COVID-19 cases identified among staff at Her Majesty’s Prison, Grand Turk

#TurksandCaicosIslands – December 29, 2020 – The Ministry of Health has identified a total of fourteen (14) confirmed cases of COVID-19 in staff working at Her Majesty’s Prison in Grand Turk. Following the initial identification of one positive result, contact tracing was immediately commenced by the Public Health Team in collaboration with the Prison Service, identifying additional symptomatic cases who were subsequently tested and quarantined. Ongoing contact tracing and quarantine activities are underway along with testing. The Ministry of Health views this as a workplace cluster, and will continue to make every effort to minimize spread within HMP.

The MOH is working closely with the management at HMP and the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure that the relevant control measures are implemented which include but are not limited to;

•   Restriction of non-essential activities at HMP

•   Good hand and respiratory hygiene

•   Enhanced briefings to prisoners

•   Deep cleaning

•   Screening of the HMP staff has now been completed and additional testing will be ongoing

•   Restriction of the prison regime to reduce contact and transmission

•   Extended Laboratory Hours

The situation is being closely monitored by the Senior Management Team at HMP Grand Turk due to the nature of the closed population at the Prison. Every effort is being made to ensure the health, safety and well-being of both the staff and inmates and protection of the public.

Further updates will be provided as the situation evolves.

TCIG PRESS RELEASE