COVID under control, revisit entry protocols - Walwyn
It is time to revisit the BVI’s entry requirements. This is according to former Education Minister within the National Democratic Party (NDP), Myron Walwyn.
The former legislator said this was particularly in light of all the other challenges that are currently threatening the territory’s economic health; over which there is no control.
“The effects of the current conflict in Russia and the Ukraine on our tourism sector must be closely examined. We recently saw some light at the end of the tunnel in this sector but any increase in fuel cost could possibly undermine that progress if it forces airlines and other stakeholders to increase their fares,” Walwyn said in a recent Facebook post.
With the local tourism sector still in the recovery stage, Walwyn said the BVI should do everything within its grasp to ease the access to the territory.
“Other countries that are more accessible by air have relaxed their COVID
entry protocols. Countries like Puerto Rico and Antigua have recently relaxed their entry requirements, the latter has even made mask wearing optional,” Walwyn argued.
He added: “We have to be more diligent and percipient. This is serious business!”
The former legislator’s comments came days after the government decided to relax some of the various COVID-19 protocols as a result of the declining number of cases recorded in the territory.
At the time, Health Minister Carvin Malone said Cabinet decided that the quarantine period of unvaccinated persons entering the territory will be moved from seven days to five days.
The BVI has recorded more than 6,000 cases and 62 deaths since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 19,000 persons have been recorded as fully and partially vaccinated according to the most recent COVID-19 epidemiological summary.
“The effects of the current conflict in Russia and the Ukraine on our tourism sector must be closely examined. We recently saw some light at the end of the tunnel in this sector but any increase in fuel cost could possibly undermine that progress if it forces airlines and other stakeholders to increase their fares,” Walwyn said in a recent Facebook post.
With the local tourism sector still in the recovery stage, Walwyn said the BVI should do everything within its grasp to ease the access to the territory.
“Other countries that are more accessible by air have relaxed their COVID
entry protocols. Countries like Puerto Rico and Antigua have recently relaxed their entry requirements, the latter has even made mask wearing optional,” Walwyn argued.
He added: “We have to be more diligent and percipient. This is serious business!”
The former legislator’s comments came days after the government decided to relax some of the various COVID-19 protocols as a result of the declining number of cases recorded in the territory.
At the time, Health Minister Carvin Malone said Cabinet decided that the quarantine period of unvaccinated persons entering the territory will be moved from seven days to five days.
The BVI has recorded more than 6,000 cases and 62 deaths since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 19,000 persons have been recorded as fully and partially vaccinated according to the most recent COVID-19 epidemiological summary.
