Omicron variant: Non-national travellers from South African nations not allowed to enter Jamaica

Amid the discovery of the new COVID-19 variant ‘Omicron’ in the nations of South Africa, countries across the globe are now banning or hardening the COVID-19 travel protocols. The Jamaican government has also imposed travel restrictions on the South African nations. 

The government noted via a press release, “Jamaica has, with immediate effect, imposed restrictions on travellers from a number of African countries, following the emergence of a new variant of concern for the SARS-CoV2, initially identified as B.1.1.529“. 

Travel restricted South African countries are as follows: 

1. Botswana
2. Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
3. Lesotho
4. Malawi
5. Mozambique
6. Namibia
7. South Africa
8. Zimbabwe

Following are the travel guidelines for non-nationals visitors to Jamaica: 

The individuals who are not citizens or permanent residents of Jamaica and those who have visited any of the above mentioned South African countries within the last 14 days would not be allowed to enter into the island country. 

Guidelines for nationals: 

All the permanent residents and nationals of Jamaica who travelled to the above-mentioned nations within the time period of the last 14 days would be permitted to enter Jamaica. But they would be required to a mandatory state-supervised quarantine for not less than 14 days. 

Other Caribbean countries such as – Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada has also put a travel ban on the above mentioned South African countries. 

World Health Organisation has called ‘Omicron’ as the ‘variant of concern‘ and asked the states to be cautious, urging people to abide by the COVID-19 health guidelines established by the governments. 

WHO frequently emphasizes that only vaccination and following the COVID measures is the sole way to get rid of and beat this contagious virus.