Barbados places United Kingdom in high-risk COVID category

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Barbados has placed the United Kingdom in the category of “high risk” countries as Britain deals with a new wave of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

“We have been closely following the developments in the UK, particularly the surge in their COVID-19 numbers within the past week, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson referred to as a second wave. These large increases are of concern to our public health officials who have recommended the new classification of the UK to the high-risk category,” said Tourism and International Transport Minister, Lisa Cummins.

She said that the Ministry of Health and Wellness, in conjunction with the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., released the country’s updated travel protocols which will see the United Kingdom moving to the category effective October 1.

Visitors travelling from the United Kingdom, in addition to the mandatory COVID-19 PCR test taken at least 72-hours prior to arrival, will now also be required to undergo a second test in Barbados, five days after the date of their first accepted test.

The authorities said that until the second test is taken, visitors from the UK will remain in hotels designated by the Ministry of Health and Wellness and their movements will be restricted within that property.

They will also be monitored for seven days after arriving in Barbados, including daily temperature checks and reporting to their assigned health officer.

“Travel has changed. In light of COVID-19, we all understand that it will not be business as usual and we have to prioritise the health of all parties involved. We welcome all visitors to our shores, however, we must ensure that we do so safely and responsibly.

“Many of our visitors are travelling to have that mental health break from the challenges of going through this pandemic. We need to ensure that we can welcome them to a Barbados that is able to keep them safe and healthy. I am confident that our protocols, as we continue to revise them in keeping with the fluidity of the situation, accomplish this goal,” said Cummings.

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