Last Updated on February 22, 2020, 2:40 AM AST by Anthony Morris
St. Kitts and Nevis government has inform the resident and citizens that the travel advisory issued after the novel Coronavirus outbreak still remains in effect.
The health ministry has asked the people to restrict travel to China until the World Health Organisation (WHO) gives the all-clear in relation to Coronavirus which is now being referred to as COVID-19.
The people of St Kitts and Nevis were first informed of this travel advisory on February 1, following the WHO’s declaration that the Novel Coronavirus outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
As at on February 20, death toll due to coronavirus has been reached to a total of 2,130 deaths and 75,781 persons are reported infected across the world, with most of these occurring in China, the country where the epidemic outbreak occurred.
“We wishes to remind citizens and residents with plans to travel to China to postpone their plans immediately. Persons travelling from China and people who have travelled to another country from China within the last fourteen days are asked to remain where they are and not to travel to St Kitts and Nevis. This advisory remains in effect for residents, citizens and travellers. In the event that there are persons who have travelled to St. Kitts and Nevis from China such persons are hereby informed that they will be subject to screening at the port of entry and may, if necessary, have their movements restricted either at home or other appropriate facility based on risk assessment,” the Federal Ministry of Health said in a statement.
The travel advisory is in line with the WHO’s guidelines that in the development of international exportation of cases all nations should be prepared for containment, including active surveillance, early detection, isolation, case management and contact tracing to prevent onward spread.
Ministry also said that every returning citizen or resident and visitor to St Kitts and Nevis must also complete Question #17 of the Immigration Card, which demands declaration of the countries which the passenger would have visited during the past six weeks prior to arrival in St Kitts and Nevis.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
