Dominica: Officials in Dominica maintain existing coronavirus disease-related travel restrictions for those entering the island as of December 4 /update 12

Event

As part of ongoing efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), authorities in Dominica are maintaining entry requirements and protocols as of Dec. 4 until further notice. All travelers are required to wear protective coverings at all times during the arrival process and until they departure the airport. They must also submit a health questionnaire online at least 24 hours prior to arrival in Dominica, and present the health clearance prior to board the plane, and upon arrival. Additional entry requirements, disembarkation procedures, and quarantine protocols vary depending on the country of origin risk level:

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Travel Bubble: Consists of a group of Caribbean countries, which are subject to eased entry restrictions. Upon arrival, they will be tested for COVID-19 at the airport, using a Rapid Diagnostic test. If tested negative, travelers may leave the airport but must submit to scheduled and unscheduled checks by medical professionals. If tested positive, travelers may be subjected to self-quarantine. As of Dec. 4, only Barbados remains at the CARICOM Travel Bubble.
Low-risk Countries: Travelers must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result recorded within 24-72 hours prior to arrival in Dominica. Upon arrival, travelers will be tested for COVID-19 at the airport with a rapid diagnostic test. If tested negative, travelers may leave the airport but will be monitored for seven days by health officials, and must submit to scheduled and unscheduled checks by medical professionals. As of Dec. 4, a number of Caribbean nations and territories, such as Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Cayman Islands, are in the Low-Risk level, as well as Norway, Iceland, New Zealand, Greenland, and Singapore.
Medium-risk Countries: Travelers must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result recorded within 24-72 hours prior to arrival in Dominica. They will also receive a Rapid Diagnostic Test upon arrival, and if negative, will be cleared from the airport. Travelers will then be monitored for 14 days at their residence by health officials; if they take a PCR test on the fifth day and it turns negative, the monitoring will cease. They must also submit to scheduled and unscheduled checks by medical professionals. As of Dec. 4, the Medium-risk countries are Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, and Nigeria.
High-risk Countries: Travelers must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result recorded within 24-72 hours prior to arrival in Dominica. Upon arrival, they will proceed to a secondary screening area. They will receive a Rapid Diagnostic Test; if positive, they will receive a PCR test and will wait for the results at a government-approved facility. If the rapid test is negative, they will be transported to a government-operated quarantine facility or at a Safe in Nature-certified property for five days, and will receive another PCR test on day five. If this test is negative, they will be cleared but must submit to scheduled and unscheduled checks by medical personnel; if this test is positive, they will be admitted into a COVID isolation unit until released by health professionals. As of Dec. 4, High-risk countries include US, Canada, Italy, Jamaica, Guyana, South Africa, Brazil, India, Russia, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Spain, UK, France, Argentina, Germany, and Japan.

Travelers that do not clear the Rapid Diagnostic Test upon arrival will be subject to additional health screenings, and mandatory quarantine measures at the expense of the traveler.

The status of country-risk classifications is subject to change at short notice. Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any entry requirements with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Emphasize basic health precautions, especially frequent handwashing with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue, maintaining distance from others, and washing hands). There is no evidence that the influenza vaccine, antibiotics, or antiviral medications will prevent this disease, highlighting the importance of diligent basic health precautions.