Antigua and Barbuda: Authorities to tighten COVID-19-related domestic restrictions from Aug. 27 /update 21

Antigua and Barbuda tighten COVID-19 domestic restrictions and impose longer curfew from Aug. 27; state of emergency remains in place.

Event

Authorities have announced that they will tighten COVID-19 related domestic restrictions and impose a longer curfew from Aug. 27. International travel restrictions remain largely unchanged.

The nation's existing health state of emergency will remain in place until at least Sept. 30.

Domestic measures
Authorities will implement a longer nightly curfew running from 20:00-05:00 from Aug. 27, instead of the previous 23:00-05:00 curfew. Individuals are not allowed outside their accommodations during curfew hours unless seeking urgent medical attention. The longer curfew will remain in place for at least two weeks.

From Aug. 27, authorities have also ordered gyms and bars to close. Restaurants will be permitted to open for delivery and pick-up services only. Beaches remain open 05:00-19:00. Public gatherings are limited to 10 persons. Day tours will be banned.

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.

Travel Restrictions
All persons aged five and over arriving by air, including transit passengers, must present a negative result from an RT-PCR test taken within seven days of their flight. Passengers arriving for medical treatment or procedures must possess a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours and comply with the Ministry of Health's guidelines. All persons traveling to Antigua and Barbuda must complete a health declaration form. 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.

As of Aug. 27, all arriving foreign visitors who have not been fully vaccinated for at least two weeks before travel must undergo a 14-day quarantine period at a government-approved accommodation. Foreign visitors who have been fully vaccinated for at least two weeks prior to departure will be allowed to stay in a government-approved accommodation; whether these visitors will be subject to quarantine depends on individual assessments carried out by authorities upon arrival. Fully vaccinated returning nationals or residents are not subject to quarantine.

Those 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 authorities.

All individuals who have been in Brazil or South Africa in the 14 days before their travel to Antigua and Barbuda, with the exception of flight crews, are prohibited from entering the country.

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.