Dominica: Authorities lift COVID-19 nightly curfew, ease business restrictions as of Aug. 25 /update 23

Event

Authorities in Dominica have issued orders lifting the island nation's nightly curfew and slightly easing COVID-19-related business and movement restrictions as of Aug. 25. International travel restrictions remain unchanged.

Under the new directives, individuals are allowed to be outside of their homes at any time of the day, and some nonessential businesses may reopen. Places of worship may host up to 10 people for religious ceremonies, including weddings and funerals. Barbershops and spas may reopen. Restaurants can only operate for delivery and takeout services, while bars, nightclubs, and gyms must remain closed. Other businesses may operate provided they enforce social distancing standards and comply with occupancy limits. Public transportation is operating, albeit with reduced passenger capacity. The use of protective facemasks is mandatory in public settings, including indoor locations and at beaches, parks, and on public transport units.

Additionally, individuals who must isolate due to a suspected case of COVID-19 are required to wear wristbands which may only be removed by health professionals once the individual is medically cleared.

International Travel Restrictions
Fully vaccinated travelers 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 the following guidelines to enter Dominica, regardless of their country or territory of origin:

Submit a health questionnaire online at least 24 hours before arrival in Dominica.
Submit proof online of a negative result from a COVID-19 PCR test taken 24-72 hours before arrival.
Upload a vaccination certificate.
Make online payment for an antigen test to be taken upon arrival.
Present a notification of health clearance to travel before departure for Dominica and upon arrival.
Upon arrival, undergo a health assessment and present certificates of required documents.

Persons whose on-arrival antigen test returns a positive result must take a PCR test. If the PCR test is also positive, the traveler will be admitted to a COVID-19 isolation unit. If the antigen or the PCR test is negative, the traveler will be medically cleared. Travelers should use certified transportation, continue monitoring for symptoms, and book accommodations 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. Unvaccinated individuals under the age of 18 arriving with fully vaccinated family members will follow the same guidelines as their fully vaccinated relatives.

Persons who are not fully vaccinated or 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. 25, 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. 25, 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.