ANTIGUA AI\ID BARBUDA'S TRAVEL ADVISORY 25 March 2020
Having noted the significant increase in confirmed cases of COVID-I9 infection, and in an effiort to prevent the spread of the virus into and within the borders of Antigua and Barbuda, the Government has taken the decision that, effective Thursday 26 March 2020 at I l:59 pm, ALL inbound commercial traflic from North America and Europe shall be denied entry for a period of fourteen (14) days.
Further, any foreign national who has visited the United States of America, Canada or g! European country within the previous twenty-eight (28) days will be denied entry into the State of Antigua and Barbuda.
The list of countries affected by the imposed travel ban now include: o Canada o ALL countries of Europe r lran . People's Republic of China o South Korea o Singapore o United State
Additionally, any airline wishing to fly an emptv Aircraft in order to collect citizens of their respective countries for return to their originating cities will be allowed to do so.
However, citizens of Antigua and Barbuda as well as resident diplomats will be allowed entry. All airlines are kindly asked to provide advance passenger information of the scheduled arrival of citizens in order to facilitate the necessary quarantine.
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The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda, meeting today at 10:00 am, decided to close the V.C. Bird International airport to all incoming commercial traffic, commencing midnight Thursday March 26, 2020, thereby ending the possibility of flights from the customary North American and European tourism source markets. This decision expands the announced ban on citizens from several identified countries. Those citizens of those several countries who would have arrived on British Airways, American Airlines and Air Canada, among others, may wish to take advantage of the facility.
Commercial air carriers that choose to fly empty aircraft to Antigua after Thursday, will be allowed to enter in order to collect citizens of their respective countries for return to their originating cities.
While there has been no confirmed cases of community spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, the Government’s several ministries have been closely monitoring all developments, here and abroad. Antigua and Barbuda’s borders have remained open to air and sea traffic in order to ensure that workers across the several sectors remain employed.
It has now become evident to the Cabinet, after examining the extant conditions and the disregard displayed by attendees at funerals, that little or no attention is being paid to the announced policy of limited social gatherings of 25 persons. That policy is being violated, despite the severity of the threat of community spread of the coronavirus.
The announced policy of last Sunday, which limits social gatherings to 25 persons, has been disregarded and violated especially by returning nationals who feel a strong urge to re-connect with grieving family and friends. Funerals have served as a means of social expression of love and tenderness. However, the conditions of the spread of the coronavirus have compelled a change in behavior.
Cabinet repeats its determination to safeguard the health of the people of Antigua and Barbuda. –end-