Antigua and Barbuda has hailed its coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination program and health protocols as the country is reporting that it has not seen an increase in new infections following Carnival celebrations.
A note from yesterday’s cabinet meeting said Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph reported that there had been 57 infections reported since the end of Carnival 2022 and this indicated that the COVID-19 boosters were working.
Joseph noted that previous large-scale events led to 250 people being infected with COVID-19.
Meanwhile, as more countries across the region ease some of their entry requirements for COVID-19, Information Minister Melford Nicholas said he will push for Antigua and Barbuda to follow suit.
“I think we have reached that level of safety and living with COVID that we know how to cope with. There is no way our public health facilities are now being overwhelmed with COVID-19 and we are able to treat it as a normal transient infection. So there is no need for my assessment and certainly since the last time the cabinet has seen that there are these restrictions”, he said.
Nicholas noted that Antigua and Barbuda will suffer its vital tourism industry if severe restrictions continue to be in place.
fully Vaccinated persons arriving in Antigua and Barbuda are not required to present a negative PCR/Rapid Antigen test.
Partially/unvaccinated passengers, without symptoms of COVID 19, must present a negative PCR test obtained no more than three days or a Rapid Antigen Test obtained no more than 24 hours before arrival in Antigua and Barbuda. They undergo an RT-PCR test on arrival and quarantine for 10 days.
