Barbados gets North American COVID testing partner

Barbados has contracted the Canada-headquartered reference laboratory StageZero Life Sciences, to carry out COVID-19 testing of potential visitors to the island from the United States and Canada.

The deal between StageZero and the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) was finalised early last month.

With Barbados requiring travellers to receive a COVID-19 PCR test 72-hours prior to arrival in Bridgetown, the new arrangement allows for people finding it difficult to get tested in the US and Canada to now do so through StageZero.

To get the test, individuals will visit the www.visitbarbados.org website where they are able to click on the StageZero link at the top of the page and follow the instructions.

Appointments for a test may be booked at least seven days in advance. The site outlines the various costs for the test depending on the number of people requiring one.

Once the appointment is booked, payment is made and proof of pending travel verified, the company then ships a testing kit to the individual and deploys a mobile healthcare professional on the day the test is required to collect the specimen.

Results are returned within 24 to 48 hours.

Minister of Tourism Lisa Cummins said prior to the engagement of the services of the cancer diagnostic company, which has been in operation for over two decades, people were having challenges in getting test results in time for their trip to Barbados.

“We did experience a number of requests coming into us asking for the test time to be extended from 72-hours to five days or seven days, and I do have to say we were concerned that there would be a negative impact on our local communities and our domestic health profile if we found ourselves in a situation where we extended the length of time where persons took a test,” Cummins told the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association fourth quarterly general meeting on Wednesday.

“It has been the ability to partner with companies like StageZero out of the North American market that has allowed us to treat to those challenges being faced by your guests who want to be able to ensure they come within three days and have their test and are able to go in restricted movement or quarantine for two days and have their second test, she added.

Cummins said authorities were in the process of seeking out a similar partnership in the UK market. (MM)