With the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus now present in the Caribbean, some islands have tweaked their entry protocols while others have implemented new lockdown and curfew rules.
If you are planning a visit to or within the region, you need to be aware of the situation in your intended destination and we urge you to do all the necessary research before making any plans.
Here is an update of new restrictions in islands dealing with an upsurge of COVID-19 cases.
Dominica
Emergency curfew orders have been extended until Monday, August 23. As such, there will be a curfew in place this week from 5 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday. This upcoming weekend from Friday, August 20 to Monday, August 23 will see a complete lockdown of the country.
Martinique and Guadeloupe
The French overseas territories are currently experiencing an upsurge of cases. Guadeloupe has 29,347 active cases as of August 16 while Martinique has 26,985 on the same date.
The increase in cases has overburdened the health sectors in both islands, prompting the Government of France to call for volunteer doctors and nurses to assist.
As a result of the upsurge, a three-week lockdown from August 4 has been implemented on both islands.
In Guadeloupe, a curfew has been reinstated from 9 pm to 5 am.
In Martinique, the curfew has been brought forward to 7 pm to 5 am and travel has been restricted between those hours to a 10km limit”. A certificate justifying travel beyond that is needed.
Martinique has recommended that visitors who are unvaccinated leave the island but accommodation establishments will not be closed.
St Barths
With 876 active cases of COVID-19 recorded as of August 16, St Barths has implemented a curfew from 9 pm to 5 am until August 20. The island is only open to travellers from the Green and Orange zones which includes North America, parts of the Caribbean, Central and South America, most of Africa and Europe and parts of Asia.
Jamaica
Jamaica has implemented new curfew rules for the next three weeks as the country battles rising COVID-19 infections.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced new curfew hours from August 11 to August 31.
The nightly curfew hours will run from 7 pm to 5 am from Mondays to Fridays, on Saturdays, the curfew will run from 6 pm to 5 am, while on Sundays the curfew will run from 2 pm to 5 am Businesses will be required to close one hour before the curfew times.
Beaches will be open on Mondays to Saturdays from 6 am to 4 pm, while on Sundays, they will operate from 6 am to 1 pm.
The list of countries from which travel to Jamaica is not allowed remains the same, namely, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India, Paraguay, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago.