Barbados borders would remain open to facilitate: PM Mottley

Prime Minister of Barbados during her address
Prime Minister of Barbados during her address

Barbados: Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley made this clear during an update to the nation from Ilaro Court Barbados’ borders would remain open at this time.

Noting that there have been constant calls for the country’s borders to be closed, she explained: “The reality is that the numbers that are coming into our borders are actually next kin to nothing, in terms of what we would normally have had over the days of this week [we] would usually take thousands of persons coming into our nation at this time of the year; we are taking less than 300/400.”

She added: “And what is of importance to me, as I look at the daily things, is that for example, Caribbean flights are in fact a lot more than a lot of the others, largely because largest people are no longer coming in from those areas because they themselves are having severe problems with the virus, and they have usually shut down.”

Ms. Mottley further revealed that the borders would remain open to facilitate those visitors on the island, including some 3,000 British persons, who would need to return to their homes. 

The Prime Minister confirmed that in the future, Barbadians who would be traveling to Canada and the United Kingdom might be required to travel with a negative PCR COVID-19 test that was conducted 72 hours prior to travel. 

She noted the added load it might place on the testing system but pointed out, “we’re conscious of it, and we’re planning for it, and we are therefore working towards ensuring that we get all of that in place for Barbadians and visitors who may have to travel outside.” 

The health ministry’s going efforts are praise able, as people under the tracing and those who tested positive have been put under the quarantine. 

Several health authorities said that country is hoping to get the COVID-19 vaccine soon. 

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