Health
TCI Covid Cases by the Numbers; Most from Vaxxed Tourtists
By Shanieka Smith
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, December 31, 2021 – Following the uptick in positive COVID-19 cases in the Turks and Caicos Islands, questions arise about whether outbound cases exceed the number of local cases. National Epidemiologist, Dr Shandey Malcolm, confirmed today in the joint presser that of the 184 positive COVID-19 cases recorded in December 116, that is, 63 per cent are visitors.
In agreement with the Health Minister, Hon. Jamell Robinson, she added that these figures could be impacted by the fact that locals are not getting tested.
“The Turks and Caicos has a very strong foundation with over 80 per cent of the adult population being fully vaccinated, all visitors having to be fully vaccinated and requiring testing for entry, plus our health protocols, i.e. face mask-wearing, physical distancing, and personal hygiene. However; the two areas where we can be even stronger is with the Booster Program which is only at 13 per cent of persons having received their 3rd shot and that of
In an exclusive interview with Magnetic Media, he said the rise in cases was not of major concern. He said the positive test results might be from visitors leaving the country. However, the data shared by Dr Malcolm contradicts this prediction.
Nonetheless, the Minister reiterated today that “a key indicator of how things are going is how many people hospitalised, which better speaks to whether or not our Health system is being overwhelmed.”
Hon. Robinson added that the cases will fluctuate, primarily because of holiday operations.
As it relates to cruise ships entering the TCI, the Minister confirmed that from the start of cruise arrivals into the port, only 0.001 per cent of passengers were infected with the COVID-19 virus. He added that those infected have been isolated and have not been allowed to disembark.
Likewise, the decision about whether the ships with people infected will enter the TCI is made based on the risk each ship may carry and whether the island is willing to accept those risks.
“We have to find a balance of what level of risk we want to talk on versus the opportunity for prosperity on that particular day that the ship is in, and I think the protocols which were worked on for months on months between our team and carnival reps, I think they are very good,” Hon. Johnson said.