The United States has issued an order requiring incoming passengers to provide proof of a negative coronavirus (COVID-19) test or recovery from COVID-19.
A health alert posted on the website of the US Embassy in Barbados on Saturday said: “US citizens in countries where adequate COVID-19 testing is not available or may not be able to satisfy the requirements, should depart immediately or prepare to be unable to return to the United States until such time as they can meet the requirements.”
This follows recent action by Britain which said from January 18 all travel corridors with the United Kingdom will be suspended.
A media statement from the British High Commission said emergency measures were introduced “to be in place for at least one month in order to protect the UK against new virus variants”.
Britain said “all international arrivals to the UK from any country (including British and Irish Nationals) must now take a pre-departure test and self-isolate for ten days”.
Additionally, passengers “must continue to fill in a Passenger Locator Form and have a negative test before travelling to the UK or could face a £500 fine for each”.
The US health alert also said: “The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director has signed an order requiring all airline passengers travelling to the United States, including US citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs), to provide proof of a negative coronavirus COVID-19 viral test or recovery from COVID-19.
“Effective January 26, all airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older must provide either a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel or provide a positive test result and documentation from a licensed health care provider or public health official of having recovered from COVID-19 in the 90 days preceding travel.
“Passengers must also attest, under penalty of law, to having received a negative qualifying test result or to recovery from COVID-19 and medical clearance to travel.”
The notice said airlines must deny boarding to passengers who do not meet these requirements.
There has been increasing concern globally as new coronavirus variants have been discovered in countries such as Britain South Africa and Brazil. (PR/KG)
