Jamaica Eases COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
Trips to Jamaica are set to get a whole lot easier as the government moves to scrap COVID-19 tests for visitors entering the country.
New Travel Guidelines
Effective this weekend (April 16), travelers will no longer need to take a PCR or antigen test to visit Jamaica. Consequently, the nationwide mask mandate will also be removed.
“Eliminating mask mandates and the need for travelers to present a negative COVID test result are important strides toward our continued gradual relaxation of travel protocols as the spread of COVID-19 keeps declining,” said Edmund Bartlett, the Minister of Tourism.
Travel Freedom Restored
Jamaica was one of the first Caribbean destinations to welcome tourists back last year. However, initially, it did so with restrictions confining travelers to certain areas. The tourism board opened what’s known as the “resilient corridor,” which were essentially low-risk zones stretching from Negril to Port Antonio in the east, and from Negril to the southern parts of Jamaica.
As COVID-19 cases declined and vaccination rates increased, those zones were abolished in March, meaning that people arriving in Jamaica are now free to travel wherever they like. Moreover, individuals are no longer required to present their vaccination status or obtain a Travel Authorization to enter the island.
Current Health Measures
With the testing requirement being scrapped, travel to Jamaica is essentially free from COVID-related restrictions. Nevertheless, some health and safety measures remain in place. Visitors are still required to wash or sanitize their hands when entering public locations, and individuals who contract the virus during their trip must isolate accordingly.
The tourism board encourages all visitors to continue exercising caution and observing best practices for health and safety while exploring the beautiful Jamaican landscape.
Open Businesses and Low Travel Risk
Most businesses, including restaurants, museums, cafes, bars, and hotels, are currently open. As cases continue to decline, Jamaica maintains the lowest travel risk classification for COVID according to the CDC, classifying the Caribbean island as Level 1 (low).
