TCI News
New recovery standard for TCI; 14-days symptom free for release of COVID-19 patients
#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – August 27, 2020 — Turks and Caicos is added to the growing list of places which are abandoning the standard that COVID-19 patient recovery is measured by two negative RT-PCR tests. Edwin Astwood, the Minister of Health on Wednesday said Cabinet has agreed to give clearance to previously positive patients after 10-days of having experienced no fever or symptoms of the coronavirus.
“The Ministry of Health has updated its standard operating procedures for recoveries and people being relieved from quarantine which is based on technical guidance received from PAHO, Public Health England, CDC, WHO and CARPHA. These new protocols for recoveries and persons being released from quarantine are now being instituted by the Ministry of Health Agriculture Sports and Human Services (and) will come into effect immediately.”
The announcement, backed up by “new and emerging science” was met with skepticism and labelled risky by some tuned into the national press conference broadcast live from the Office of the Premier in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.
Still the world’s leading health regulators including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are promoting the research as a recommendation.
The WHO updated its recovery recommendation since May 27, 2020. An excerpt from its website says this:
Criteria for discharging patients from isolation (i.e., discontinuing transmission-based precautions) without requiring retesting[1]:
- For symptomatic patients: 10 days after symptom onset, plus at least 3 additional days without symptoms (including without fever [2] and without respiratory symptoms)[3]
- For asymptomatic cases[4]: 10 days after positive test for SARS-CoV-2
The WHO says there is some risk associated with this “isolation discharge criteria” and adds, “There is a minimal residual risk that transmission could occur with these non–test-based criteria.”
Among the reasons for the change is to bring relief to medical centers which need the bed space; to cut-down workload on testing centers which are overwhelmed by new and repeated testing demands; to support healthy patients with a more expeditious return to life in the ‘new normal’ and to embrace the science which says COVID-19’s dead particles are responsible for positive diagnoses long past the time a patient is infectious.
The WHO, in that June 17 brief, encourages countries that can, to continue laboratory testing. The Turks and Caicos has opted to go a new and different route which should dramatically increase the figures on recoveries.
“If a person who had recovered from COVID-19 is retested within three months of the initial infection they may continue to have a positive test result, even though they may be spreading COVID-19,” said Minister Astwood, who shared about individuals held in long isolations: “…they have been in quarantine for some 25 days, some 35 days, some 45 days and they feel well, they feel healthy and they are wondering why they have to stay this long in quarantine and the results now, the science now backs up that we can now release those persons from quarantine much earlier; 10-days and 14-days depending on symptoms and if the person is asymptomatic.”
While some may say we can trust the science, there is grave concern about whether we can trust the patient. The Ministry of Health will admittedly be relying upon patients to be honest about their state of health.
“We have to rely on persons to be honest and truthful but still they will be under the quarantine order to remain at home and if they have fever and symptoms we want them to report that, the Minister of Health continued with, “We have seen that persons have not been giving full and complete information but we have more good people out there than bad so, we know that we will get from our people here in Turks and Caicos Islands, at least 95 to 95 percent compliance with this because we have a lot of people who want to do the right thing.”
Minister Astwood’s enthusiasm is not shared by many residents. By admission, some positive patients were not forthcoming during the contact tracing phase. By widespread observation, individuals have shown a reckless tendency to shirk responsibility of self-quarantine regulations in order to get out and about.
Thousands of tests have been used up in the previous method of retesting before clearance is given. Scores of people have been waiting weeks for medical clearance to return to work because Health personnel have been unable to deliver timely follow-ups.
The Minister was optimistic that reducing this painstaking process of sequential negatives for the coronavirus will allow his team to move on to community testing, which had been waylaid by a surge in coronavirus cases.
In the past two days, 81 new cases of the coronavirus were recorded for the Turks and Caicos Islands; bringing the country’s total number of infections to 464.
The new measures will be made available online.
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — Beaches Turks & Caicos continues to lead the way in sustainability by cultivating a
culture of environmental stewardship across the Turks and Caicos Islands. Through the introduction of biodegradable alternatives, agricultural education and community partnerships, the resort is setting a new standard for eco-conscious hospitality. As part of its ongoing sustainability mission, the resort has replaced single-use plastics and certain chemicals with compostable, biodegradable products derived from natural sources, to reduce pollution and minimize the resort’s carbon footprint.
“At Beaches Turks & Caicos, sustainability is woven into every part of the guest experience,” said Managing Director, James McAnally. “From the products we use to the relationships we nurture, our goal is to make responsible environmental choices that benefit our guests, team members and the wider Turks and Caicos community.”
The resort also practices on-site composting, recycling fruit and vegetable waste from its kitchens to enrich soil and sustain its lush
landscaping. This closed-loop system reduces waste and promotes biodiversity across the property.
Beyond the resort, Beaches collaborates with local partners including schools, government agencies and NGOs to extend green education into the wider community. Through the Sandals Foundation, the resort supports projects such as the installation of water filtration systems, tree-planting activities and biodegradable workshops. Schools like Enid Capron Primary have expanded their farming projects and integrated agricultural science into their curriculum thanks to this partnership. Beaches also leads regular coastal cleanups and reforestation drives which inspires residents and students to play an active role in protecting their environment. “The Earth Guardian volunteers take pride in giving back to our schools and the communities we serve,” noted Public Relations Manager, Orville Morgan. “These initiatives create a sense of shared responsibility that strengthens both our communities and our natural resources.”
With its commitment to biodegradable innovation, sustainable education and environmental action, Beaches Turks & Caicos continues to set the benchmark for biodiversity and sustainability in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Photo Captions
1st insert: Beaches Turks and Caicos and the Sandals Foundation celebrate with students at the Enid Capron Primary School in a Reading Road Trip experience where guests and students get to experience a cultural melting pot of activity.
2nd insert: Beaches Turks and Caicos resort Simone Woodfine from the Bar Department prepares to plant a tree at one of our schools to celebrate the mission of providing a healthier environment for the Turks and Caicos Islands
TCI News
Turks and Caicos Corporate Community Join Beaches Resort to Raise Funds for Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa Relief
Turks and Caicos Islands, December 17, 2025 – Corporate partners in and around Providenciales recently joined Beaches Turks and
Caicos Resort raising over US $54,000 to support Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa Relief effort. The fundraising dinner, aptly titled, ‘One Caribbean, One Family, One Love’ saw over eighteen companies gather on Friday, December 12 to support the recovery of families and the rebuilding of communities affected by the category 5 storm.
“When our Caribbean family calls, we will respond with love,” said Deryk Meany, General Manager of the Beaches Turks and Caicos resort. “Today it is Jamaica that is affected, but tomorrow, it could be the Turks and Caicos or another neighbouring island. We are committed to serving our brothers and sisters and are deeply grateful to everyone who have donated to the cause.”
Since the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica on October 28, the Sandals Foundation has been working around the clock with local
agencies and international partners to provide shelter essentials, food, and clean water, restore schools, and provide medical support to hospitals. Funds raised at the recent benefit dinner will help bolster the next phase of the philanthropic organisation’s support to rebuild schools and livelihoods in affected communities.
“As we continue to provide essential first-relief support, we have already begun our long-term recovery response,” says Patrice Gilpin, Public Relations Manager at Sandals Foundation. “Many schools, which are the cornerstone of stability, learning, and emotional support for our young ones, require urgent attention. This donation will go a far way in restoring a sense of normalcy in the lives of our youngest and most vulnerable.”
The One Caribbean, One Family, One Love fundraising dinner featured, amongst other things a silent auction of Sandals and Beaches
Resort stays, airline tickets, spa services, catamaran cruise, and private chef dinner. The night’s four course meal was also spearheaded by the TCI’s 2025 Taste of the Caribbean silver medalist culinary team- all of whom volunteered for the event.
Managing Director of the Northern Caribbean and Curaçao, James McAnally expressed delight at the outcome noting, “The success of this event is indicative of the power of partnerships to effect real change. We are grateful to the TCI business community, resort guests and our resort team for coming together and making this moment count.”
Photo Captions
1st insert: Sandals Foundation Public Relations Manager Patrice Gilpin (centre) accepts the cheque from Beaches Turks and Caicos resort General Manager Deryk Meany (left) and Managing Director of the Northern Caribbean and Curacao James McAnally
2nd insert: Members of the Beaches Turks and Caicos resort’s entertainment team were on hand to provide scintillating performances at the event
3rd insert: Beaches Turks and Caicos resort General Manager Deryk Meany (5th left) poses for the cameras with representatives of the Graceway Communities as he personally thanked those who were in attendance
TCI News
Experience Turks and Caicos Projects Month-on-Month Growth of Stayover Arrivals for Winter Season
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – (December 17th, 2025) – As the Turks and Caicos Islands welcomes visitors for the 2025/2026 winter season, forward bookings for the peak travel period from December to March are projected to surpass those of the same period last year. Experience Turks and Caicos is also forecasting steady month-on-month growth throughout the first half of 2026, with forward bookings already tracking ahead of 2025 levels.
“This is welcome news for our tourism sector, which experienced modest declines over the last two quarters,” said Mr. Paul Pennicook,
Interim CEO Consultant of Experience Turks and Caicos. “One of the key drivers of this positive outlook is increased airlift, including a 19 percent increase in capacity from Canada for the winter season and a six percent increase from the United States.” Mr. Pennicook also attributed the improved projections to targeted marketing and trade engagement efforts led by Experience Turks and Caicos, particularly ongoing training and education for travel advisors and tour operator call-centre agents across all key source markets.
“We have maintained a strong presence through product launches and travel trade events such as Delta Vacations University, while significantly increasing the destination’s visibility through co-op advertising with major tour operators in our three primary markets,” he added.
Public relations activity has also played a critical role, with several hosted media visits from journalists in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Latin America, alongside proactive pitching efforts that resulted in more than 100 placements in travel trade and consumer publications in 2025.
Analysis of current booking patterns also indicates a notable shift toward shorter booking windows. “One major U.S. tour operator reports
that over the past several weeks, approximately 90 percent of bookings have been for travel within the next 60 days,” Mr. Pennicook noted. “Hoteliers are reporting similar trends, suggesting the potential for further growth as we move into 2026.”
Despite the positive outlook, October and November recorded declines in stayover arrivals. Preliminary data shows 30,508 air arrivals in October, representing a seven percent decrease compared to October 2024, largely due to reduced airlift from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom as well as the impact of Hurricane Melissa on travel to the region. November recorded 52,547 stayover arrivals by air, a marginal one percent decrease year-on-year.
As the Turks and Caicos Islands welcomes visitors back to its shores this winter season, Experience Turks and Caicos would like to reassure that the island remains safe and welcoming. Statistics from the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force show that overall crime is down, with a 40 percent reduction in murders. Experience Turks and Caicos is working closely with the police force to ensure tourism areas are well monitored and patrolled to enhance visitor security.
