Suriname: Authorities update and extend nationwide COVID-19-related curfews through May 10 /update 29

Suriname extends COVID-19 curfews through May 10; entry and business restrictions remain in place.

Event

Authorities in Suriname have issued orders to continue implementing nightly and weekend curfews through at least May 10, to curb the spread of COVID-19. Under the new orders, the nightly curfews will be in place between 20:00-05:00 from Monday nights to Friday mornings. Additionally, a full lockdown will be in place 20:00 April 30 through 05:00 May 3. A nightly 18:00-05:00 curfew will be in place May 8-9. Only essential workers, including medical workers and emergency services personnel, are exempt from the lockdown and curfew.

Outside of curfew times, gatherings of groups larger than five people in public are prohibited. A limit of 10 people remains in place for funeral and religious services. All group and contact sports remain prohibited. The use of public transport by land or sea is only permitted with observance of distance measures as per the public transport protocol. All persons over 12 years of age are required to wear facemasks when outside their homes.

Until May 10, in-person dining at restaurants, as well as bars, nightclubs, casinos, gym and fitness centers, entertainment venues, and personal care businesses will be closed to the public. Restaurants may open for delivery services until 23:00. Markets, pharmacies, banks, malls, and other retail stores may open with sanitary protocols in place and must close one hour before the start of the curfew. Only one person per family can enter these establishments.

Travel Restrictions
International commercial passenger flights remain mostly suspended, with only cargo flights and specially authorized repatriation flights being allowed; only persons who have received permission from authorities may enter the country. Currently, there are two flights per week from the US and the Caribbean, and one flight per week from the Netherlands. Domestic flights are also restricted to cargo transport and emergency flights. The movements of arriving travelers are highly restricted; transport from the airport to accommodations is controlled, and all incoming travelers must complete a mandatory seven-day quarantine. The following additional entry requirements are in place:

Incoming travelers must provide a negative result from a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 test taken 72-120 hours before their arrival in Suriname.
Arriving travelers must provide proof of a confirmed accommodation booking of at least seven days at a registered Suriname Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHATA) hotel or lodging. Home quarantine is only allowed with written permission from the Ministry of Health.
Nonresidents are required to have travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage.

Passenger travel via Suriname's land and sea borders remains restricted; however, cargo, medical, and emergency transportation are continuing.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further tighten, or otherwise amend any restrictions 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 and transportation arrangements. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance.