BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Barbados has established a travel bubble for persons coming from select countries as it seeks to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
(File Photo)The authorities said that the bubble, which went into effect last weekend, will allow fully vaccinated travelers from Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Anguilla, Montserrat, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, St. Maarten, Turks and Caicos, Cayman Islands and Bermuda to enter the island.
But they will have to present a valid pre-flight negative PCR test, to be exempt from further quarantine or testing upon arrival in Barbados.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Kenneth George, said that the countries in the travel bubble had low COVID-19 positivity rates and low cases per 100,000 population, “every fortnight.
“We have a system in place to monitor the bubble countries and if their fortunes change quickly, they will be so removed [from the bubble],” he said.
The CMO also noted that Barbados had also expanded its list of countries of concern and that persons, whether fully vaccinated or unvaccinated, who have travelled through or from these countries within the last 21 days, must arrive in Barbados with a valid COVID-19 standard PCR test taken within three days prior to travel.
These countries include Haiti, Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Suriname and Kenya
In addition, they must have a COVID-19 standard PCR test conducted on arrival at the airport; complete seven days in-room quarantine with no exceptions; be tested on the eighth day and on receipt of a negative test result, can leave quarantine.
The authorities said that all passengers travelling through or from these countries are required to quarantine, at their own expense, at one of the island’s designated quarantine properties as listed in the Travel Protocols.
Meanwhile, Barbados recorded 11 new COVID-19 cases including five females from 739 tests carried out on Sunday. There are currently 151 people in isolation.
Since March last year, confirmed COVID-19 cases have moved to 4,269 (2,071 females and 2,198 males). The viral illness has claimed 48 lives.
The public health laboratory has conducted 202,157 tests. The number of first doses administered under the National Vaccination Program is 98,206. Additionally, 73,427 people have received second doses of the COVID-19 vaccines. This number represents 27.1 per cent of the population.
