| Beaches to reopen June 13 after thorough cleaning |
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| Written by Richard Green/richard@fptci.com | |||
| Friday, 08 June 2012 15:59 | |||
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Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort and Spa has postponed its reopening until June 13 to thoroughly clean the resort after nearly 150 guests suffered from some type of gastroenteritis. The country’s largest resort located on Providenciales had announced June 3 that it stopped accepting reservations until June 9 after guests and employees were stricken with a form of gastroenteritis which produces diarrhea and vomiting. The Ministry of Health has confirmed that 10 cases norovirus have been detected so far in the country but has not said where people might have contracted the illness. Norovirus can be transmitted from person to person through contact with vomitus or feces of infected individuals, consumption of contaminated food or water, contact with soiled surfaces and bed linens and other items. Other than supportive therapy, norovirus usually requires little by way of medical interventions and usually resolves without incident. “Based on information received from both international experts and local health authorities, the resort felt that it was in the best interests of its guests, team members and residents of Turks and Caicos Islands to complete an extensive sterilization program while the resort was completely unoccupied,” the resort said in a June 7 statement explaining the later reopening date. The resort said 39 people (1.35 percent) of guests and staff complained of the illness in the week beginning May 21, and 94 people (3.15 percent) reported the symptoms during the following week. “The comprehensive disinfection includes a complete sterilization of all public areas, complete stripping and sterilizing of all accommodations, sterilizing of all cushions, mattresses and couches, the removal and isolated sterilization of all linen, curtain and drapes as well as the quarantining of all rooms to ensure that no traces of the virus remain,” Beaches said in the statement. “We are committed to ensuring that Beaches delivers the best possible vacation experience and visitors leave with a wonderful impression of the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Sandals Resorts International CEO Adam Stewart said. “As a result, we have compensated and rebooked all guests. “We understand the disappointment and sincerely regrets the inconvenience that this will cause to guests, and we are working hard to assure visitors to the Turks and Caicos Islands that they can do so with peace of mind and excitement. This is essential to ensuring the long term reputation of the country.” Despite the closure, the resort’s staff remains fully employed and has been receiving their full base salary, Beaches said. Another Providenciales resort, Grace Bay Club, announced May 24 that it stopped accepting reservations until June 1 to sanitize the resort after the illness was reported. The TCI Tourist Board has said that only a few resorts reported the illness, but that the rest of the country was safe and open for business. The Ministry of Health said the number of reports is decreasing, but that people should continue “to practice healthy hygienic measures at all times such as frequent hand washing, especially when preparing meals, before eating and after using the toilet.” The ministry asks that anyone who experiences the symptoms to report to any health care facility for evaluation and treatment. People who have been affected by the illness should contact the team at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 649-941-8316. The has advised the public to:
If you become ill:
If you have nausea, vomiting or diarrhea and or cramping:
For more information on norovirus, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/norovirus.
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| Last Updated on Tuesday, 12 June 2012 09:16 |
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