Trinidadians Banned From Entering Jamaica
May 5, 2021 | Zhane Squire |
On May 3rd , Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness informed the Trinidadian Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley of the ban that has been placed on Trinidad and Tobago from entering Jamaican borders.
This ban comes after Trinidad and Tobago’s press release on April 23, 2021 that the Brazilian Variant (P1 Variant) has been detected in 3 COVID-19 positive samples in Trinidad and Tobago. Based on the findings by the Team from the University of the West Indies, 2 of the positives were Trinidadian Nationals and 1 a non-national.
The Lineage P1 (P1 Variant/Brazillian Variant) can produce up to 10 times more viral load than in other COVID-19 infected persons, making transmittablity 80% more lethal than the common variant.
Trinidad and Tobago has now join the list of South American countries that Jamaica has placed travel restrictions on. These countries are as follows; Chile , Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and now Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidadian Prime Minister noted that the country’s close proximity to South America can be 1 of the many causes for the P1 variant’s detection in the country.
Stating that currently there are still flights coming in from and to Guyana. Guyana shares borders with Brazil and Guyana is apart of CARICOM.
Rowley also raised concerns of illegal migrants entering the Trinidadian borders and bringing the virus. “We should not take alot of comfort in the fact that if we focus in that way on migrants that we’ll be given a pass for the rest of our population. All over the world, this virus is raging among the populations without Venezuelans,” he said.
The United Kingdom was placed on travel restrictions by Jamaica in December 2020, it has since been lifted.
The procedures to enter the country of Jamaica all visitors ages 12 and over regardless of nationality, must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular or antigen test (PCR,NAA or RNA) by an accredited lab for which the sample was collected 3 days prior to the date of travel. An approved Travel Authorization form prior to boarding a flight to Jamaica.
The Island has since garnered several implementations, some of which includes daily curfews and restrictions within the country to aid with the control of the spread of the COVID-19 Virus in Jamaica.
