First death from COVID-19 in Turks and Caicos

The Turks and Caicos Islands has recorded its first death from the novel coronavirus.

A joint press statement from TCI Hospital and government confirmed that the patient, who was under clinical management and isolation at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, passed away shortly before midnight on Saturday, April 4.

The middle-aged male resident was admitted to the facility on March 21 in critical condition and had been receiving aggressive respiratory care.

He was the second person in the Turks and Caicos Islands diagnosed with COVID-19.

Prior to hospital admission he had travelled to the United States and later developed fever and respiratory symptoms.

Due to patient confidentiality no further details can be released, the statement said, but the family of the deceased has been formally notified.

Meantime, a government statement on Sunday morning said two additional persons suspected of having COVID-19 were admitted to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre over the past 48 hours.

On Friday, April 3, a man in his 30s presented with severe acute respiratory infection and had no recent travel history.

On Saturday, April 4, a woman in her 20’s also presented with severe acute respiratory infection and met the case definition of suspected COVID-19. She had recently travelled to the United Kingdom.

Both persons were transported to the emergency department via ambulance and are currently receiving supportive clinical care. The public health team was notified and samples were collected for overseas testing.

Due to patient confidentiality no further details can be provided, the statement said.

Authorities commenced immediate contact tracing and persons identified in the process are required to undergo quarantine and/or screening as a precautionary measure.

To date, there are three persons suspected of COVID-19 under isolation and clinical management at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre.

On April 1, the case definition for COVID-19 was amended for Turks and Caicos Islands, therefore a travel history is no longer needed to fit the criteria.

Given the closure of the TCI borders it is likely that new cases would be as a result of local transmission, the Ministry of Health said.

As at Saturday, there were 288 people under quarantine/observation in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

These included the five confirmed cases, 17 contacts of a confirmed case, 10 with possible contact of a confirmed case, 11 suspected cases, one symptomatic person under investigation, 23 relatives/contacts of suspected cases or persons under investigation, two persons travelling from highly affected countries, and 219 TCI residents. (The Sun)