The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) government has extended the nightly curfew by 15 days as the territory continues to put in place measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Health Minister, Edwin Astwood, said

that the curfew for Turks and Caicos and South Caicos, will remain in place

until September 30.

“Curfew

for all other islands will continue to be in place from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. (local

time) daily starting September 15th 2020 to

September 30th 2020 with the exception of essential workers,

with the closure of all businesses at 7:00 p.m. daily,” he said.

The TCI has recorded 646 cases of the

virus and five deaths since the pandemic was first detected in China last

December.

“Curfew is revised for the islands of

Grand Turk and South Caicos from 6:00 pm to 5:00 a.m. daily starting September

15th 2020 to September 30th 2020 with the exception of essential workers,

 with the closure of all businesses at 5:00 p.m. daily,” Astwood said,

adding that domestic travel restrictions are also extended until the end of the

month.

He said also that inter-island private

or commercial air or sea transport that is non-essential will not be allowed

and that the authorities will only allow travel for the purposes of banking,

doctor and hospital visits, emergencies and cargo.

“No person shall offer for hire or seek

to travel on any public service vehicle transportation or any public

transportation save for persons who are authorised under regulation,” he said,

warning that failure to comply with the regulations is now ticketable offenses

with a set fine of US$250.