TORTOLA – Fully vaccinated visitors to the British Virgin Islands will be able to move around freely, once they return a negative COVID-19 test result on arrival.
Minister of Health & Social Development, Carvin Malone, said the new protocols would come into effect from May 15.
He confirmed that fully vaccinated visitors to the British overseas territory would be required to take a PCR test five days before travel, provide proof of full vaccination and take another PCR test upon arrival.
Once they receive a negative result from the tests, they would be free to enjoy their stay in the territory and would not have to spend four days in quarantine, which is still required for arriving visitors that were not fully vaccinated.
“This is great news and timely, as more guests are arriving fully vaccinated and many in our industry have stepped forward to take the vaccine in support of economic rejuvenation,” BVI director of tourism, Clive McCoy said.
“The territory already has an enviable record for health and safety during the pandemic and has continued with its strategy of gradual reopening based on international conditions and the local situation.
“Any progress in that direction augurs well for tourism and for the economy, and this is a very significant step.”
Under this updated protocol, a visitors is considered to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks, after they received both doses of an approved two-dose vaccine, such as AstraZeneca, Moderna or Pfizer, or one shot of a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson.
The Ministry of Health said it vaccinated over 9 000 people in its drive to immunise up to 70 percent of the resident BVI population from the viral illness. (AR)
