COVID-19 pandemic in the Turks and Caicos Islands
The COVID-19 pandemic in Turks and Caicos Islands is part of the ongoing global viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was confirmed to have reached the British Overseas Territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands on 23 March 2020,[2] and the first death occurred on 5 April 2020.[3] On 12 May, all cases resolved,[4] however on the 20 June, new cases had been discovered.[5]
COVID-19 pandemic in the Turks and Caicos Islands | |
---|---|
Disease | COVID-19 |
Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
Location | Turks and Caicos Islands |
First outbreak | Wuhan, Hubei, China |
Arrival date | 23 March 2020 (3 months and 6 days) |
Confirmed cases | 41[1] (2020-06-28) |
Active cases | 29 |
Recovered | 11 |
Deaths | 1 |
Government website | |
gov.tc |
Background
On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[6][7]
The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[8][9] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[10][8] From 19 March, Public Health England no longer classified COVID-19 as a "High consequence infectious disease".[9]
Timeline
March 2020
On 23 March, the first case in the Turks and Caicos Islands was confirmed.[2]
On 27 March, The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force issued a mandatory stay at home order and curfew. Violators of the order were subject to fines, imprisonment and confiscation of vehicles.[11]
April 2020
On 5 April, the first death due to Covid-19 had been announced. It was a middle-aged man who had recently travelled to the United States.[3]
On 17 April, the United Kingdom send medical supplies to the Turk and Caicos Islands in three batches.[12]
On 18 April, a patient transferred from the Turks and Caicos Islands to Jamaica for advanced critical care tested positive for Covid-19.[13]
On 24 April, it was announced that the Turks and Caicos Islands now have the ability to test for Covid-19 locally and will commence widespread testing. Up to now the samples were forwarded to the Caribbean Public Health Agency.[14]
May 2020
On 1 May, residents which are struggling to make ends meet will receive $200 food vouchers for a period of three months.[15]
On 12 May, the number of active cases was zero. One person left the country which accounts for the math.[4]
As of 14 May there were no active cases, however 54 people were in quarantine or under observation with 5 suspected cases.[16]
June 2020
On 20 June, two new cases had been discovered.[5]
Prevention measures
- All schools have been shut for a month.[17]
- The Ministry of Health also enacted section 18 of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) Regulations 2020, making it a criminal offence to spread or disseminate unverified or false information about the virus, whether the direct source of the information or not.[18]
- Cruise ships have been banned with the only port on the island of Grand Turk shut down until 30 June.[19]
- All airports, seaports, beaches, schools, restaurants and other businesses are closed until 4 May.[19] This was extended until 22 July.[20]
- Wearing of face masks is mandatory.[21]
- From 27 March the Turks and Caicos Islands will be under full lock down for three weeks.[22] The lock down will end on 4 May and a phased reopening will commence.[21] Curfew had ended on 22 June.[20]
Statistics
Second wave
Chronology of the number of active cases
First wave
Chronology of the number of active cases
See also
References
- "TCI COVID-19 DASHBOARD JUNE 28, 2020". gov.tc. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- "CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATE". Visit Turks and Caicos Islands.
- "First death from COVID-19 in Turks and Caicos". Barbados Today. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- "TCI COVID-19 DASHBOARD MAY 12, 2000". gov.tc. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
- "TCI COVID-19 DASHBOARD JUNE 20, 2020". The Government of Turks and Caicos Islands. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- "Evening Curfews are going well, despite... - Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force". Facebook. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- "Critical medical supplies coming for Turk and Caicos Islands". The Turks & Caicos Sun. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- "Patient transferred to Jamaica tests positive to Covid-19". Turks and Caicos Weekly News. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- "Local Covid-19 testing to begin". Turks and Caicos Weekly News. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- "$200 food vouchers for vulnerable citizens". Turks & Caicos Weekly News. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- "COVID-19 Update Turks and Caicos Islands". today.caricom.org. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- "Turks and Caicos Islands, all schools to be closed". Loop. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- "MINISTRY OF HEALTH'S COVID-19 UPDATE #18b". Gov.tc. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- Broomhall, Elizabeth. "Paradise Lockdown: Will Coronavirus Curfew Be A Boon For The Environment Of The Turks And Caicos?". Forbes. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
- "Turks and Caicos coronavirus COVID-19". Visit TCI. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- "Lockdown over on Monday". Turks and Caicos Weekly News. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- "TCI under complete lockdown from Saturday". Turks and Caicos Weekly News. Retrieved 28 April 2020.