The Health Services Authority requires mandatory COVID-19 testing for visitors but the previous policy made visitors liable for the cost of testing.

In a recent press release, the BVIHSA said the amendment was made after careful consideration and review of the previous policy.

“The management of the BVIHSA has sought to balance patient safety with the need for family and friends to visit their loved ones who are admitted for care,” the press release said.

“Therefore, it was decided that COVID-19 tests will be done, but the fees will be waived to ensure that cost is not a hindrance to visitation,” it continued.

The new testing arrangement for visitation will see the results of the test forwarded to the BVIHSA’s Infection Control Unit for visitation consideration and approval. However, visitors will not be provided with a soft or hard copy of their tests results.

“If persons are interested in an emailed or printed copy of their visitor test result, they will be required to pay the associated fee,” the statement read.

The press statement also noted that persons testing for visitation authorization are required to do so between 9 am and 11 am daily.

The announcement comes after Health Minister Carvin Malone said yesterday that the government will be relaxing COVID-19 protocols amidst the declining number of recorded cases in the territory.
Malone said Cabinet decided to remove the 100 people gathering limit and amend it to one person per every nine square feet in each establishment.

He also said the quarantine period for unvaccinated visitors to the territory will be moved from seven days to five days. The changes will come into force when gazetted and should expire on the March 31.