2020 News

Anguilla – COVID-19 Update 12

Executive Council met on July 12 to consider matters relating to the COVID-19 situation.

Cases/suspected cases – there are no active or suspected cases of COVID-19 in Anguilla, but we must not be complacent. We ask you all to continue to practice social distancing and good basic hygiene to prevent the spread of all infectious diseases.

Border Closure – based on the current situation, the borders will remain closed for passenger movements until at least July 30 except for:

• medical emergencies and evacuations with the approval of the Chief Medical Officer; and
• persons wishing to leave Anguilla on flights/boats to approved destinations.

Repatriation – To date almost 200 persons have been repatriated without incident. However, based on the rapidly evolving situation, particularly the significant increase in cases in the Americas, Executive Council today took the difficult decision to suspend repatriations from countries and territories with active cases of more than 0.2 percent of the population. This figure has been determined, based on the best current technical advice. This suspension is effective immediately and will remain in place until July 25 at the earliest. This decision was driven by the need to protect the health of the nation.

Executive Council advises that persons who have registered on the COVID-19 website but not yet approved to travel should shelter in place until further notice. This suspension does not impact persons already approved to be repatriated. It also does not impact repatriation from certain Caribbean and European countries with low percentages of active COVID-19 cases. A list of these countries will be published on the beatcovid19 website.

Protecting Anguilla from illegal entry – we continue to judge that illegal and therefore uncontrolled boat landings remain the greatest threat to our health and security. Coordinated land, sea and air patrols remain in place and anyone attempting or assisting an illegal crossing will be arrested. We thank you all for your vigilance in reporting any boat movements. Should you have any information you wish to share with the authorities you can do so in confidence at – www.gov.ai/911.

Prohibition on boat use – regulations prohibiting the use of any boat in Anguilla’s waters unless specifically exempted remain in force until 30 July.

Playing your part – the steps we have all been taking are helping to keep us safe. No active cases does not mean we should stop hygienic practices or respiratory etiquette. So once again, we urge you all to take the simple steps that save lives:

• wash your hands frequently;
• cover coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue, or in the crook of a flexed elbow;
• frequently clean and disinfect shared spaces and work surfaces; and
• avoid contact with persons suffering from or exhibiting symptoms of acute respiratory infections such as the flu, coughs, and colds.

Let us remind you again of the Ministry of Health hotline on COVID-19. The number is 1-264- 476- 7627 that is 476 SOAP, or 1-264- 584- 4263, that is 584-HAND.

You can also access the most recent guidance and information at www.beatcovid19.ai

The Bahamas – Testing Protocol for Incoming Visitors

Update #88

The Ministry of Health wishes to advise the public that travelers must complete a Bahamas Health Visa application and present a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test with a sample taken within ten (10) days of arrival.

Effective immediately, all travelers will be required to complete an electronic Bahamas Health Visa application before departure from the place of embarkation. This can be found at travel.gov.bs. Travelers are required to upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test and provide contact information.

The Government of The Bahamas will accept the negative COVID-19 RT-PCR (swab) test if the sample was taken within (10) ten days of arrival. Tests over ten (10) days old will not be accepted.

An automated response will be provided once the application is completed. The only persons approved to travel are those who have received a green color-coded response, as proof of approval. This confirmation must be presented upon arrival in The Bahamas. The Health Visa application process will take twenty-four to forty-eight (24-48) hours and should be completed with adequate lead time.

Failure to comply with the stated requirements will result in denied entry. It is recommended that all travelers interested in visiting The Bahamas review requirements applicable to each member of their traveling party at www.bahamas.com/travelupdates before booking a trip.

For more information, or to view the Tourism Readiness and Recovery Plan, please visit www.bahamas.com/travelupdates. You may also contact the Ministry of Tourism COVID-19 travel hotline at (242) 502-0829 Monday to Friday, 8 AM – 6 PM, or via email at contactusteam@bahamas.com.

Caribbean Airlines Passengers Required to Wear Face Masks

Port-of-Spain July 10 2020- Caribbean Airlines is committed to protecting the safety and well-being of our customers and employees in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We require all customers to wear a face mask/covering throughout their entire journey at all Caribbean Airlines touch-points  from check-in at the airport, departure gate areas, jet-bridges and on-board the aircraft for the duration of the flight.

This requirement is compulsory. Refusal to comply, shall result in customers being denied boarding by the airline; except in the case of children under the age of 2 years, or adults who have a medical condition which prevents them from using a mask.

Any special exemptions would need to be endorsed by a medical practitioner and approved by Caribbean Airlines before travel.

For further information and guidelines for travel, please visit the link on our website https://www.caribbean-airlines.com/#/travelalerts/travel-guide-to-keep-you-safe

Grenada Announces Phased Approach to Reopening its Borders

Entry Requirements Confirmed for low, medium and high risk Countries 

The Government of Grenada has announced a phased approach to the reopening of its borders, promoting a smooth, systematic and safe process. For this process countries will be categorized as Low, Medium or High-risk, for the purposes of entry requirements to Grenada. The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has detailed the protocols for travellers into Grenada in an official comprehensive document for each of the three categories in the following link: Protocols for Travellers into Grenada.

Meantime, the UK Government has named Grenada as one of the countries that British passengers upon returning from, will not be required to self-isolate. An official UK travel bulletin, ‘Travel Corridors: countries and territories exemption list” reads, from July 10, unless they have visited or stopped in any other country or territory in the preceding 14 days, passengers arriving from the listed countries and territories will not be required to self isolate on arrival into England and Grenada is included in this list.

Through the hard work and diligence of the Government of Grenada and the Ministry of Health, the coronavirus was successfully contained by closing borders since March 22, imposing a limited state of emergency, social distancing, the wearing of face coverings and screening and testing. Grenada presently has no active cases of COVID-19 since June 18 with only 23 positive cases recorded. Finally, as of Tuesday July 8, 2020, the curfew has been lifted in the tri-island state of Grenada, Carriacou and Peitite Martinique. The relaxed measures come on the heels of Grenada’s success in being a COVID free destination and our preparedness for the gradual reopening of the borders.