Good morning, Turks and Caicos, Seasons Greetings and Happy Holidays to all. Before I continue, let me remind folks to register for the Let’s Move TCI Initiative by going to www.letsmovetci.com and getting registered at a low cost of $20. Let’s Move TCI for 2022!!
Having been given a very thorough update by our Health Technocrats for which I am always thankful, a few things are very clear. The Turks and Caicos has a very strong foundation with over 80% of the adult population being fully vaccinated, all visitors having to be fully vaccinated and requiring testing for entry, plus our health protocols i.e. face mask wearing, physical distancing, and personal hygiene. However; the two areas where we can be even stronger is with the Booster Program which is only at 13% of persons having received their 3rd shot and that of community testing.
I would like to encourage everyone who is eligible for a Booster shot to get one asap. If you have had your last shot over 3 months ago and you’re 18 years of age or 16 years or older with an underlying condition you are eligible. The Booster shot gives you an added layer of protection against hospitalization, which is very important.
Knowing your status is also important in our fight against Covid-19. Whether you’re vaccinated or unvaccinated, testing from time to time is very useful in assisting the MOH with having a clear picture of how this virus might be moving within our community, especially with the likely possibility of the Omicron variant already being within the TCI, though not confirmed as yet.
The Ministry of Health has provided the following schedule for COVID-19 community testing.This exercise will continue to be operated on a “first-come-first-serve” basis. The public is reminded to maintain physical distance of at least 6 feet and to wear a face covering/mask and to bring any form of Identification and a pen.
Grand Turk: Every Tuesday between 2pm-4pm at the Gazebo (Pond Street)
South Caicos: Every Tuesday between 9am-12pm at the Primary Healthcare Clinic
North & Middle Caicos: Every Monday between 9am-12pm at the Kew Clinic
Every Thursday between 9am-12pm at the Bottle Creek Clinic
Every Monday & Thursday between 9am-12pm at the Middle Caicos Clinic
Providenciales: Every Tuesday and Thursday between 9am-12pm at the National Stadium, Venetian Road
Additionally, the following are Testing Facilities with MOU’s with TCIG to provide free LFD
Tests:
o Family Care Medical
o Omnicare Medical
o Carolina Medical
o Associated Medical
o Grace Bay Medical
o TCI Hospitals
Before outlining the new measures to help strengthen our ability to combat Covid-19, I would like for the general public to understand a few things: In the coming days and weeks the number of positive cases is likely to fluctuate, know that we in the Ministry of Health and by extension the entire Government are monitoring what is happening and are on top of things. Also note that a key indicator of how things are going is how many people are being hospitalized which better speaks to whether or not our Health system is being overwhelmed.
With that said the 39th meeting of Cabinet was held virtually on Wednesday 29 December 2021,
At this meeting Cabinet:
• Approved amendments to the Arriving Passengers Health Clearance Regulations with effect from Friday 14 January 2022, lowering mandatory testing to two years old and above for visitors arriving and unvaccinated residents returning to the TCI.
• Approved an extension of the existing COVID-19 measures and protocols, which will come into effect from 05.00 (5am) on Friday 7 January 2022 unless otherwise stated and remain in place until 28 February 2022:
a) Social gatherings and social activities, including public beaches, of more than 50 persons and up to a maximum of 500 persons shall require a permit; and
b) Bi-weekly testing of front-line staff to include of teachers with an exemption of those that received their booster shot or became fully vaccinated within the last 3 months.
• Approved amendments to the Public and Environmental Health (COVID-19 Pandemic) Regulations – Power to Quarantine with effect from Friday 14 January 2022, including:
a) Reducing the quarantine period for vaccinated persons to seven days following the individual is asymptomatic after day 5 of isolation and provides two negative LFD tests taken 24 hours apart on day six and day seven of isolation.
Close contacts and their household continue to be required to quarantine for a period of ten days post the last exposure to COVID-19 with consideration for early release with individual asymptomatic after day 5 of isolation and provide a negative LFD test day seven of isolation, and
b) Unvaccinated persons, their contacts and their household continue to be required to quarantine for 14 days post the last exposure to COVID-19 if not medically evacuated by air ambulance.
As this will more than likely be my last official public appearance before 2022 dawns, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all citizens and residents of the TCI, whenever you are, a happy and healthy New Year. This is always a hopeful time as we celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another. Happy New Year!
