UPDATED STATEMENT ISSUED BY TCI GOVERNMENT AT 6:22 PM, FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2020
At 9am today the Carnival Magic cruise ship called
at the Grand Turk cruise port. As per the protocols already in place, the ship
was met, but not boarded, by officials from the Environmental Health Department
(EHD), it was immediately issued an official notice of refusal for docking by
the EHD, and no passengers or crew were allowed to disembark.
This refusal was as a result of the mandatory
Maritime Declaration of Health (MDH) document, issued by the ship to health officials
in TCI, which showed cases of influenza-like symptoms on board. Senior
government leadership, including the Minister of Health, was then made aware of
the refusal.
As per their MDH, Carnival Magic also notified
officials that they were requesting further medical care for two passengers in
the form of a medivac. Ministry of Health officials reviewed this request,
taking into consideration the risk to the public health of Grand Turk residents
and the wider TCI and the declaration from the World Health Organization (WHO)
indicating that the global risk posed by COVID-19 Coronavirus is very high,
this request was also refused.
Passengers were removed subsequently off the
ship and placed on an aircraft. This matter is now under investigation by all relevant
government agencies and the public will be updated as soon as full details of
this matter becomes cleared.
The Ministry of Health takes the health and
safety of all its residents in the highest regard.
