Last Updated on May 6, 2021, 6:36 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Basseterre: Acting on the advice of the Health Ministry, the government of St Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday announced to extend travel advisory for another 30 days for Brazil, the United Kingdom and South Africa, and now it expanded to include India as it is witnessing the highest cases of COVID-19.
The above advisory comes into effect from May 4, 2021. The government of St Kitts and Nevis said that the new travel advisory comes as an action of the government’s substantial interest to continue protecting the borders and health, wellness of the citizens and residents in response to the three new COVID-19 variants in the world.
To include India under the travel restrictions comes in light after the widespread COVID-19 outbreak in the Asian country as a result of dual mutants, which are the primary reason behind average daily positive cases exceeding 400,000 and about 4,000 deaths in only 24 hours. The country has already confirmed over 20.7 million cases.
The spike in COVID-19 cases in other countries in the second wave of Coronavirus is the evidence that has shown that new strains are deemed to be far more transmissible and have a more likely to lead a person to death.
In the light of these developments, St Kitts and Nevis announced an extension to the travel advisory on specified countries.
The guidelines are as followed:
- Travel restrictions have now been additionally extended for the UK, South Africa and Brazil, and now it also includes India.
- People who wish to travel from these countries mentioned above are advised not to travel to St Kitts and Nevis at this time. The government said that people, in particular from India journeys could not enter the Federation up to two weeks from leaving the country. People who wish to travel to St Kitts and Nevis will have to follow the process stipulated on the online platform at www.knatravelform.kn
- Apart from this, the government instructed that citizens and residents of St Kitts and Nevis coming from the aforementioned countries will not be denied re-entry into the Federation, but they must process their travel request through the website mentioned above. Notwithstanding the COVID-19 vaccination, people returning to the country will have to undergo 14 days of quarantine upon arrival.
- The travel advisories for the aforementioned countries would remain in effect for at least 30 days starting from May 4, 2021.
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.
