(TAN): The Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia will partially reopen to tourists on June 4, reports said.
The country, one of the first Caribbean islands to resume welcoming visitors, will impose a host of regulations on tourists and hotels in a bid to prevent new COVID-19 cases from entering its borders and remove any probable spread of the virus, as per reports.
Saint Lucia, which has had a total of 18 COVID-19 cases and no deaths, as per data from Johns Hopkins University, will require arriving visitors to present certified proof of a negative coronavirus test taken within 48 hours of boarding their flights, reports said. Health officials will reportedly carry out random screening and temperature checks on arrivals at ports.
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Hotels will reportedly need to apply for a coronavirus certificate from the government in order to operate. The certificate will have to confirm that these hotels have fulfilled over 12 criteria for sanitisation protocols, social distancing, and other virus-related rules, as per reports.
Saint Lucia has also directed visitors to wear masks, use hand sanitisers and observe physical distancing during their stay on the island, reports said. According to reports, tourists will not be allowed to rent cars or used shared transport – they can only take authorised cabs booked through their hotels.
Further, most tourist attractions will remain closed while hotels will not be allowed to dine-in facilities, reports said. Each hotel that will stay open will reportedly have its own quarantine facilities and nurse station, and temperature checks will be conducted on guests at mealtimes.
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“Our new protocols have been carefully crafted and will build confidence among travellers and our citizens. The Government of Saint Lucia remains resolved to protect both lives and livelihoods as it jumpstarts its economy,” Minister of Tourism Dominic Fedee was quoted by Travel & Leisure as saying.
The second phase of reopening on the island will begin August 1, reports said.
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