The British Virgin Islands has announced a series of measures aimed at protecting the territory from the spread of coronavirus.
The BVI has announced the immediate closure of its cruise port for a 30-day period, while limiting ports of entry.
The three ports of entry that remain open are the Beef Island International Airport along with the Road Town and West End Ferry Terminals. One cargo port of entry is also still open, Port Purcell.
The BVI has also announced that the entry of passengers and crew members who have traveled to, from or through a list of coronavirus-affected countries within the last 14 days is also not allowed.
Those who have traveled to, from or through a “high risk country” in the last 14 days will be subject to advanced screening, and may be quarantined for up to 14 days.
“After extensive consideration, the British Virgin Islands made the prudent decision to put stringent measures in place to temporarily enhance the protocols for entry into the Territory until April 13,” said BVI Premier Andrew Fahie. “It is imperative that we prioritize our limited resources to safeguard our residents and our guests. Tourism is our mainstay and it is important that we take measures to ensure our long-term sustainability.”
Our tourism industry has faced many crises before, from natural disasters to epidemics, and we have always come out strong on the other side. After much anticipation, we are at the start of a big celebratory year as many of our beloved resort products are finally reopening following extensive rebuilding. We also expect this summer to be busy in the BVI with rerouting of cruises and airline service in and out of the Caribbean,” he said.
For more info, visit BVI Coronavirus Info.
— CJ