Antigua and Barbuda: Authorities update COVID-19 quarantine requirements for international arrivals, extends state of emergency through Sept. 30 /update 18

Antigua and Barbuda updates COVID-19 quarantine requirements for international arrivals, extends state of emergency through Sept. 30

Event

Authorities in Antigua and Barbuda have updated quarantine restrictions for arriving passengers, and extended the existing COVID-19-related state of emergency until at least Sept. 30. Associated restrictions on domestic movement and business activities will also remain in place.

Travel Restrictions
All persons traveling to Antigua and Barbuda must complete a health declaration form. Persons aged 12 and over arriving by air, including transit passengers, must present a negative RT-PCR test result taken within seven days before travel. Passengers arriving for medical treatment or procedures must have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours and comply with the Ministry of Health's guidelines. Visitors entering Antigua and Barbuda will be subject to enhanced screening and may be required to go through additional COVID-19 testing at the airport at their own expense.

Individuals may be subject to an interview upon arrival to discuss their travel and accommodation arrangements with the Port Health Authorities, who will ultimately decide whether a traveler will be subject to quarantine. Travelers who have been fully-vaccinated for at least two weeks can stay at a government-certified accommodation or, if allowed to stay at a non-certified accommodation, may quarantine for 48 hours awaiting the result of a second COVID-19 test carried out at the traveler's expense. Arrivals who have not been fully vaccinated may stay at a government-approved accommodation. Unvaccinated travelers not staying in a certified accommodation will be subject to quarantine measures; the quarantine period is determined by the Port Health Authorities.

If authorities do not deem a passenger's accommodation to be suitable, they may require a seven-day quarantine at a government-approved facility at the traveler's expense. Travelers required to quarantine may need to wear a monitor bracelet during the isolation period. Passengers arriving by sea are also subject to quarantine measures as determined by the Port Health Authorities.

A travel ban on all individuals who have been in Brazil, India, or South Africa in the 14 days preceding travel, with the exception of flight crews, remains in effect.

Domestic measures
Under current directives, the country's nightly 23:00-05:00 curfew remains in effect. Individuals are not allowed outside their accommodations during curfew hours; essential and critical services are exempt. However, temporary exemptions will be given to events where all attendees are vaccinated; such events must end by 02:30. Further details on these will be released in the coming weeks.

A maximum of 25 people may attend wedding and funeral events; wakes, after-funeral gatherings, and wedding receptions remain banned. Bars remain closed; however, restaurants are permitted to offer in-house dining, as well as delivery and pick-up services. Beaches remain open exclusively for exercise and relaxation 05:00-19:00.

Nationwide requirements for individuals to wear facemasks in public spaces and businesses to observe special health protocols and enforce social distancing of no less than 6 feet (1.8 meters) between individuals remain in effect until further notice.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, ease, 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 arrangements. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.