FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MINISTRY OF HEALTH’S COVID-19 UPDATE #67
BEGINS
The Ministry of Health would like to advise the public that as at 12am on 16th May, 2020:
THE PAST 24hrs HAS SEEN CONSIDERABLE CHANGES IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS’ COVID-19 POSITION.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO SUSPECTED OR ACTIVE CONFIRMED POSITIVE CASES IN THE TCI.
CONFIRMED POSITIVE CASES CURRENTLY REMAIN AT TWELVE (12); WITH THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RECOVERIES FROM COVID-19 AT TEN (10), AND THE TCI CONTINUING TO RECORD ONE COVID-19 DEATH.
PERSONS UNDER QUARANTINE/OBSERVATION HAVE DECREASED TO 37. This includes: symptomatic persons not meeting the case definition and their contacts (5), and travellers (32) – Sixteen (16) of the travellers are currently being quarantined at a non-medical facility, and are not sick. Persons under observation/quarantine, that are not confirmed or suspected cases, are not displaying symptoms.
THE CHANGE IN QAURANTINE/OBSERVATION NUMBERS ARE AS A RESULT OF TEST RESULTS RECEIVED CONFIRMING THAT PERSONS WERE NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19; THESE INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR CONTACTS HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM QUARANTINE/OBSERVATION STATUS. ALSO, SEVERAL PERSONS ENTERING THE TCI THROUGH TRAVEL WERE ADDED TO QUARANTINE/OBSERVATION STATUS.
TO DATE, A TOTAL OF 614 individuals have been released from quarantine/observation status.
SINCE THE PREVIOUS UPDATE, EIGHT (8) TEST RESULTS WERE RECEIVED. THE RESULTS CONFIRMED THAT ALL PERSONS TESTED WERE NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19. To date, the TCI has received a total of one hundred and twenty-one (121) test results, with one hundred and nine (109) confirmed to be negative and twelve (12) positive confirmations. Persons confirmed not to have COVID-19, and their contacts, were moved from quarantined status and asked to continue following proper guidelines from the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry of Health takes this opportunity to remind the public of offenses committed under section 27 of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (nO.4) Regulations 2020 in regard to false Statements/information. You do not have to be the originator of the statement/information in order to be charged under the law.
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 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: COVID19@gov.tc; 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.
ENDS