NEW REGULATIONS TAKE EFFECT FROM MAY 3.
Since the declaration of the outbreak of COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General in January 30, 2020, over 200 countries have been affected by the disease. To date, there have been over 146 million confirmed cases reported globally with over 3 million recorded deaths.
In the Caribbean Region, 708, 459 confirmed cases in 35 countries/territories (including the 26 CARPHA Member States) have been recorded. With continued international spread of the disease and the detection of the new variant of SARS- CoV-2, the risk of further cases occurring in the Caribbean region remains very high.
Due to the sustained transmission of COVID-19 in many countries, the Department of Health and Wellness meticulously monitors COVID-19 trends globally and continues to update the national policy accordingly. In keeping with the OECS Recommendations on the Reopening of Borders, the Government of Saint Lucia implements the following:
-All incoming passengers (including persons from the Caribbean bubble) should present with a negative COVID-19 PCR test 5 days prior to travel.
- All non-national arriving passengers from destinations outside the ‘bubble’ will be allocated at a COVID-19 approved accommodation site.
- All arriving passengers from destinations within the ‘bubble’ will be exempt from the 14 days of quarantine if presenting with a negative COVID-19 PCR test 5 days prior to travel.
- All arriving passengers from within the ‘bubble’ must have travelled directly (been in-transit for less than 24 hours) from a country within the bubble and have been in that country for at least 21 days.
- All arriving passengers from within the ‘bubble’ who have been in-transit in a country outside of the ‘bubble’ will be subjected to 14 days of quarantine.
- All returning nationals from destinations outside the “bubble’ will be subject to 14 days of quarantine.
As of May 03, 2021, the following countries/territories form a part of the Caribbean Bubble:
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Barbados
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Montserrat
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Turks and Caicos Islands
Effective May 03, 2021, ALL persons from outside of this updated ‘Caribbean Bubble’ will be required to present with a negative COVID-19 PCR test result 5 days prior to travel AND complete a mandatory 14 days of quarantine.