Health
BA 2 Variant Identified in the Turks and Caicos Islands
#TurksandCaicos, April 29, 2022 – On 29th April 2022, the Ministry of Health and Human Services received the results of sequencing of samples which were sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). Samples were submitted by the National Public Health Laboratory in the TCI as a part of its routine surveillance for variants of COVID-19.
Out of 26 samples submitted for sequencing, 22 results were reported with 20 out of the 22 samples being Omicron BA.2 lineage. The remaining two samples were BA.1 and BA.1.1. Of the BA.2 samples, 16 were from visitors and 4 from residents on the islands of Providenciales, Grand Turk and South Caicos.
SARS-CoV-2 is the virus which causes COVID-19. It has evolved and mutated since the start of the pandemic. All viruses mutate over time. Through global monitoring by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other public health bodies, variants of the virus have been identified and named. Variants of concern are defined as variants for which there is evidence of an increase in transmissibility (ease of spread), more severe disease (for example, increased hospitalizations or deaths), reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines, or diagnostic detection failures. The omicron or BA.1 variant was designated by the WHO as a variant of concern on November 26, 2021. Due to its highly transmissible nature, it caused surges in cases of COVID-19 around the world including the TCI. At this time, it became the predominant strain globally. This variant caused milder illness, resulting in fewer deaths and hospitalisations than the delta variant which had spread across the world earlier.
BA.2 is a subvariant of the omicron variant and is even more transmissible than the original omicron variant. It is highly transmissible meaning that it tends to spread rapidly from person to person. It is not thought to cause severe disease, however, hospitalisations and deaths have been noted in the current surges attributed to this variant. Factors such as vaccination status and prior infection as well as the presence of underlying health conditions have an impact on the severity of illness resulting from infection with this variant as well as outcomes.
Studies have shown that vaccinations and boosters offer strong protection against severe disease and hospitalization due to COVID-19 and its variants. As some studies have shown a waning in the protection offered by vaccines with time, boosters including the second booster have been approved particularly for those who may be vulnerable.
The Ministry of Health would like to use this opportunity to encourage residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19 if they have not already done so, and if they have received second dose of the vaccine more than three months ago, to get boosted. For those who are at high risk and who have received the booster dose more than six months previously, a fourth dose is available. COVID-19 vaccines are provided free of cost to all residents of the TCI at all Government Primary Health Care Clinics as well as all private medical facilities. Vaccines are also available for children from 5 years and older. Please contact your health care provider so that you can get your shot.
The Ministry of Health continues to encourage persons to: 
- Wash their hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
- Maintain social distancing of 6 feet between persons
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or use disposable tissues
- If you have symptoms of COVID-19 which include cough, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath, fever, diarrhea, loss of sense of taste or smell-please stay at home and contact the Health Hotlines on 232 9444 or 333 0911 for guidance
- If you are symptomatic, please remain at home and wear a well-fitting mask unless your symptoms get worse such as:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone in which case please contact 911 immediately
- If you have tested positive, please follow the MOH guidance which can be found on https://www.gov.tc/moh/coronavirus/guidance/1581-guidance-for-persons-who-testpositive-for-covid-19
- GET TESTED-know your status. Testing is free at Ministry of Health testing sites
- Refrain from speculation and spreading rumors
- Stay informed with the latest information from the Ministry of Health by visiting our website on https://www.gov.tc/moh/coronavirus/
Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
Turks and Caicos, September 6, 2025 – COVID-19 fears in the Turks and Caicos Islands that once had residents on edge are now giving way to a sense of relief. The Ministry of Health and Human Services reports a dramatic reversal: from dozens of new cases in July to zero cases and zero hospitalizations today.
Between August 17 and 23, 2025, officials confirmed no new cases, no hospitalizations, and no new deaths. Just two recoveries were recorded, bringing the national recovery tally to 6,866. The total confirmed cases since 2020 stand at 6,922, with deaths unchanged at 41. Health officials say August has been relatively quiet overall, with 19 new cases and recoveries recorded for the month — a fraction of what the islands faced just weeks earlier.
The contrast could not be sharper. The most concerning bulletin came in mid-July, when the Ministry reported 54 new cases in a single
week. Ten were fresh positives, while the other 44 came from a backlog of April samples. At that time, two new hospitalizations were recorded, and the islands mourned one additional COVID-related death, bringing the total to 41. It was a sobering reminder that the virus was still circulating, pushing recoveries to 6,845 and raising the cumulative case count to 6,910. The July spike stirred fear among residents and renewed calls for vigilance, as community spread and delayed lab results painted a worrying picture.
Fast forward to late August, and the numbers tell a very different story. Not only are new cases negligible, but the hospitals are reporting no COVID-19 patients at all. Officials say testing continues across a wide range of categories, and the Ministry urges the public to stay cautious: wash hands, wear masks in crowded spaces, protect the vulnerable, and get vaccinated. But the tone now is one of optimism.
Since the pandemic began in 2020, Turks and Caicos has recorded nearly 7,000 cases in total, with 6,866 recoveries and 41 deaths. The islands’ small population means every case has felt significant, and surges like July’s were especially unsettling. But today’s figures suggest the country has reached a new stage: COVID-19 is no longer the disruptive force it was. The Ministry credits continued public vigilance and the accessibility of free testing and vaccines at government clinics. While the numbers are cause for celebration, health leaders are careful not to declare the fight over. The Ministry’s latest bulletin reminds residents to maintain hygienic practices, follow self-isolation guidelines if infected, and ensure vaccinations are up to date.
The pandemic may not be entirely behind the Turks and Caicos, but compared to the frightening figures of July, the near-zero landscape of August offers a powerful sign of hope.
The Ministry released the bulletin on September 2, confirming that for the week of August 17–23, no new cases, hospitalizations, or deaths were recorded — a sharp contrast to the surge just weeks earlier.
Health
Turks and Caicos Islands Health Delegation Completes Strategic Visits to Florida and Cayman Islands to Advance Health Sector Reform and Strengthen Treatment Abroad Programme
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 22 August 2025 — A high-level delegation from the Ministry of Health and Human Services (MOHHS) has successfully concluded strategic working visits to Florida and the Cayman Islands from August 5–13, 2025. The mission aimed to strengthen the Treatment Abroad Programme, explore innovative health system models, and advance the Turks and Caicos Islands’ health sector reform agenda through strategic regional partnerships.
Delegation Members:
- Hon. Kyle Knowles – Minister of Health and Human Services
MoHHS Team with Health City Executive Management Team
- Mrs. Desiree Lewis – Permanent Secretary, Health and Human Services
- Mr. Lynrod Brooks – Director, Health Policy and Planning
- Ms. Florinda Talbot – Contract Performance Manager
- Mrs. Romaine Missick-Smith – CEO, Health Regulations Authority
- Ms. Jasmine Malcolm – Executive Administrator, MOHHS
Minister of Health and Human Services, Hon. Kyle Knowles, highlighted the significance of these engagements:
“These visits were not ceremonial; they were strategic, focused, and impactful. In Florida, we reinforced partnerships with leading healthcare providers to ensure TCI patients referred overseas receive the highest standards of clinical care and patient support. In the Cayman Islands, our mission was two-fold: to study the operations of the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority as a model to guide the establishment of our own Health Services Authority, and to strengthen ties with Cayman-based treatment partners, where many of our patients are referred under the Treatment Abroad Programme. Both visits underscored that small island states share many health challenges, and that collaboration, innovation, and adapting best practices to our local context are essential to achieving better health outcomes for our people.”
Florida – Strengthening the Treatment Abroad Programme
MoHHS Team with Cayman Minsterial officials
During the period August 5–9, the delegation visited Broward Medical Center, University of Miami Health System, Cleveland Clinic, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, and the International Reinsurance Managers Network. They also toured REVA Air Ambulance Services to review medical evacuation operations and patient transfer management. Discussions centered on patient care pathways, specialized services in ophthalmology, cardiology, oncology, and pediatrics, family-centered care models, advanced telemedicine for pre- and post-treatment consultations, and reinsurance strategies for high-cost overseas cases. Key outcomes include agreements to expand telehealth consultations, develop a standardized referral package to reduce delays, explore reinsurance arrangements to safeguard public health budgets, and establish specialized pediatric transfer protocols.
Cayman Islands – Health Sector Reform and Treatment Abroad Partnerships
From August 10–13, the delegation engaged with senior executives at Health City Cayman Islands, including Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil (Clinical Director), Shomari Scott (Chief Business Development Officer), Rebecca Brooks (Head of Marketing and Sales), and Ingrid Harris (Sales and Marketing). The team toured two hospital facilities and held in-depth discussions with Lizzette Yearwood, Chief Executive Officer along with leadership staff of the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority
The focus was two-fold:
- Health Sector Reform – Examining governance, financial management, and operational structures of the Cayman Islands HSA model
MoHHS Team with CEO and senior official Cayman HSA
to inform TCI’s development of its own Health Services Authority.
- Treatment Abroad Strengthening – Reviewing current referral arrangements with Cayman healthcare partners to enhance patient care coordination and improve treatment pathways for TCI patients referred to Cayman.
The delegation also met with Honourable Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Minister for Health, Environment, Sustainability, and Honourable G. Wayne Panton, Parliamentary Secretary for Health. The team concluded with a meeting with Acting Premier Hon. Gary B. Rutty and Cabinet members, reaffirming the shared commitment to improving healthcare access and outcomes through regional collaboration.
Next Steps
The Ministry will incorporate lessons learned from these visits into ongoing health reform planning, ensuring that the proposed Health Services Authority is tailored to TCI’s needs while reflecting regional best practices. Efforts will continue to ensure that the Treatment Abroad Programme delivers efficient, sustainable, and patient-centered care.
