Caribbean destinations St Lucia and Barbados have tightened their Covid-19 protocols.
From Wednesday, February 10, all arrivals to Saint Lucia (aged 5 years or older) must provide a negative result from a Covid-19 PCR test taken no more than five days before arrival, down from the previous requirement to produce a test taken seven days prior to arrival.
In line with existing protocols, arrivals must also complete and submit a travel registration form, and adhere to safety protocols in place throughout the island, including wearing a mask in public places.
Screening and temperature checks are mandatory at ports of entry and throughout visitors’ stay, and transfers must be carried out by a certified taxi to Covid-19 approved accommodation.
Tourism minister Dominic Fedee said: “In order to co-exist with Covid, we must constantly evaluate our safety and travel protocols.
“In due consideration of all factors affecting the health of Saint Lucian citizens and international visitors, we are tightening testing protocols based on our current conditions.”
In Barbados, a curfew has been extended so it is now in place from 7pm to 6am, rather than 9pm to 6am from today (February 3) until February 17.
Beaches will only be open between 7am and 9am and for exercise and swimming only until that date, and some non-essential businesses will remain closed.
This is in addition to existing protocols which include providing a PCR test taken three days before travel – with a copy of the results required on arrival, with visitors potentially asked to reconfirm their first negative PCR test with a rapid antigen test.
Visitors must remain in their room at their accommodation for five days (120 hours), and then take a second Covid 19 PCR test. Once they receive a negative result from this second PCR test, they will be able to leave quarantine.
International travel from the UK is currently banned under the UK government’s national lockdown restrictions and anyone entering the UK must self-isolate for 10 days.