Turks and Caicos Boom losing bounce to COVID Restrictions

#TurksandCaicos, June 16, 2021 – The good news is that most resorts are running at high capacity and in the past week about 8,153 guests have left the country, according to the antigen test figures provided on the Ministry of Health dashboard.

The bad news, is businesses that could flourish with even bigger earnings as late night spots for guests to dine, drink, hang out or dance are missing out on that prosperity. This also applies to limits on capacity which impacts marine pleasure craft.

While the US Centers for Disease Control has rated TCI at Level 1 for low risk to Covid-19 infection thanks to a firm request by the Government for the agency to see the destination as safe due to strides in beating down Covid-19 numbers; the same government still has businesses caged, capped and cut off with no change in the local public health policies.

Most public health restrictions expire on June 30, but will likely be renewed if TCI is not with 70 per cent of adults fully vaccinated for the Coronavirus.

Licensees of Turks and Caicos are paying full prices for business licenses but have been operating in and out of restrictions since March 2020.

Meanwhile, law enforcers empowered by the current public health restrictions are making arrests, as they should. But are the capacity rules a disservice to visitors and the current boom in travellers has placed higher demands on every service, venue and activity.

Over the Queen’s Birthday Holiday weekend in Turks and Caicos, it is reported that some boat tour operators were booked for over capacity. These licensees could be facing fines up to $5,000 for breach of the public health regulations; those on board the party boats could also be ticketed for $250 for breach. There has been no official report from the Police.

Turks and Caicos is currently with nine active cases of Covid 19, one person in hospital due to the virus and 55 per cent of the population (according to the Department of Statistics) is vaccinated for COVID.

Photo: Sapodilla Bay, file photo