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Anguilla Updates Public Health Protocols For Visitors

The Valley, Anguilla, April 13^th, 2021:  Anguilla’s Executive Council has approved a COVID 19 Exit Strategy, comprising a series of revised entry protocols, some of which will become effective immediately, while others will be introduced in phases over the coming months. The strategy is designed to safely transition the island from this extended period of economic contraction towards generating the business activity needed to revitalize the economy.

“We recognize that the widespread distribution and administration of vaccine programs in our major source markets as well as here in Anguilla have profound implications for our tourism industry,” stated the Hon. Minister of Tourism, Mr. Haydn Hughes.  “As more people become vaccinated, and new infections begin to plateau, we believe that revisiting and updating our entry protocols is merited at this time.  As always, the health and protection of both our visitors and our residents is paramount, and we are once again taking a phased approach to the full and safe reopening of our island.”

“We worked diligently with the Ministry of Health to develop our protocols, which secured Anguilla’s position as the leading destination in the successful management and control of the pandemic,” declared the Hon. Parliamentary Secretary Tourism, Mrs. Quincia Gumbs-Marie. “We have continued this successful collaboration in designing our Exit Strategy, which will allow us to rebuild our industry and return to full employment as welcome our visitors back to Anguilla.”

The following measures came into effect on Monday, April 12^th, 2021:

• The stay in place mandate for international travelers who are fully vaccinated, with the final dose administered at least three weeks (21 days) prior to arrival, is reduced from 14 days to seven days.
• Persons will still be required to submit a test 3 – 5 days prior to their arrival, be tested on arrival and at the end of the quarantine period.
• Multi-generational families and/or groups with a mix of unvaccinated and vaccinated persons will all have to quarantine for a 10-day period, utilizing only approved short stay services.

• The Entry Application Fee for fully vaccinated visitors staying under 90 days in a villa or hotel is US$300 per individual, and $200 for each additional person.
• The Entry Application Fee for fully vaccinated returning residents or visitors who are staying in an approved private dwelling home is US$300 per individual, and $200 for each additional person.
• The Entry Application Fee for unvaccinated returning residents or visitors who are staying in an approved private dwelling home is US$600 per individual, and $200 for each additional person.

Effective May 1^st, the following protocols will apply:

• All persons traveling in groups (i.e more than 10 persons) must be fully vaccinated to enter and attend or conduct any mass gatherings in Anguilla, e.g. weddings, conferences, etc.
• Spa, gym and cosmetology services will be allowed if both guests and staff therapists/consultants are fully vaccinated, i.e. three weeks have passed since the final dose of an approved vaccine.
• All frontline hospitality workers, along with port and transportation staff are required to receive the COVID-19 vaccination (first dose by May 1).

“We have safely welcomed thousands of guests over the past five months, and we are confident that we will continue to do so under this amended regime,” declared Mr. Kenroy Herbert, Chairman of the Anguilla Tourist Board.  “Our visitors appreciate the extra steps we have taken to ensure their safety while enabling them to experience our exceptional tourism product.  There is tremendous interest in Anguilla, and we are seeing a significant increase in our arrivals; our forward bookings for this summer and particularly Winter 2021/22 are also very encouraging.”

It is estimated that 65% – 70% of Anguilla’s resident population will have been fully vaccinated by the end of June 2021, enabling the island to achieve herd immunity.  Starting on July 1^st, Anguilla will remove the fee and quarantine requirements for visitors who are fully vaccinated at least three weeks before arrival.  The entry protocols will be further revised in phases, leading to the elimination of all requirements by October 1^st, 2021.

Phase 1 runs from July 1^st through August 31^st, 2021:

• All visitors to Anguilla who are eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19,  are required to be fully vaccinated at least three weeks before arrival (i.e. persons 18 and older).
• Fully vaccinated persons will not be tested upon arrival.
• Persons with evidence of full COVID-19 vaccination will not be required to quarantine on arrival if the final vaccine dose is administered at least three weeks before date of arrival.
• All persons entering Anguilla will be required to produce a negative COVID-19 test 3-5 days before entry.
• Multi-generational families and/or groups with a mix of individuals who are not eligible for the vaccine (i.e. children), will not need to quarantine, but they will need a negative PCR test 3-5 days ahead of arrival, and may be tested on arrival and subsequently during their stay.
• Unvaccinated returning residents will be required to:

–       Produce a negative COVID-19 test 3-5 days prior to arrival

–       Submit to a COVID-19 test on arrival

–       Quarantine for 10 days in approved accommodation

Phase 2 runs from September 1^st through September 30^th, 2021

• Unvaccinated returning residents will be required to:
  • Produce a negative COVID-19 test 3-5 days prior to arrival
  • Submit to a COVID-19 test on arrival
  • Quarantine for 7 days in approved accommodation

Phase 3, which signifies the culmination of the government’s COVID-19 Exit Strategy, comes into effect on October 1^st, 2021:

• The travel authorization application for entry will be removed.
• It will be the duty of all transport operators to ensure that their passengers have all the necessary documentation for entry including:
  • Evidence of completed COVID-19 vaccinations
  • Pre-arrival test for unvaccinated returning residents
• All Phase 2 provisions for unvaccinated persons remain in place.
• The legal requirements for businesses providing services to short stay guests (those operating in the bubble) will be removed entirely.

For travel information on Anguilla please visit the official website of the Anguilla Tourist Board: www.IvisitAnguilla.com/escape; follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnguillaOfficial; Instagram: @Anguilla_Tourism; Twitter: @Anguilla_Trsm, Hashtag: #MyAnguilla.

Barbados’ New COVID-19 Travel Protocols Take Effect May 8th

The Government of Barbados has updated its travel protocols required for entry to the country as it continues to manage the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and protect its citizens and visitors alike.

As a result, due to the global on-going vaccination process, there have been a few changes to the quarantine and COVID-19 testing processes.

Fully Vaccinated Travellers

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has approved the COVID-19 AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer[1]BioNTech or Johnson & Johnson vaccinations for entry into Barbados and effective May 8th, 2021, travellers who are considered to be fully vaccinated are required to:

• Provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result 3 days prior to travel
• Provide a vaccination certificate on arrival to Barbados
• Have a standard or rapid COVID-19 PCR test done at the airport or their approved accommodation
• Use specially designated transportation providers for their transport to their approved accommodation and while awaiting their COVID-19 PCR test result
• Stay at their approved accommodation where they are free to move around in accordance with the guidelines of that property

All fully vaccinated travellers will be required to quarantine for approximately 1 to 2 days.

Unvaccinated Travellers

Any traveller who has not been fully vaccinated, not vaccinated at all, does not have any evidence of vaccination or has travelled from or transited through a country where the prevalence of certain variants of COVID-19 are deemed of particular concern to Barbados, are required to:

• Provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test on arrival 3 days prior to travel
• Use specifically designated transportation providers for their transport from the airport to approved accommodation
• Stay within their rooms/suites before receiving a 2nd negative COVID-19 PCR test. Travellers are not allowed to leave their rooms/suites
• Take their 2nd test 5 days after their arrival to Barbados

All unvaccinated travellers will be required to quarantine for approximately 5 to 7 days.

Special Considerations

Children under 18 who are travelling with fully vaccinated guardians will be allowed to adhere to the fully vaccinated traveller guidelines. If you are travelling within a group as a vaccinated traveller with other unvaccinated travellers, you will be subject to unvaccinated traveller guidelines if you choose not to be separated.

All unaccompanied minors under the age of 18 must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result taken no more than 3 days prior to arrival. Vaccinated unaccompanied minors will follow the guidelines for all vaccinated travellers, whereas, unvaccinated unaccompanied minors will follow the protocol of unvaccinated travellers.

Due to the fluidity of the COVID-19 pandemic, these protocols are likely to change. Travellers are encouraged to check http://www.barbadostravelprotocols.com  for updates.