US travel advisory update for Barbados, St Vincent, St Lucia and Antigua

US authorities will this week update travel advisories recommending Americans not to travel to Barbados and three other Caribbean countries – St Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, and St Lucia.

According to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Bridgetown, the Department of State will update its travel advisories in keeping with the travel health notices issued by the Centres of Disease of Control and Prevention (CDC)

Currently, the CDC has listed Barbados under Level 4: COVID-19 Very High, which recommends no travel.

Below is the full statement issued by the US Embassy in Bridgetown.

As travellers face ongoing risks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of State has updated its Travel Advisories to align with the travel health notices from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC).

The CDC currently has over 140 travel health notices, including for the United States and areas of the Caribbean, under “Level 4: COVID-19 Very High,” which recommend no travel.

Effective this week, the State Department Travel Advisories will adopt the same advisories for those jurisdictions. Given current global conditions and following the Travel Advisory update, approximately 80% of countries worldwide will have a Travel Advisory Level of 4: Do Not Travel, including Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The recent Travel Advisory update resulted in a significant increase in the number of countries at Travel Advisory Level 4. We continue to strongly recommend U.S. citizens reconsider all travel abroad and postpone their trips if possible.

We recognize the incredible efforts of the national public health systems.  This update does not imply a reassessment of the current health situation in a given country. It reflects an adjustment in the State Department’s Travel Advisory system to give more weight to the CDC’s existing assessments. Travel Advisory levels take into account several factors that present risks to U.S. citizens, including public health indicators, access to medical care, entry and exit requirements, and the ability of the U.S. government to assist in an emergency. We also consider the mitigation strategies countries have put in place, including COVID-19 related restrictions on entry by U.S. and other foreign nationals.\

The COVID-19 pandemic poses unprecedented risks for travelers. The CDC has been consistent with that message since the start of the pandemic, and the Department’s updated Travel Advisories reflect that warning. We will routinely review conditions across the world and will update Travel Advisories when appropriate. For the latest Travel Advisory Levels, please visit the U.S. State Department website at travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html.

We will continue to work with our Caribbean partners to defeat this virus through prevention and vaccination and advance our strong economic relationship.