New Strategy coming for containing COVID in TCI

#TurksandCaicosIslands – August 26, 2020 — It is a matter of preserving national public health and preserving national security that Covid-19 is brought under the control.

The nation will learn of a new strategy for curtailing Covid-19 on Wednesday August 26; it was a significant though succinct announcement from Premier Sharlene Robinson on Tuesday.

“In the face of the continue rise in numbers, the Cabinet will meet tomorrow to consider several recommendation s that have been made by Team Health. We acknowledge the time has come for even further actions and we will duly consider all the recommendations presented.  We will have a comprehensive briefing on the decisions tomorrow after which the Deputy Premier and the Minster of Health will present them at a joint press conference,” said Sharlene Robinson, Turks and Caicos Premier.

Some eight hours later, the daily Covid-19 health dashboard was released and revealed 48 new cases of the virus; among them a first case for Grand Turk.

It was a record breaking and alarming reveal; 48 new cases of the coronavirus is the new one day high for the Turks and Caicos.

Ministry of Health data explains 77 tests were conducted and 29 of those with positive diagnosis for the coronavirus were community spread, with no clear epidemiological link to a previous case.

The Premier explained Cabinet will approved the new plan and the public will be informed of the strategy in a press conference hosted by Deputy Premier, Sean Astwood and Minister of Health, Edwin Astwood.  It will air Wednesday August 26 (today) on the Premier’s Facebook Page and live on radio at 3 p.m.

Four islands are now charted for having COVID-19 patients. New to the list is Grand Turk (1); which joins Parrot Cay (11), North Caicos and its one new infection (13) and Providenciales, records 46 new cases (406) for an overall case count of 431 for the Turks and Caicos Islands.