US urges citizens to reconsider travel to Barbados

The United States has issued a “level three” travel advisory urging its citizens to “reconsider” visiting Bridgetown due to “a high level” of COVID-19 infections.

“Make sure you are fully vaccinated before travelling to Barbados. Unvaccinated travellers should avoid nonessential travel to Barbados,” it said.

“Because of the current situation in Barbados, all travellers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants,” the advisory added, while insisting that travellers should follow recommendations or requirements in the country, including wearing a mask and staying six feet apart from others.

The level three advisory indicates “high” COVID-19 levels. Level one indicates “low” COVID-19 levels and asks individuals to “exercise normal precautions”; level two advises citizens to exercise “increased caution” due to “moderate” COVID-19 levels; while level four recommends “do not travel” as a result of “very high” COVID-19 levels.

The US Department of State said the risk of contracting the viral illness may be lower if individuals were vaccinated.

“The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a level three travel health notice for Barbados due to COVID-19, indicating a high level of COVID-19 in the country. Your risk of contracting COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized vaccine,” it said.

“Before planning any international travel, please review the CDC’s specific recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers. Visit the Embassy’s COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 in Barbados,” it added.

On Monday, when the advisory was updated, only five new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Barbados from a total of 1 056 tests.
From a batch of 1 233 tests conducted on Tuesday, the island recorded 11 new COVID-19 cases. There are now 101 people in isolation.

Local tourism officials opted not to comment on this latest development.
This is not the first time that the United States has issued an advisory on travel to Barbados and it is also not the worst. Back in April, a “level four” “do not travel” advisory was issued.

But Minister of Foreign Affairs Jerome Walcott said at the time that Barbados did not merit that label since it gave the impression that COVID-19 was very prevalent.

To date, the United States has recorded the highest number of positive COVID-19 cases and deaths of any country, with a sharp rise in infections among largely unvaccinated populations in southern US. (MM)