Barbados Starts Commercial Flights with Covid-19 Protocols

WITH the resumption of commercial flights to Barbados, the Government has set up protocols to guide air travel as coronavirus restrictions are relaxed.

Nation News reported that an Air Canada flight was the first to arrive on Sunday at the Grantley Adams International Airport with 132 passengers.

All flights were cancelled earlier this year as borders closed to stop the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.

On Monday, the Barbados Government joined other countries in relaxing restrictions to boost the economy.

Nation News outlined the Covid-19 Public Health Protocols For Air Travel to Barbados as follows:

Requirements for Entry into Barbados

1. All travellers to Barbados must complete a Pre-Arrival on-line Embarkation/Disembarkation (ED) form. It is urged that this be done at least 24 hours before arrival.

This online form will include ED information, including intended address and health information, and effective from July 15, 2020, will allow for the uploading of Covid-19 PCR test results.

2. Travellers can go to www.travelform.gov.bbto complete the form.
3. People travelling to Barbados are strongly encouraged to take a Covid-19 PCR Test from an accredited or certified facility/laboratory. Relevant accrediting bodies and standards include: ISO:15189, CAP, UKAS or equivalent. Tests should be done within 72 hours prior to travel to Barbados. Test results should be submitted electronically and travellers should also bring a copy of test results with them.

Submitted tests must be validated by the Ministry of Health and Wellness in Barbados. Test results will not be validated unless they bear the name of the traveller.

4. People without a negative PCR test result from an accredited or recognised laboratory will be required to take a test upon arrival.
5. For those requiring a Covid-19 PCR test; tests will be available at the airport free of charge or for a fee of USD $150, at certain satellite/hotel sites.
6. The Ministry of Health and Wellness reserves the right to require the testing of any person regardless of documentation presented.
7. People travelling from the low risk countries within the “travel bubble”, who have not visited a high risk country within 21 days prior to arrival, will be exempted from the pretesting requirement. The “travel bubble” refers to low risk CARICOM and Caribbean countries currently including: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Anguilla, Bahamas, Belize Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Barthelemy, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Martin, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos).

Procedures at the Barbados Airport

8. Masks must be worn while at the airport in Barbados.
9. All incoming people must undergo a health assessment which may include a temperature check and a brief interview by Port Health personnel.
10. All incoming travellers (except from within the “Travel Bubble”) who have taken a Covid-19 PCR test prior to arrival will be required to present the result on arrival for verification by the Ministry of Health and Wellness in Barbados. This test must have been conducted within the period specified.

Results of tests conducted outside of the time specified shall not be accepted. Any person who fails to satisfy the above requirement must undergo a Covid-19 PCR test in Barbados on arrival.

11. A visitor who does not present a valid negative test result and who declines testing on arrival will be denied entry into Barbados.
12. Citizens, Permanent Residents and people with permanent status who do not present a valid negative test result and decline testing on arrival will be quarantined in a Government facility.
13. Travellers who arrive with a negative Covid-19 PCR test may advance to Immigration, Baggage Claim and Customs and will be permitted to leave the airport.
14. People who are tested at the airport will be offered a choice of and transported to either Government accommodation or, should they choose, a designated holding hotel to await the results of their test.

Should they choose a designated hotel, it will be at their own expense. People must remain in that accommodation until they receive their results. Test results would normally be expected to be available within 24 hours.

In-transit passengers

15. Masks must be worn while at the airport in Barbados.
16. In-transit passengers must undergo a health assessment which may include a temperature check and a brief interview by Port Health personnel.
17. In transit passengers are strongly urged to have a COVID-19 test prior to arrival.
18. Except for people from within the “travel bubble” in transit passengers without evidence of a valid negative test will be tested in Barbados. Should they not have a negative test they will either not be permitted to leave the airport or will be quarantined until departure or receipt of a negative test result.

During Stay in Barbados

19. Visitors must abide by all public health and social measures in place in Barbados related to Covid-19 risk reduction, including physical distancing, hygiene practices, wearing of face mask and all other relevant measures.
20. Anyone who experiences any symptoms is required to report to public health officials or relevant hotel/accommodation management.
21. Travellers from high risk countries may be monitored daily for the onset of symptoms and may be subjected to a follow-up second Covid-19 PCR test at day 7. If this second test is negative active monitoring would be discontinued. If a second test is not done people will be monitored for 14 days.
22. Travellers from moderate risk countries will be monitored for seven days.
23. A person may be requested to undergo an additional test for Covid-19 if circumstances arise during the period of monitoring that require it.
24. People who test positive will be transferred to alternative accommodations for isolation and treatment until they have been cleared by having two consecutive negative tests. After clearance, people may resume their planned activities.
25. Anyone who is deemed to have been in close contact with a positive case will be quarantined at facilities approved by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

Departure from Barbados

26. A mask must be worn while in the airport.