Barbados is the latest Caribbean island planning to reopen to international tourists. The doors will be open from July 12.
Americans will be able to board commercial flights on JetBlue beginning July 25 and American Airlines will resume flights to Barbados from August 5.
Like most other countries reopening to tourists in the wake of COVID-19, travellers must take precautions while visiting Barbados. Within 72 hours before departing, visitors from high-risk countries (which currently include the US) are “strongly encouraged” to take a COVID-19 test, according to a press release from Barbados Tourism Marketing.
Travellers from countries with fewer than 100 new cases in the last seven days can take their test within one week prior to departure, according to an article by Travel + Leisure.
Guests will also be required to fill out an embarkation/disembarkation Card (ED card), answering health questions about COVID-19 symptoms. This can be done via email before departure and will have to be presented upon arrival in Barbados along with proof evidence of a negative coronavirus test before they are allowed to pass through immigration.
Visitors who have not taken a COVID-19 test before departure will be required to take on upon arrival and will be quarantined at their own expense until the results come through which is approximately 48 hours.
On the island, life has largely returned to normal, with most businesses allowed to reopen, Travel + Leisure said. A curfew that has been in place for the past few months lifted on July 1. Beaches and parks no longer have limited hours. Although face masks are still necessary, mandatory social distancing has been reduced to only three feet between people, effective July 1. The social gathering limit will also increase from 250 people to 500, according to the US Embassy in Barbados.
Barbados reported a total of 97 COVID-19 cases and seven deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. It has been more than 35 days since a new coronavirus case was detected.
