French Guiana: Authorities extend COVID-19-related curfew through Sep. 3; curfew tightened for various towns due to viral spread /update 35

Event

Authorities in French Guiana have extended the territory's COVID-19-related restrictions through Sep. 3. The towns of Montsinery-Tonnegrande, Roura, and Sinnamary, due to their levels of viral spread, are now subject to stricter curfew hours. Officials will also require vaccinated travelers from the French Antilles to adhere to pre-arrival testing protocols effective Aug. 25.

Domestic Measures
A 19:00-05:00 Monday-Friday curfew is in place in the municipalities of Cayenne, Kourou, Macouria, Matoury, Montsinery-Tonnegrande, Remire-Montjoly, Roura, and Sinnamary. On the weekends, residents are subject to a 19:00 Saturday to 05:00 Monday curfew.

In all other municipalities, curfew hours remain 21:00-05:00. Movement into and out of the municipalities of Iracoubo and Regina remains restricted, though persons who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 may travel to and from those locations.

International Travel
French Guiana's borders remain closed to most nonresident foreign nationals who do not have a compelling reason for travel. French citizens, residents and their immediate family members, diplomats, healthcare workers, airline crews, and nonresident foreign nationals in transit to their home countries are exempt from the general border closure. Individuals traveling from Brazil via land or sea remain prohibited from entering the territory. Restrictions do not affect cargo shipments and humanitarian travel.

All arrivals from the French mainland as well as unvaccinated arrivals from the French Antilles must present a negative result from a COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before departure or an antigen test taken no more than 48 hours before departure. From Aug. 25, vaccinated travelers arriving from the French Antilles will also be required to adhere to this pre-arrival testing requirement. Those traveling from a country on the red list, which includes Brazil and Suriname as of Aug. 20, must present a negative result from a PCR test taken within 48 hours before travel.

Unvaccinated arrivals must provide a family, medical, or professional reason to be allowed to enter French Guiana. Arrivals must also present a statement confirming that they agree to follow all measures required for arriving passengers. These include undergoing a potential COVID-19 PCR or antigen test on arrival at the airport (with the exception of unvaccinated arrivals from the French Antilles, for whom on-arrival antigen testing is mandatory), a subsequent seven-day self-isolation period, and a second COVID-19 test before ending quarantine. Authorities are empowered to extend a traveler's quarantine period on a case-by-case basis; however, the total self-isolation period shall not exceed one month.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further tighten, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice, depending on local disease activity.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements.

Resources

World Health Organization (WHO)
Government of French Guiana
Certificate for international travel
Certificate for essential travel outside curfew hours