#TurksandCaicosIslands – January 26, 2021 – When the medical service gives you views like this one, how do you say no to a holiday in the Turks and Caicos? Ministry of Tourism and other stakeholders are hoping for this irresistible effect on travellers who may be Covid-Rule-Weary.
Half of the sites approved by Government to shoulder
the weight of having to provide Covid-19 test results for guests leaving to
return home are located on the World’s #1 Beach or located on some of the most
celebrated and exclusive resort escapes in the Caribbean.
Not bad. Not
bad at all.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Government must be
ready for the rush of requests it will need to meet as Americans exiting the
territory will have to be in possession of a negative Covid-19 test if they are
going to board their aircraft.
“We
are proud to meet the latest requirements, in conjunction with our valued
partners, to ensure the ongoing safety of our residents and guests along with a
seamless travel experience.”
The
Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands has worked closely with its valued
private sector partners to ensure that the destination has well above the
capacity to meet the current testing load for visitors and residents alike. The
following centers are open and approved to provide travel-related testing and are
now accepting appointments,” informed the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist
Board.
The new CDC regulation was on Monday signed into
effect by new president Joe Biden, just as the United States recorded 25
million infections of Covid-19.
Now all travellers entering the United States from
international destinations, from the age of two-years-old will have to present
the negative for the coronavirus. It
applies to American residents and visitors and the new regulations ban travel
altogether from countries where the new variants of the coronavirus are
prevalent including the UK and South Africa.
All
travelers now have the option of getting tested at any of 12 different
locations across three islands, many of which are located on-site at resorts
for enhanced ease and accessibility. Additional testing sites are expected to
be added throughout the sister islands.
A
work completed in around two weeks by a special task force led by the territory’s
governor, Nigel Dakin.
“The
Turks and Caicos Islands’ addition of new testing sites makes it easy and
convenient for travelers to abide by the CDC’s new rule without disrupting
their vacations,” said Hon. Ralph Higgs, Minister of Tourism for the Turks and
Caicos Islands.
Travel requirements changed for both the UK and
Canada this month as well; Canada however requires a ‘gold standard’ PCR test
and is contemplating barring vacation travel altogether after surges there
forced crippling lock downs for some provinces.
The TCI Government identified the dozen testing
facilities which have been established in three islands, namely: Parrot Cay,
South Caicos and Providenciales.
The list includes:
Amanyara; Associated Medical Practices; Beaches Resort Turks and Caicos;
Carolina Medical Clinic; COMO Parrot Cay; Family Care Medical Services Ltd;
Flamingo Pharmacy; Grace Bay Club; Grace Bay Medical Center; OmniCare Medical;
Sail Rock Resort in South Caicos and Seven Stars Resort.
Turks and Caicos continues to keep its travel entry
requirements high, requesting of travellers a negative PCR test, obtained no
more than five days prior to travel to Turks and Caicos.
In the past 34 days, TCI has recorded 490 new cases
of the coronavirus which have led to a 14-day string of measures including a
curfew in Grand Turk, a ban on all parties and business closure across the
country no later than 10 pm.
The latest restrictions expire on January 27. New restrictions are due to be announced
today.
