Work Permit Holders Still need COVID Vax but Guests may soon see the entry requirement lifted says Minister

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, June 30, 2022 – Work Permit holders in the Turks and Caicos and those seeking to become work permit holders must still be vaccinated for their applications to be processed. The Government revealed that in cabinet meeting on June 9th they “discussed reintroduction of mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for specific categories of residents.”

Health Minister Jamell Robinson confirmed the measure would be in place for the foreseeable future responding to questions about the work permit vaccine requirement he simply said.

“Yes we are still doing that.”

On the other hand the entry requirements for vaccines may not be around much longer Robinson said.

“That is in place by regulation. It doesn’t have an end date but clearly we are monitoring what’s taking place around the world and in the country in terms of the vaccine requirement. I can’t say for sure when it will end but it’s sooner rather than later.”

This would open up the Turks and Caicos to much more traffic in terms of tourists in an already booming tourism season for the British overseas territory which is a mere 90-minute flight from the US south coast.

The measure may be dropped in time for the winter travel rush.

No such leniency for work permit holders though, the measure tying Covid -19 vaccination status to Work Permit applications was announced in April 2021, to much controversy.  It took effect August 31st 2021.

Covid-19 cases and deaths dropped significantly with the surge in vaccine uptake among migrant workers, though by the time the omicron variant crept in, those case numbers ballooned again with hospitalisations and the death toll remaining lower.

Based on the then requirements any person whose work permit expired after the vaccine deadline day and had not had the vaccine would have had their work permit immediately flagged for non-renewal.

It’s unclear what is pushing the continuation of the measures in either category considering the well-established evidence that Covid-19 vaccines wane in efficacy.  Odd also, as boosters have never been mandated in the Turks and Caicos Islands, for work permit holders or anyone.