Wednesday, July 8, 2020
The government of Saint Lucia have decided to introduce several new and updated protocols for arrivals starting July 9 as the venue is set to reopen the tourism sector. The decision arrived following a reassessment of market conditions. It would be mandatory for travellers to obtain a negative PCR (polymerised chain reaction) test within seven days of travel. Only visitors arriving from countries in the travel bubble designated by the government of Saint Lucia will be exempted from the test. These include destinations that have zero or a low instance of COVID-19 cases.
Visitors with a travel history from destinations like Antigua, Barbuda, Aruba, Anguilla, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Martin, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos would be exempted from the seven-day pre-testing requirement. These travellers will also not be required to quarantine if they have a travel history in these areas in the last 14-days.
Meanwhile, all visitors and returning citizens are required to complete a pre-arrival registration form prior to touchdown in Saint Lucia. They are required to fill out details including proof of negative PCR testing and indicate which COV ID-19 Certified hotel they will be staying in. It is also mandatory for all citizens and residents returning to Saint Lucia to complete the pre-arrival registration. Travellers will also have to quarantine for 14-days at a pre-approved home quarantine address, government operated quarantine facility or a COVID-19 certified property upon arrival.
In addition, all arriving passengers will be screened at the airport including temperature checks. Any symptomatic passengers will be isolated and tested. These visitors would be required to remain in quarantine or isolation at their hotel or any government operated quarantine facility until the test result is obtained. If the test is positive, they will be transferred to a treatment facility until they receive two negative test results and are clinically stable.
On the other hand, passengers arriving with proof of a negative PCR test may be excused from on-island testing and advance through immigration, baggage claim, customs and arrivals for transportation to their COVID-19 certified hotel, pre-approved home quarantine facility or government operated quarantine facility. However, any individual arriving without proof of a negative PCR test will be subject to immediate isolation and testing with possible quarantine or treatment (if tested positive) at their own cost.
