BASSETERRE, ST. Kitts - TOURISM officials have extended the travel restrictions for visitors from the United Kingdom by suspending the British Airways Service to St. Kitts and Nevis for a further two-week period.
The announcement was made through the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, which indicated that the Federation has extended the suspension of service from the UK until January 16, 2021.
That announcement followed the growing number of cases of COVID-19 in the UK where there are being strict lockdowns for several weeks.
It comes against the backdrop of the discovery of a new strain of the Coronavirus that is easily transmissible.
“Any International Traveler who arrives from the UK will be required to quarantine at their hotel and not ‘vacation in place’ for the duration of their stay in the Federation or mandatory 14-day quarantine period.
“The UK has reported a new strain of coronavirus which, according to the WHO, has ‘increased transmissibility’. As such, several nations around the world have suspended travel from the UK until more is known about the Covid-19 varient. The Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis will continue to monitor the developing situation in the UK and will update the protocols accordingly,” the St. Kitts Tourism Authority said in a media statement.
According to health officials, the new strain of the COVID-19 has a 70 percent chance of transmission, and it has been detected in more than 33 countries across the world, including the Caribbean.
The Tourism Authority reminded that all persons who have arrived in St. Kitts from the UK to date were required to present a negative RT-PCR test upon arrival, underwent a health screening at the airport and were asked to remain at their approved hotel and undergo serial testing for the duration of their stay in the Federation.
The Federation has been one of few territories that have had minimal to no community spread of the Coronavirus.
Since the virus made its way to St. Kitts and Nevis, there have only been 33 confirmed cases and no deaths resulting from that. However, there are currently two active cases.
