No plans to remove COVID-19 entry tests for unvaccinated visitors

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5 planes at VC Bird Airport

Unvaccinated people travelling to Antigua and Barbuda will continue to have to present a negative Covid-19 test result upon entry. CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP.

Information Minister Melford Nicholas reiterated the Cabinet’s stance on Thursday in response to a question at the post-Cabinet press briefing regarding whether government intended to follow the lead of the UK and US who have both removed Covid entry tests.

“We have not. We still maintain that if you are unvaccinated, you will still be required to be tested,” Nicholas said.

He went on to say that the high rate of tourists still coming into the country, and the current low number of hospitalisations, is proof that the policy is working and thus there is no need to change it.

“I think our policy is one that is holding up and there has certainly been no negative impact of the number of tourists arrived here.

“Even yesterday, the Minister of Tourism did indicate that the tourism season has been very lengthy this year. We have monitored our policies and kept our border entry policies in relation to Covid, we have kept an eye on our major industry, tourism. We think we have managed that and have the results to show,” Nicholas added.

Effective April 13 this year, all persons entering Antigua and Barbuda have been allowed to do so without showing proof of vaccination – a policy that was already in place for returning nationals.

However, unjabbed persons are required to show a negative Covid test, taken no more than four days before boarding their flight to Antigua.

Source: Antigua Observer

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6 COMMENTS

  1. Science free fools. It’s the faux vaccinated who are spreading the disease and who are most at risk. Money must be changing hands. More Bill Gates $$$ ?

  2. Dear Information Minister Melford Nicholas,

    You seemed to have overlooked Antiguan Nationals yet again (though, no surprise at all!).

    Can you (or anyone with intelligence) confirm whether or not UNVACCINATED Antiguans can travel to and from the country without Covid entry or exit tests?

    Why is VACCINATED TOURISTS given preferential treatment and be excluded from Covid entry tests over Antiguan 🇦🇬 nationals?

    Doesn’t Gaston Browne like Antiguan nationals?

  3. Places You Can Travel Unvaccinated and With No Covid Testing or Quarantine Requirements:

    Afghanistan Non-essential travel may be still be discouraged, but May 10 marked the end of any Covid-related hurdles.

    Albania After reinstating Covid restrictions last September, this Balkan nation is back to being free and open as of May 1.

    Andorra The tiny Pyrenees Principality technically has no entry requirements, but with no airport, travelers are subject to restrictions imposed by France and Spain.

    Argentina Travelers still insurance and to fill out a statement, but as of April 7, that’s it.

    Armenia No PCR tests or vaccination certificates are required to enter Armenia as of May 1.

    Aruba The Caribbean nation removed all Covid-19 entry requirements on March 19.

    Austria One of Europe’s strictest countries relaxed all Covid and pre-travel clearances on May 16.

    Bahrain No documentation of testing or vaccination is needed as of Feb. 20.

    Belgium With no “very high risk countries” noted as of May 23, all Covid considerations for entry have essentially been removed.

    Bonaire As of April 20, the final “ABC” island returns to its pre-pandemic travel requirements except for a health declaration.

    Bulgaria On May 1, Bulgaria lifted all Covid-19 document requirements to enter the country.

    Chile All travelers can enter as of April 14, although insurance is required and one may still be subject to random tests upon arrival.

    Congo Joined neighboring Gabon with ending all Covid entry requirements on May 5.

    Costa Rica The final health pass and travel insurance requirement, even for unvaccinated visitors, was eliminated April 1.

    Croatia On May 1 the Adriatic hotspot reverted its immigration requirements back to what they were prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Cuba As of April 6, travelers can enter freely provided they fill out a form and consent to possibility of a random PCR test upon arrival.

    Curaçao As of March 10, visitor testing for Covid upon arrival and again on the third day has been eliminated.

    Czech Republic The country was one of the latest in Europe to completely reopen its borders on April 9.

    Denmark Greenland aside, as of March 29, all remaining Covid restrictions to mainland Denmark were lifted irrespective of vaccination status.

    Dominican Republic Travelers may still be subject to random tests, which you can skip if you’re vaccinated, but as of April 23 anyone is welcome with zero entry requirements.

    El Salvador Covid entry regulations were lifted on Feb. 24.

    Gabon As of March 16, it’s the first African nation to dispense of all Covid entry requirements.

    Gibraltar As with the UK, this British Overseas Territory (and popular international airport) ended Covid restrictions on March 30.

    Grenada Effective April 4, all entry requirements to the “Spice of the Caribbean” were dropped.

    Greece For at least four months this summer, the Mediterranean destination has suspended all Covid requirements for travelers, although they may be reinstated Sept. 1 if case load rises too high.

    Hungary There are no longer any coronavirus-related travel restrictions as of March 7.

    Iceland The country removed all Covid entry restrictions Feb 25.

    Ireland As of March 6, there are no travel restrictions.

    Israel Travel insurance and passenger attestations are still required, but vaccination, PCR testing, and mask requirements lifted May 23.

    Jamaica Testing requirements and mask mandates were scrapped on April 16.

    Jordan Travelers won’t need proof of a Covid test as of March 1.

    Kosovo Joined its Balkan neighbors in lifting Covid-19 border requirements on May 1.

    Kuwait On May 1 it became the latest Persian Gulf country to lift all Covid-19 entry regulations, including traveler tracking forms.

    KyrgyzstanThe “Land of Celestial Mountains” and first of the ’Stans lifted reopened completely on May 1.

    Latvia As of April 1, with no high-risk countries currently designated, Covid entry requirements for everyone have been lifted.

    Liechtenstein The principality follows the same rules as Switzerland, below.

    Lithuania From May 1 onward, travelers from any country of the world are no longer be subject to any Covid-19 management requirements.

    Madeira Travelers flying direct to the islands aren’t subject to Portugal’s entry requirements—or any for that matter—as of May 4.

    The Maldives Revoked its public health emergency on March 13, allowing free entry.

    Mexico Has had no restrictions for much of the pandemic, but travelers may encounter health checks upon arrival.

    Moldova Although the war in Ukraine brings new advisories, this former Soviet country ended all entry requirements on March 16.

    Mongolia As of March 14, it’s the first country in mainland Asia to open to all international travelers with no coronavirus health requirements.

    Montenegro Requires no proof of a vaccine or test or passenger tracking form to travel to the nation as of March 10.

    North Macedonia The Balkan nation has once again removed all requirements starting April 21.

    Norway As of Feb. 12, no testing, quarantining, or registration is needed.

    Oman The Sultanate lifted all remaining Covid-19 restrictions at the border as well as indoor mask wearing on May 22.

    Poland On March 28, all remaining Covid entry requirements and even domestic mask and quarantining rules were lifted.

    Romania Lifted all Covid restrictions on March 16.

    Saudi Arabia Removed its Covid-related entry requirements for holders of tourism visas on March 6.

    Serbia One of the last remaining Balkan nations to have Covid restrictions at its borders lifted them on May 3.

    Slovenia As of Feb. 19, there are no longer any coronavirus restrictions on entering the country.

    Slovakia April 6 marked the dropping of all testing, vaccine, and quarantine requirements.

    Sweden The ban on travelers from outside the EU was lifted April 1, reopening the country to all, sans-requirements.

    Switzerland Ended its previous system of categorizing countries or areas with a variant of concern and, on May 2, fully reopened its borders.

    United Kingdom Scrapped its last-remaining pandemic rules for international travel on March 18.

    Vietnam Became the first country in South East Asia to full open its borders May 15, although travel insurance that covers Covid-19 treatment is still required.

    Yemen Although other travel advisories remain, Covid entry requirements were lifted on March 17.

    Countries with no Covid-19 entry requirements – 31

  4. This is what happens when people in charge are more interested in looking busy than doing actual work. It’s easier for them to follow someone else than to formulate a policy that is fair and effective. I had a chest pain the other day. If I had taken the clot shot I would have been very worried. I would take a test every week to be able to have that peace of mind. In fact, because of my employer, I have had to do just that. Guess what, no COVID yet, although the rest of the company who are vaxxed are catching it, multiple times. Continue to fight the good fight. It’s worth it. Not everything good comes easy and God is not dead

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