Gay Nagle Myers
The times they are a-changin', and so are travel restrictions.
Bob Dylan's lyrics, written in the 1960s, could well describe the bumpy, unpredictable road to recovery in much of the Caribbean during the Covid-19 pandemic.
As the pace of on-island vaccinations falters and hospitalizations rise, some Caribbean countries have been forced to backpedal into restrictions that mirror the early pandemic era of 2020.
Changes have taken place recently in Bermuda, Jamaica and Puerto Rico, ranging from curfews in Jamaica to vaccinations required for visitors to Puerto Rico and a shortened timeline for the PCR test required to enter Bermuda.
The Turks and Caicos announced that, effective Sept. 1, all visitors 16 and over must be fully vaccinated to enter, in addition to the current protocols that require proof of a negative Covid-19 test result three days prior to arrival and medical insurance that covers Covid.
Effective Aug. 16, St. Maarten will require proof of a negative PCR or antigen test three days prior to arrival (down from five) and prohibits all large gatherings. French St. Martin has a curfew in place from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Dominica is now requiring prepayment of $100 for an antigen test upon arrival for all visitors. Visitors who are unvaccinated are subject to a five-day quarantine, with testing on day five.
France sent a team of healthcare professionals to support the overburdened medical staffs in Martinique and Guadeloupe, according to reports.
The CDC's latest travel advisory on Aug. 9 placed seven more destinations on its Level 4 highest risk category for travel, including Haiti and Aruba. Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica were among the countries handed Level 3 advisories, warning travelers to "reconsider travel."
Guidance from the CDC recommends against all international travel until the traveler is fully vaccinated, although that recommendation came with a caveat: "International travel poses additional risks, and even fully vaccinated travelers might be at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some Covid-19 variants," the agency said.
The optimism earlier this summer, when case numbers were down, vaccinations were slowly rising and travel demand for some Caribbean destinations had risen to pre-Covid levels appears to be tapering off, as the Delta variant raises concerns and impacts travel plans.
And to top it off, it's hurricane season. Tropical storm Fred dumped a lot of rain over the Dominican Republic last week. Now Grace seems poised to follow suit with forecasters tracking a path over several islands, including Haiti, already home to tragedy.
However, on the bright side, Jamaica was set to welcome its first large cruise ship since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Carnival Sunshine was scheduled to call in Ocho Rios on Aug. 16.
"We welcome this resumption as we know that thousands of Jamaicans depend upon on the cruise industry for their livelihood, and it will have a positive impact on our economy in general," said tourism minister Edmund Bartlett.
"The arrival marks a significant milestone in recovery efforts," he said, adding that under the strict measures governing the restart of cruising, "approximately 95% of the crew and passengers are fully vaccinated, and all passengers had to provide evidence of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of sailing."