Fully vaccinated travellers do not require to quarantine: Denise Charles

Roseau, Dominica: During the Ministry of Health press briefing Denise Charles Minister of Tourism, International Transport, and Maritime Initiatives explained the new travel protocols for fully vaccinated travellers to Dominica.

Denise Charles, Minister of Tourism, International Transport, and Maritime Initiatives, declared that now fully vaccinated travellers do not require to quarantine if they test negative during the on-arrival testing.

Minister said the new guidelines would bolster the tourism sector, which had been experiencing a backlash due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“The livelihood of many persons has depended on tourism. The new health protocols would be easing the full reopen of the tourism sector of Dominica.” stated the Tourism Minister.

Minister Charles highlighted that the Ministry of Health had been continuously working on the process of testing so that the travellers could get the result of COVID-19 tests on time.

The Dominican Ministry of Tourism has also established an office to assist all queries of travellers. The Hotline number has been shared for appointments and the questions related to the result of the COVID-19 test. The one-stop secretariat has also been made for all needs and concerns of travellers. The visitors could call on the number 2757298, 2757299 on WhatsApp to get assistance from the staff of the Ministry of Tourism.

Caribbean Airlines have started a direct flight from Trinidad and Tobago to Dominica. The tourism minister stated that flight from Dominica- Barbados-New York would resume from July 17.

Besides this, protocols for yachts have also been revised the protocols for the yacht have also been revised.

The period of COVID-19 has been challenging for the country and the tourism sector of the country. Due to which the Tourism Ministry have to adopt new measures and some changes in protocols to facilitate safe tourism in the country.

New measures for quarantine have been changed for the fully vaccinated travellers would come into effect on Wednesday, July 7 2021. Health Minister said that all vaccinated travellers have to undergo a rapid antigen test while on arrival.

Fully vaccinated travellers, before starting their journey to Dominica, should submit a health questionnaire online at least 24 hours before arrival in Dominica. Along with these steps Government of Dominica also said that it has been mandatory to upload negative PCR test results from a swab taken 24-72 hours before arrival.

National Epidemiologist of the commonwealth of Dominica, Dr Shalauddin Ahmed, said that 19,138 citizens had been fully vaccinated till present, and 1300 people have been vaccinated with 1st dose according to the data, 27%of the population have been fully vaccinated with both doses to protect themselves against this noble coronavirus virus.