Negative COVID test no longer required upon entry into BVI
The government has announced that effective tomorrow, July 15, the territory will no longer require persons travelling here to present a negative COVID-19 test to gain entry.
In a recent press release, the government noted Cabinet passed an amendment to the COVID-19 Control and Suppression (Entry of Persons) Regulation on July 13 that revokes COVID-19 testing requirements.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Petrona Davies said that further relaxation of the COVID Suppression measures is based on the reduced impact of COVID and the move from pandemic to endemic.
“Currently the statistics are revealing that the virus is having a very minimal impact on those affected and the mortality rates have decreased significantly. That is why we feel at this stage we can re-open the borders and return to pre-COVID normal with regards to travel to the Territory,” Davis said.
Despite the opening of the borders, the Permanent Secretary advised that persons should remain vigilant and continue to practice good hand hygiene and wear a mask when in questionable environments to reduce the risk of exposure.
The announcement comes a day after Acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Ronald Georges announced that there are now new variants of COVID-19 found in the territory in recent weeks.
In a press release by the Ministry of Health, Dr Georges noted that as of July 8, there are 24 reported actives cases of COVID-19 in the territory, and after genetic testing, BA.2 and BA.4 Omicron variants have been found to be circulating within the Virgin Islands community.
The removal of the negative test on entry also comes one month after the government rescinded the mask mandate in public and private spaces.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Petrona Davies said that further relaxation of the COVID Suppression measures is based on the reduced impact of COVID and the move from pandemic to endemic.
“Currently the statistics are revealing that the virus is having a very minimal impact on those affected and the mortality rates have decreased significantly. That is why we feel at this stage we can re-open the borders and return to pre-COVID normal with regards to travel to the Territory,” Davis said.
Despite the opening of the borders, the Permanent Secretary advised that persons should remain vigilant and continue to practice good hand hygiene and wear a mask when in questionable environments to reduce the risk of exposure.
The announcement comes a day after Acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Ronald Georges announced that there are now new variants of COVID-19 found in the territory in recent weeks.
In a press release by the Ministry of Health, Dr Georges noted that as of July 8, there are 24 reported actives cases of COVID-19 in the territory, and after genetic testing, BA.2 and BA.4 Omicron variants have been found to be circulating within the Virgin Islands community.
The removal of the negative test on entry also comes one month after the government rescinded the mask mandate in public and private spaces.
