Foreign tourists staying in Dominican Republic hotels will be able to have free rapid antigen tests until the end of March.
The country’s ministry of health will donate 400,000 antigen tests as part of the Traveller Assistance Plan being provided by the government for international visitors.
They will be offered until March 31 and will be administered to guests by health personnel in the hotels.
The hotels can also help guests to make appointments for PCR testing for those who need them, but those costs will be covered by the traveller.
The tourism ministry said there is capacity in the country’s laboratories for 11,000 tests per day “which guarantees sufficient capacity for locals and visitors”.
Over the next three weeks, there will be an increase of 40% to ensure that tourists do not encounter any problems getting PCR tests before heading home.
Tourism minister David Collado said: “The Dominican Republic continues to be committed to offering a safe tourism experience both to those who visit us and for all Dominicans involved in the industry’s supply chain.
“Therefore we are continuously reviewing measures to offer our visitors the necessary facilities to enjoy a holiday and a return trip with complete peace of mind.”
Until March 31, all international tourists arriving by air and staying in a hotel have a free medical coverage plan that covers all types of emergencies, including contracting Covid-19.