Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Carvin Malone has provided an update on Cabinet’s decisions regarding non-domestic travel requirements in regards to the ongoing COVID-19 response.

Honourable Malone said that as previously announced, effective May 15, travellers who have been fully vaccinated with the final dose administered at least 14 days before travel will be immediately released from quarantine once their arrival test is negative. He did however add that this will not apply to persons travelling from or through Brazil or India.

Honourable Malone said, “Cabinet has decided to amend the list of restricted countries under the Immigration and Passport (Prohibition of Entry) Order, 2021 to apply only to Brazil and India. Persons travelling from those countries, who are granted permission to enter the Virgin Islands, will be required to quarantine for a period of fourteen (14) days on arrival.”

The minister explained the new requirements for fully vaccinated travellers which include a reduced fee of $105 for the BVI Gateway Traveller Authorisation Certificate, proof of a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test taken 3 to 5 days before arrival, proof of vaccination status, RT-PCR COVID-19 testing upon arrival and quarantine until the return of a negative test result.

Fully vaccinated persons travelling with one or more unvaccinated children are advised that children aged 5 to 17 will be tested on arrival; children will be released from quarantine together with their parents or guardians once the test results for the entire group are negative, but must remain within their family bubble; and unvaccinated children will be subject to a further test on day four.

Honourable Malone also addressed home quarantine stating that fully vaccinated travellers may be approved for home quarantine in a residence where all the adult occupants are fully vaccinated, once the traveller, or travelling party, is provided with a separate bedroom.

Health Minister Malone then explained the concession made for fully vaccinated persons who have been present in the British Virgin Islands for more than 14 consecutive days and wish to travel to the US Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, or Puerto Rico for a period not longer than 24 hours also known as ‘Day Trippers’.

“As previously announced, with effect from the 15th of May 2021, ‘outgoing day trippers’ to these neighboring jurisdictions will be exempted from quarantine and the COVID-19 test upon re-entering the BVI; but would be required to take a PCR test seven (7) days after returning to the Territory,” Honourable Malone said.

Persons seeking to be certified as a ‘day tripper’ should apply for re-entry through the Gateway prior to departure from the Virgin Islands and will be subject to the Gateway fee of $70.00; ‘Day trippers’ would be allowed to travel with children who are under five (5) years old; and refusal by a returning ‘day tripper’ to undergo Day 7 testing would attract a fixed penalty of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or a court penalty of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) on summary conviction.

After carefully considering both the wish to re-open the Territory to tourism and the need to mitigate the risks arising from increased travel, particularly arising from new

COVID-19 variants Honourable Malone stated that it was decided that the quarantine period for unvaccinated travellers will be extended from four (4) days to seven (7) days.

He said where people are traveling in mixed groups with some individuals being unvaccinated, the entire party will be treated as unvaccinated and will also be required to quarantine for seven (7) days.

For persons who are only partially vaccinated, meaning that they have received one dose of a two-dose vaccine, or whose final vaccine dose was administered less than two weeks before arriving in the Territory, a 4-day quarantine period would be required, with PCR testing administered on arrival and on day 4.

Considerations are being given for recommended rapid or PCR testing for unvaccinated frontline workers and Public Officers.

Persons who received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine are reminded to schedule their second dose at least 10 weeks apart. Persons can contact 852-7525 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. There is a new registration form that is required for persons to schedule their second doses. The form can be accessed by visiting www.bvi.gov.vg.