By: Precious Mills
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 26th June 2020) — Nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis who wish to return home while borders remain closed are required to pay US$500 for a 14-day quarantine accommodation at the Ocean Terrace Inn (OTI) at Fortlands, plus US$100 for a molecular test on Day 14.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws explained at the NEOC COVID-19 Daily Briefing on Wednesday 24th June 2020 that nationals wishing to return must first send an email or letter of application to the CEO of SCASPA requesting permission, providing details of their charter.
“Once you would have returned to the Federation you would automatically go into quarantine at a government designated quarantine site and there is a cost attached to this accommodation. You will be in quarantine for 14 days and the cost for that duration is $500. At the end of your quarantine period — that’s day number 14 — you will be sampled and your sample will be sent to our local Next Generation Lab for processing,” she explained. The additional $100 covers the molecular test, PPE for the health professional taking the sample, swab and viral transport media.
The accommodation price does not include food and essentials like laundry. March 30th, 2020 saw the permanent closure of OTI due to continuing losses worsened by the pandemic.