Updated: Frequently asked questions about COVID-19

Below are the revised FAQs on COVID-19.

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 is placed in isolation at Harrison Point, St. Lucy. They must receive two consecutive negative tests before discharge.

People arriving from countries categorised as medium risk are free to go about their business once they are in possession of a valid negative test on entry. They will be monitored for a 14-day period, during which a public health officer will check daily to make sure that they are well. Effective September 14, persons arriving from medium risk countries are required to take a second COVID-19 test after five days. Anyone declining to take the second test will be subject to quarantine for seven days.

Persons must quarantine in the state-owned facility at Paragon, or at one of the Government-approved hotels or villas. While in quarantine at a hotel, they are confined to their rooms, while at Paragon or a private villa, they are confined to the premises. In all instances, only minimal contact with other personsis permitted.

Everyone entering Barbados from countries categorised as high, medium and low risk for COVID-19 is required to take a COVID-19 PCR test. Travellers are strongly advised to take the test prior to arrival. If they are unable to do so, the test will be administered on arrival at the port of entry.

Persons travelling from countries categorised as very low risk, and who have not travelled to or transited through any country designated as high, medium or low risk within 21 days prior to travel to Barbados, are not required to take a COVID-19 PCR test prior to, or on arrival.

The test required for entry into Barbados is a negative COVID-19 PCR test from an accredited facility.  If the traveller is coming from a high or medium setting, the sample must have been taken within 72 hours prior to arrival.  If the person is coming from a low risk setting, the sample must have been taken up to five days prior to arrival in Barbados.

 When someone is asymptomatic, it means that they are not experiencing any FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS RE COVID-19 symptoms, even though they are positive for the viral illness.

The current available evidence indicates that asymptomatic people can be  infectious.   

Masks are recommended to be worn in public settings and when around people who do not live in your household, especially when physical distancing is difficult. Masks help to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when they are widely used in public settings.

Physical distancing speaks to maintaining distance between persons, in order to reduce the risk of spread of a communicable disease. The safety of a distance depends on factors such as if a face covering is worn, the amount of time spent together, the activities engaged in (e.g. singing, loud talking), the level of ventilation and the use of other measures such as hand hygiene and environmental sanitisation.

Currently in Barbados, the guidance indicates that persons who do not live together should maintain a distance of at least three feet from one another in public spaces.

The COVID-19 Monitoring Unit is responsible for implementing, monitoring and assessing the public health protocols related to public transportation, local business places and other public spaces for the prevention and control of COVID-19. The Unit may be reached by emailing covid19.monitoringunit@barbados.gov.bb.