Dominica: Authorities extend nightly curfew, strict business restrictions through Aug. 17, due to COVID-19 /update 21

Event

Authorities in Dominica have issued orders to extend a nightly curfew and multiple business and movement restrictions through Aug. 17, due to increasing COVID-19 infections. Travel restrictions remain unchanged.

Under the directives, the nightly curfew will run as follows:

18:00-05:00 Mondays-Fridays.
On Saturdays it will begin at 15:00 and it will remain in place throughout all of Sunday, until 05:00 Monday.

Essential workers, people seeking medical care, and those travelling into or out of the country are exempt from curfew measures

All nonessential businesses must remain closed, private gatherings, social events, and sporting or recreational events remain banned, and the consumption of alcohol in public is prohibited. Essential businesses may open 06:00-16:00, ensuring social distancing measures, the use of facemasks and limiting the number of customers within their premises. Restaurants must remain closed for in-person dining, but may open for take-out services. Places of worship must remain closed; weddings may occur with a maximum of five people, and funerals with a maximum of 10 people. Public transportation must be limited to three people per row.

Travel Restrictions
Fully vaccinated travelers will no longer need to self-quarantine upon arrival. Officials consider individuals to be fully vaccinated if they have received the final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine more than two weeks before entering Dominica. Approved vaccines include those by AstraZeneca, Janssen, Moderna, Pfizer, and Sinopharm.

Fully vaccinated individuals must follow these guidelines to enter the country, regardless of their country or territory of origin:

Submit a health questionnaire online at least 24 hours before arrival in Dominica.
Submit proof of a negative result from a COVID-19 PCR test taken 24-72 hours before arrival online.
Upload a vaccination certificate.
Pay for an antigen test online (to be taken upon arrival).
Present a notification of health clearance to travel before departure to Dominica and upon arrival.
Upon arrival, undergo a health assessment, and present certificates of required documents.
An antigen test will be administered on arrival; if positive, a PCR test will be administered. If this test is also positive, the traveler will be admitted to a COVID-19 isolation unit. If the antigen or the PCR tests are negative, the traveler will be medically cleared.
Travelers should use certified transportation, continue monitoring for symptoms, and book accommodation at a Safe in Nature-certified property.

Fully vaccinated travelers arriving without proof of a pre-travel COVID-19 PCR test must take a PCR test upon arrival and wait for the results at a government-approved facility or a Safe in Nature-certified property.

Persons who are not fully vaccinated, or those who do not have proof of full vaccination, must take a COVID-19 PCR test within 24-72 hours before arrival and submit a health questionnaire online at least 24 hours before arrival. These travelers must also present a notification of health clearance to travel before departure for Dominica and upon arrival and are subject to a health assessment upon arrival. Additional requirements for unvaccinated travelers vary depending on their country or territory of origin:

High-risk locations: Travelers must undergo mandatory quarantine at a government-operated facility or a certified private property for a minimum of five to seven days. They will take a PCR test on day five and remain in quarantine while awaiting the results. If the test is negative, they may end the quarantine period; if positive, authorities will move them to a COVID-19 isolation unit. If travelers arrive without a previous COVID-19 test, they must take an antigen test upon arrival and proceed to their quarantine location.
As of Aug. 10, officials consider most countries and territories to be high risk, including Argentina, Aruba, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Curacao, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, India, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, the UK, and the US.
Low- and medium-risk locations: Upon arrival, travelers must undergo a health assessment and a COVID-19 antigen test at the airport. Travelers testing negative can leave the airport; those testing positive are subject to an additional PCR test and must wait for the results at a government-approved facility.
As of Aug. 6, low- and medium-risk countries and territories include Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Finland, Greenland, Grenada, Iceland, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, and Switzerland.

The transmission risk category assignment is subject to change at short notice. All travelers must wear protective facemasks and maintain social distancing measures.

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.