Ministry Official has say on COVID Vaccine Mandate Extension

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, December 23, 2022 – In the face of confusion and criticism by residents and stakeholders over the extended vaccine mandate, the Ministry of Health and Human Services of the Turks and Caicos Islands is sharing the reasons behind the decision to add three months to the current travel entry requirement for full vaccination from the coronavirus.

In a statement obtained by Magnetic Media on Wednesday December 21, Permanent Secretary Desiree Lewis said the Ministry had “Observed increases in COVID-19 cases regionally and internationally including hospitalisations and deaths.”

Also factors in the decision to extend the mandate three more months?

• The country’s positivity rate; which Lewis described as high. It was 8.7 per cent  for the period between November 1st to December 8th and 14.5 percent between June 1st to December 8th .
• The high volumes of travel being experienced during the winter season.
• Other respiratory diseases which were causing stress on hospital facilities worldwide.  “Ensuring that our hospitals have the capacity to deal with such challenges remains important to avoid the facilities being overwhelmed.” She maintained.
• Low booster uptake.  Lewis described the booster coverage currently as less than ideal, citing concerns that residents might very well still be vulnerable especially those with comorbidities who were not recently vaccinated or boosted. She encouraged even those who had been boosted to get a shot of the newest bivalent vaccine which protects against Omicron

On the topic of tourism, PS Lewis said the country wasn’t suffering in terms of arrivals because of the mandate and it actually provided a level of reassurance that both the population and visitors are vaccinated. This differs from the assessment of the Turks and Caicos’ Hotel and Tourism Association which has predicted that the continued mandate will lead to a downturn in bookings.

Magnetic Media also queried the considerations given to homeowners and work permit holders.

Lewis’  brief response confirmed that no change has been made to the status of those individuals. This means homeowners will continue to be unable to access their properties if they are unvaccinated and work permit holders who want to renew or apply for work in the country must get vaccinated.

She said that they would be reviewed separately but gave no timeline for that review.