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

TCI recorded its first case of the COVID-19 novel Coronavirus. A sample which was sent to the National Reference Laboratory in the Bahamas returned a positive result. We understand the public concern this will cause and ask for public calm and patience as the Ministry continues to aggressively investigate – More details will be forthcoming from the Ministry of Health.

The TCI had 8 suspected cases of COVID-19: Tourist visiting the country (1). The other seven suspected cases are TCI residents returning from countries with local transmission and contacts of a confirmed case (7). All 8 persons met the WHO case definition for a suspected case of COVID-19, thus they are experiencing symptoms. Samples have been collected and sent for testing.

The decrease in suspected cases over the past 24hrs is due to negative results, received earlier today, for two (2) suspected.

Persons under quarantine/observation (204)—The suspected cases (8), persons under investigation for having contact with persons travelling from highly affected countries (1), relatives/contacts of suspected cases (26), persons travelling from highly affected countries — UK, Austria & Spain (4), TCI residents (165). Persons under observation/quarantine are all not displaying symptoms or have not meet the case definition for COVID-19.

The increase in the number of persons under quarantine/observation, as compared to yesterday, is due to returning TCI residents from countries with local transmission.

A total of twelve (12) test results have been received to date, with elven (11) confirmed negative and one (1) positive confirmation. Persons confirmed not to have COVID-19, and their contacts, have been moved from quarantined status and asked to continue following proper guidelines from the Ministry of Health. The confirmed case is in isolation and contact tracing is aggressively continuing.

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 confirms its first case of COVID-19; a sample had been sent to the National Reference Laboratory in Bahamas for testing, and subsequently came back positive today Monday 23^rd March 2020. This individual had no recent history of travel and began displaying flu-like symptoms on 12^th March 2020. The individual was placed under home quarantine since 20^th March 2020.

This situation continues to be aggressively investigated by the Ministry’s Public Health team with assistance from regional and international partners in order to identify all information regarding the person’s possible contacts, in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Interviews have been conducted with the patient to identify close contacts, such as family members, friends and business associates. We will continue to keep the public updated on this situation as it progresses.

This announcement will create some public concern, and we ask the public to be patient as the Ministry of Health investigates; as such more details will be forthcoming in further updates. The Ministry would like to reassure everyone that we are taking all necessary precautions and following established Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocols in relation to any and all suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Having already proclaimed Emergency Powers, the first Overseas Territory to do so, with schools closed and incoming flights suspended from Tuesday, Cabinet will meet tomorrow to determine whether further measures, available to them, will be implemented. For the moment TCI is ahead of the position many other countries have found themselves in. We intend to stay that way.

We continue to implement enhanced measures in the fight against the COVID-19 Coronavirus, such as enhanced surveillance at all ports of entry; activated our preparedness and response plan; refresher training for health care providers in response protocols for IPC and continuous dissemination of information to the public, international travelers and work with public health partners in the region and overseas.

We wish to remind the general public that practicing simple everyday hygiene is the best way to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Persons are reminded to:

• Frequently clean hands using soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub if your hands are not visibly dirty;
• When coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue. Throw tissue away immediately and wash hands;
• Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough;
• Persons experiencing cough and fever should remain at home;
• Persons should practice social distancing-keeping 3-6 feet from one another. This step helps to reduce social interaction between people which can prevent the spread of disease.
• If you have fever, cough and experience difficulty breathing, seek medical care immediately by contacting our hotlines and share previous travel history with your health care provider.
• DO NOT come to health care settings without first notifying your health care provider or calling the hotline numbers if you are experiencing cough, fever and shortness of breath.
• Be mindful of the most vulnerable in the community. These persons include: the elderly, those with underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, respiratory illness, diabetes and cancer. We all have a duty to protect them through practicing social distancing and proper hygiene.

For additional information, please contact us on our hotlines: 232-9444 or 338-0911. You can also visit our website at www.gov.tc/moh/coronavirus or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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

The TCI had 10 suspected cases of COVID-19: Tourist visiting the country (1). The other nine suspected cases are TCI residents returning from countries with local transmission and contacts of a confirmed case (9). All 10 persons met the WHO case definition for a suspected case of COVID-19, thus they are experiencing symptoms. Samples have been collected and sent for testing.

The increase in suspected cases over the past 24hrs is primarily due to persons that were in contact with an overseas confirmed case.

Persons under quarantine/observation—The suspected cases (10), persons under investigation for having contact with persons travelling from highly affected countries (2), relatives/contacts of suspected cases (28), persons travelling from highly affected countries — UK, Italy, Austria & Spain (6), TCI residents (16).  Persons under observation/quarantine are all not displaying symptoms or have not meet the case definition for COVID-19.

The increase in the number of persons under quarantine/observation, as compared to yesterday, is due the increase in suspected cases and their contacts.

A total of eight (8) confirmed negative test results have been received to date, and those persons and their contacts have been moved from quarantined status and asked to continue following proper guidelines from the Ministry of Health.

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 advise the public that as at 12pm on 21^th March, 2020:

The TCI had 4 suspected cases of COVID-19: First, tourist visiting the country (1). The other three suspected cases are TCI residents returning from countries with local transmission (3). All 4 persons met the WHO case definition for a suspected case of COVID-19, thus they are experiencing symptoms. Results from 2 previously suspected cases have returned and are negative, 1 person has been added as a suspected case. Samples have been collected and sent for testing.

Persons under quarantine/observation—The suspected cases (4), persons under investigation for having contact with persons travelling from highly affected countries (2), relatives/contacts of suspected cases (24), persons travelling from a highly affected countries — UK, Italy, Austria & Spain (6), TCI residents (16). Persons under observation/quarantine are all not displaying symptoms or have not meet the case definition for COVID-19.

The increase in the number of persons under quarantine/observation, as compared to yesterday, is predominately due to TCI residents returning from countries with local transmission, and contact tracing investigations which revealed greater numbers of contacts of the suspected cases.

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 advise the public that as at 12pm on 20^th March, 2020:

The TCI had 5 suspected cases of COVID-19: First, tourist visiting the country (1). Second, resident of the TCI who had contact with a confirmed case (1).  The other four suspected cases are TCI residents returning from countries with local transmission (4). All 5 persons met the WHO case definition for a suspected case of COVID-19, thus they are experiencing symptoms. Samples have been collected and sent for testing.

Persons under quarantine/observation—The suspected cases (5), relatives/contacts of suspected cases (12), persons travelling from a highly affected countries — UK, Italy, Austria & Spain (6), TCI residents (9).  Persons under observation/quarantine are all not displaying symptoms.

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.