By: Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Thursday 7th October 2021) — Hotels in St. Kitts-Nevis offering rapid COVID-19 test services to guests, as well as 24-hour and 48-hour quarantine and testing periods, are among the recommendations agreed upon following recent discussions between hoteliers and local officials. COVID-19 National Task Force Chairman Abdias Samuel said at the NEOC briefing on Wednesday 6th October 2021: “Several recommendations are before the members of Cabinet at this time for us to have the quarantine period reduced. There are recommendations of 48 hours and tests, and 24 hours and testing. We will await the decision of the federal Cabinet to advise the next regulations.”
Samuel confirmed that the Ministry of Health, represented by Acting CMO Dr. Cameron Wilkinson, had agreed that hoteliers would be able to contract the services of certified labs — with doctors and nurses conducting the swabbing of their guests — which “would help us with the current challenges as well as easing the burden on our public health officers who are working extremely hard.” Departure testing for outbound travellers was also discussed: rather than requiring a PCR test to depart the Federation, travellers would be able to undergo a rapid antigen test based on the requirements of their destination. On 6th October, SR&O No. 38 of 2021 came into effect, reducing the quarantine period for fully vaccinated arriving travellers from four days to 24 hours, with a COVID-19 test taken within that period and release upon a negative RT-PCR result. Nevis Premier Mark Brantley welcomed the change: “This is a welcomed development which allows Nevis to say to the world that it is truly now open for tourism business again. With this announcement we are hopeful that we can now have a good winter season and regain the economic momentum that we have lost to this pandemic.”