Good morning my fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders, residents both home and abroad, those listening via the various media platforms, thank you for tuning into this National Health Update. I would like to thank all the Health Professionals, Frontline workers, the TCI Medical Association, TCHTA, Chamber of Commerce, TCI Restaurant and Bar Associations, and all those in support roles that have helped us to get where we are today. Finally, I would like to thank you the general public for taking collective responsibility in helping to bring our cases down to more manageable numbers.
Before speaking to the updated regulations, I would like to reiterate a few key facts. As of the 23rd of February 2022, the following was the Covid-19 outlook:
- 21 active Cases all on Providenciales
- 28-day Positivity rate 1%
- 0 Confirmed
TCI will have done it again!! We’ve effectively faced 4 waves of COVID -19 and have beat it every time. At a meeting held 23rd of February 2022, Cabinet agreed the following:
- Cabinet approved amendments to the existing COVID-19 measures and protocols, which will come into effect from 5am on Monday 28 February and remain in place until 31 March 2022:
- Churches or Religious Places of Worship be increased to 100% of their approved capacity,
- Restaurants, bars, nightclubs or discotheques be increased to 100% of their approved capacity,
- Weddings and funerals be increased to 100% of their approved capacity,
- Social gatherings inclusive of beach events over 100 persons require written permission from the Chief Medical Officer or Chief Environmental Health Officer and written approval (permit) from the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR)
- Updated the Health Protocol and Quarantine Guidelines for the handling of positive COVID-19
- A weekly public (only) dashboard of COVID-19 cases to be published in lieu of the current daily Public Health will continue to submit daily reporting to CARPHA, CDC, Public Health England etc. as per international requirements, And
- Mask wearing and/or face covering will continue to be required indoors and enclosed spaces while their use is now recommended for outdoors when in close proximity to others.
- Members also agreed to discontinue the following COVID-19 measures and protocols with effect from Monday 28 February 2022:
- Restaurant, bar, nightclub or discotheque patrons are no longer required to be fully vaccinated and 24-hour negative testing requirement
- Commercial/excursion boat owners are no longer restricted in capacity, and
- Logbooks for all establishments will no longer be required
- Cabinet approved for the Arrival Passengers Travel Clearance Health Regulations 2020 to remain in place until 31 March 2022 and for vaccination age to be raised from 16 years old to 18 years
Some folks might say if Cabinet has removed all these restrictions, why not follow other countries like the DR and the UK and go all the way and burst the country wide open? I say we must all continue to be mindful of our unique position as a country with our strengths and weaknesses. When it comes to COVID- 19 we must continue to cut our own cloth and find ways to still both protect lives and livelihoods. On the livelihood front we are doing better and better economically, with having over 40,000 passenger arrivals in January. This was again powered by the number one beach in the world, Grace Bay Beach, as noted by Trip Advisors Readers Choice. From a lives standpoint we must be more cautious as it’s better to measure 10 times and cut once rather than measure once and cut 10 times. We believe that these are smart regulations that will be monitored for the next month to ensure they are effective. Ultimately, we have to continue to take personal and collective responsibility for our actions, both good and bad. Again folks, we are in a great position and can grow from strength to strength.
