The BVIAA said the purpose of the drill was focused on procedures it has developed to “ensure industry best-practice for safety for its visitors, employees, airlines, baggage handlers, security and relevant agencies involved”.

“The session covered temperature testing, baggage screen, sanitization and processing of passengers,” the BVIAA said in a post on its official Facebook page.

“Other exercises are planned to improve effectiveness over the upcoming weeks,” it added.

The Airports Authority, in the meantime, has been taking precautionary steps as it relates to travel into the BVI, even before midnight on March 22 when the territory’s ports of entry had officially closed to the travelling public.

The Authority had erected a tent to isolate passengers if any suspected case of the virus were to present at the territory’s main airport on Beef Island.

Re-entering

Come next Tuesday, the borders will reopen for the controlled re-entry of nationals and permanent residents who have been trapped overseas since late March. They will be required to fill out a registration form to be allowed to re-enter.

Premier and Minister responsible for ports, Andrew Fahie said in a public statement last Thursday that from June 2 up to June 15, 2020, the first priority will be given to the re-entry of “nationals, Belongers, holders of permanent residence and naturalised citizens, who upon registration and certification by the Environmental Health Division, are deemed to have approved private quarantinable accommodation for occupancy for at least a 14-day-period”.

He said priority will also be granted to persons who left the territory to seek medical attention.

Starting June 15, 2020, consideration would then be given for the re-entry of other persons “with approved registration and certification with respect to available government quarantine spaces”.