U.S. travelers are now allowed to enter the Bahamas, a reversal from a decision July 17 that barred Americans but continued to allow arrivals from Canada and Europe after the islands recorded a spike in Covid-19 cases.
But now, all arrivals into the Bahamas from any country are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine at their own expense in a government facility and must take a Covid-19 PCR test at the end of the 14 days, also at their expense.
All people arriving into the Bahamas ages 11 and older will have to present proof of a negative Covid test taken 10 days or less before arrival.
In addition, as of July 28, interisland travel will be prohibited.
The islands will also be subject to evening curfews beginning at 7 p.m. Public and private beaches, including resort beaches, will remain closed.
The emergency order was signed by prime minister Hubert Minnis.
"The provisions governing the admission of foreign visitors to the Bahamas were changed to create a uniform standard of treatment for all visitors during this pandemic emergency," according to a statement published in the Nassau Guardian by attorney general Carl Bethel.
A surge in Covid cases, particularly on Grand Bahama Island, had been cited as the reasoning behind the new order.