Hotel room cost covered if COVID test result takes longer than 72 hours – Cummins

Visitors to the island who have been left waiting for their COVID-19 test results for more than 72 hours, will have the cost of their hotel room paid by the government.

During a brief COVID-19 update at Ilara Court this evening, Senator Lisa Cummins said that due to the spike in COVID cases recently, many visitors had been left waiting for their results for several days, with some of them waiting close to a week for results to return.

In an effort to rectify the situation, the Government has moved to implement several steps to help ease the financial burden on guests.

Cummins said the Government will cover hotel room fees for those who have waited more than 72 hours for results.

“I wish to announce that if your results are outstanding beyond 72 hours, the Government of Barbados will cover the cost of your hotel room, until you are able to get those test results. We will cover those costs, and for those who feel inclined, and I know most of you want to be able to come back because most of you did not come here to stay in your hotel room … we want to offer you an opportunity to come back.

“If you want to have an opportunity to come back to Barbados, because you have not had an opportunity to see what we have to offer you, because you have not gotten your test results and you have not been able to leave you room, we want to invite you to make contact with us again at that call center [246-628-4150], and we will be welcoming you back to Barbados. We will be offering you a return trip to Barbados again once this is all over,” she revealed.

The call center mentioned by Senator Cummins, will be manned 24 hours a day, and it’s intended to be used by visitors to call in and give relevant information on when and where they had their COVID test done, in order to expedite the process for those who have been waiting several days for results to return. (SB)