The Government of the Turks & Caicos Islands Disaster Policy Group Co-Chaired by the Governor and the Premier met on Thursday, October 16, 2014, and issued the following travel advisory on the advice of the Public and Environmental Health Board and Ministry of Health and Human Services:
The advisory states; The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands strongly urges all TCI residents to avoid all travel to the West African countries of Liberia, Guinea, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Nigeria that are currently experiencing an unprecedented outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
The Government further issued a Public and Environment Health (Control Measures)(Ebola Virus) Order 2014 on the recommendation of the Public and Environmental Health Board that advises travelers that enhanced screening measures are being implemented by Public Health Officials at TCI Ports of Entry. The Public Health Ordinance empowers Public Health Officials to screen and examine individuals to assess risk. Persons considered at risk, including persons entering the TCI within 21 days of having visited an Ebola affected area, shall be subjected to quarantine for up to 21 days by Public Health Officials.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern.’ These measures are, therefore, taken in the interest of the public health and safety of the residents of and visitors to the TCI. TCIG will continue to review the situation as it relates to EVD and decide on additional measures such as prohibition or banning travel to affected countries as appropriate.
Minister for Health and Human Services, Hon. Porsha Stubbs-Smith stated “Whilst the TCI is currently Ebola free, the MoHHS will continue its efforts. We have been monitoring movements globally, and note that each day additional cases of Ebola are identified in various countries.
“We are not isolated from the world; therefore TCIG has issued a travel advisory as a precautionary measure to persons travelling outside of the TCI and to countries with suspected and confirmed cases of Ebola.”
