spread of the infection at the moment is collective action and compliance with the advice which has been shared by the Ministry of Health.

JOINT PRESS RELEASE FROM TCI HOSPITAL AND TCI GOVERNMENT

(Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Sunday, 5 April, 2020): The Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital wishes to advise members of the general public that there were two additional persons suspected of having COVID-19 admitted to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre over the past 48 hours.

On April 3rd 2020, a male resident in his 30’s presented with severe acute respiratory infection and had no recent travel history. On April 4th 2020, a female resident in her 20’s also presented with severe acute respiratory infection and met the case definition of suspected COVID-19. She had recently travelled to the United Kingdom. 

Both persons were transported to the emergency department via ambulance and are currently receiving supportive clinical care. The public health team was notified and samples were collected for overseas testing. Due to patient confidentiality no further details can be provided. A follow-up press release will be issued with an update on the results once available and the patients have been notified. 

The Turks and Caicos Islands Government - Ministry of Health Team commenced immediate contact tracing and persons identified in the process are required to undergo quarantine and/or screening as a precautionary measure. 

To date, there are three (3) persons suspected of COVID-19 under isolation and clinical management at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre.

Given the global COVID-19 pandemic, clinicians within the emergency department continue to operate with enhanced clinical suspicion in the screening and detection of persons who meet the latest case definition for COVID-19. 

Home quarantine is also an option utilized globally and locally for persons who are suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 under the appropriate circumstances, which can include the presence of mild symptoms who do not require medical care.

The Ministry of Health would like to advise the public that as at 12am on 4^th April, 2020:

TCI CONTINUES TO RECORD NO NEW CASES SINCE OUR UPDATE AS AT 3^rd APRIL, 2020. 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.

TCI suspected cases of COVID-19 increased to twelve (12): The twelve suspected cases are TCI residents returning from countries with local transmission, contacts of a confirmed case, persons presenting with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI), and persons experiencing relevant symptoms but no travel history. Two suspected cases continue to remain under hospital care and one suspected case passed away on 3^rd April, 2020.

All twelve persons had met the WHO case definition for a suspected case of COVID-19, those currently in quarantine/observation are experiencing symptoms. Samples have been collected and sent for testing, and we are currently awaiting result

The increase in suspected cases is as a result of persons (2) who are experiencing relevant symptoms but with no travel history. Both individuals met the case definition for COVID-19. And contact tracing is underway.

Persons under quarantine/observation (288)—The confirmed cases (5), contacts of a confirmed case (17), possible contact of a confirmed case (10), the suspected cases (11), symptomatic person/s under investigation (1), relatives/contacts of suspected cases or persons under investigation (23), persons travelling from highly affected countries (2), TCI residents (219). Persons under observation/quarantine are either not displaying symptoms or have not meet the case definition for COVID-19.

The increase in quarantine/observation numbers is as a result of the two new suspected cases, their contacts and residents returning to TCI. All individuals have been placed in quarantine status.

No new test results were received. To date, a total of twenty-seven (27) test results have been received, with twenty-two (22) confirmed negative and five (5) 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 Ministry of Health 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.