New rules stipulates that visitors must be fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to arrival

St Kitts and Nevis has closed its borders to non-fully vaccinated visitors, as part of new COVID-19 protocols announced by the government.

The new pandemic protocols have been implemented due to the late-May emergence of 16 new coronavirus cases in the small Caribbean nation. The move is one of many announced by Prime Minister Timothy Harris in an effort to stop a new spread of the COVID-19 virus.

At the same time, the prime minister pleaded with his nationals to get vaccinated as part of the fight against the spread of the dreaded disease.

According to the new rules, which took effect May 29, visitors planning to travel to St Kitts and Nevis must be fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to arrival.

Details of the new protocols for visitors

Visitors must complete a traveler authorisation form and submit a copy of their vaccination card as well as show proof of a negative COVID test taken 72 hours prior to travel. Visitors will receive an approval letter to enter the federation.

Upon arrival, travelers must vacation in place for nine days at approved hotels, where they will be free to partake in all hotel activities. If staying beyond nine days, visitors must take another PCR test on the ninth day at their own expense costing approximately US$150.

If and when the results come back negative, they are free to do anything on the islands. There are seven approved St Kitts and Nevis hotels where visitors can stay. They are Four Seasons, Golden Rock Inn, Marriott Vacation Beach Club, Montpelier Plantation and Beach, Paradise Beach, Park Hyatt, and Royal St Kitts Hotel.

Travelers hoping to stay at a private rental home or condo must have pre-approval from the government. Children who have not been vaccinated can travel to St Kitts and Nevis with their vaccinated parents, but the vacation-in-place rules extend to 14 days for those families, according to the new rules.

National curfew also imposed

In addition to the new entry rules, Harris has instituted a national curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly, closed schools for two weeks and reduced capacity on public transportation and ferries to 50 per cent.

“In this war to defeat COVID-19, all we have are ourselves working and supporting each other in doing the right thing to protect ourselves and our loved ones,” Harris said in a national radio address.

He declared that the more people immunised, the less vulnerable the country will be, noting that, “strict adherence to non-pharmaceutical measures – that is mask wearing, sanitising, and physical and social distancing – must be observed in the public and at places of business and worship.”

While the 16 new cases may not seem like a large number, it is compared to how the federation had been doing. Since March 2020, there have been only 60 confirmed cases. As of last week, more than 22,000 residents had been vaccinated or about 49 per cent of the population.