Effective this Wednesday (May 25), the Barbados government will no longer require vaccinated travellers to the island to present a negative COVID-19 test for entry.

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley made the announcement during a press conference on Saturday (May 22) during which she said the government was comfortable in recognising the downward trajectory in cases of COVID-19.

“I have therefore been advised by the Ministry of Health that all persons who are vaccinated and are coming into Barbados will no longer need to come in with any kind of test results,” the prime minister said.

“So, we are removing testing for vaccinated passengers coming into Barbados. Unvaccinated passengers will still have to test.”

In addition, Mottley said, mask-wearing will be optional in outdoor settings.

“Outdoor mask wearing will become optional but, indoors and on public transport, masks will still be required. If you’re drinking, if you’re talking, obviously you know you remove your masks indoors to be able to facilitate those things.”

In regards to mask wearing in schools, however, she said that requirement would remain in place.

‘WE WILL PRESS THE BRAKES AGAIN’

At the same time, Mottley acknowledged that measures to help combat infection rates would be reintroduced if any new variant of the disease surfaced.

“If another variant presents itself that causes us concern, believe you me you don’t have to ask what the Government will do, because we will press brakes again, but at this point in time everything is moving in the right direction and allows us therefore to be cautiously optimistic and to make the necessary changes we need to make,” the prime minister said.