Barbados places UK in 'high risk' coronavirus category

Visitors to the Caribbean island would be confined to their resort or hotel until they receive a negative test result
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Naomi Ackerman @nomiackerman29 September 2020

British holidaymakers visiting Barbados will have to remain confined to their hotel until they receive a negative coronavirus test after the Caribbean island added the UK to its list of "high risk" countries.

The move, made on Friday, came after a surge in coronavirus cases was reported in Britain.

Tourists to the island, a popular winter holiday destination, will be required to show evidence of a negative Covid-19 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test on arrival, or risk being refused entry to the Caribbean country.

Even if they present a negative test, all British tourists will be asked to take a second test, two to three days after they arrive. They will then be asked to remain in the grounds of their hotel, resort of villa until they receive a negative test result.

Prime Minister of Barbados, H.E Mia Ammor Mottley, recently announced the country is to seek to drop the Queen as head of state 
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The test-on-arrival policy is similar to that being operated by Cyprus for British travellers, whose border officials also require a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours.

Barbados' tourism authorities have issued a message to visitors which states: "As we welcome you back to our beautiful island there are a number of precautions and safeguards being implemented to protect both locals and visitors."

The island, which reopened its borders to international travel on July 12 and is currently recording a low seven-day Covid-19 rate of 1.4 per 100,000 people, also implemented the restrictions for other "high risk" countries include France, Ireland, Switzerland and the US.

By comparison, the UK is on a rate of 52 cases per 100,000 people currently, according to PA Media analysis of European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control data.

Travellers arriving in the UK from Barbados are exempt from the UK's own coronavirus quarantine policy.

On Friday, reports emerged that the R rate of Covid-19 spread is now hovering between R1.2 and R1.5, there has been a 60 per cent jump in Covid-19 cases across England, and London was added to the national Covid "watch list" as an area of high concern.

But the 14-day self-isolation requirement will be reimposed on travellers from Denmark, Iceland, Slovakia and the Caribbean island of Curacao from 4am on Saturday due to a rise in cases.

Agencies contributed to this report