COVID-19 test requirement for visitors being reconsidered: CARICOM BUSINESS

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda says it is reconsidering asking tourists to quarantine at their hotel and could also drop the requirement for an advanced COVID-19 negative test result. This as the island is slated to reopen its borders on June 1 with tourist arrivals expected within a few days after that.

Information Minister Melford Nicholas says “it’s not going to be feasible to impose a 14-day quarantine on a would-be visitor.”  Another requirement that international visitors present a negative covid-19 test is also under review, according to the Minister. He says such a move is unlikely and impractical and instead the government is mulling rapid virus testing to be carried out at ports of entry at a cost to be borne by the visitor. Nicholas said passengers will be allowed to disembark and enter Antigua once there is a “confidence level of approximately 98 per cent”. (AN)

The IMF Executive Board has approved the request of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) for emergency financing assistance of about US$16 million to help address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The pandemic has hit St. Vincent and the Grenadines hard. Tourism receipts have dried up, as tourism arrivals have come to a complete halt,” the IMF said on Wednesday. “The economy is now projected to contract by 5.5 —7.8 percentage points below pre-COVID-19 projections. A drop in fiscal revenues, combined with additional direct health and social expenditures, will increase the fiscal deficit and financing needs. (IWNSVG)

EXTRACT FROM THE VOL 3 NO 21 EDITION OF CARICOM BUSINESS

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CARICOM Business May 22 2020_vol-3_no-21