Bahamas Health Alert for For Human Travelers – 25 July 2020

By July 27, 2020Uncategorized
[Last Updated on July 25, 2020]

While we know including your fur baby in your travel goals is a big part of your plans, traveling amidst Covid-19 comes with added measures to assure your safety.  Check out what’s required for your Pet travel at bahamaspetpassport.com.   Follow the steps below to assure smooth and safe travel for Humans.

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Event: The U.S. Embassy in Nassau is providing regular updates to U.S. citizens on travel procedures and health protocols for traveling to and within The Bahamas. 

Key updates from the Ministry of Health’s press conference and Prime Minister’s statement of July 24 include:

  • Inter–island travel within The Bahamas will be prohibited effective July 28 at 7:00pm.  Additionally, travelers returning from New Providence (Nassau) and other islands where COVID-19 is present to any other Bahamian island before July 28 will be required to quarantine for 14 days after arriving on that Island.U.S. citizens who want to return to the United States should arrange for immediate return using available flights or be prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period. The U.S. government does not anticipate arranging repatriation flights from The Bahamas.Private charter flights to the United States are available through several charter companies. You can find a list (regularly updated) at https://bs.usembassy.gov/charter-companies.For inter-island travel within The Bahamas, each traveler must go to travel.gov.bs, select “Domestic” and complete and submit the onlineTravel Health Card.A confirmation will be provided via email.  Each traveler must present their confirmation upon arrival at their destination.
  • Nationwide weekend lockdowns will be in effect until further notice, from Fridays at 10:00PM through Mondays at 5:00am.  The first such lockdown period begins July 24.  During weekend lockdowns, you may only leave your residence for medical emergencies or to visit grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations (these merchants may operate from 7:00am to 6:00pm).  You must remain within the confines of your home/yard or lodging.  (This weekend lockdown is in effect for the entire country except for Grand Bahama, which is under a full lockdown through August 7 at 5:00am. See below.)
  • A new daily nationwide curfew will be enforced from 7:00pm to 5:00am, effective July 27.  Curfews are in place Mondays through Fridays, until the weekend lockdowns begin at 10:00pm on Fridays.  During curfew periods, all individuals must comply and remain confined to their place of lodging or residence/yard.  All businesses are required to close by 6:00pm. (This weekend lockdown is in effect for the entire country except for Grand Bahama, which is under a full lockdown through August 7 at 5:00am.  See below.)

Key updates from the most recent Emergency Orders dated July 22, 2020 include:

  • All travelers entering The Bahamas via commercial air (regardless of country of origin, including the United States) must undergo a 14-day quarantine in a government facility upon arrival, at their own expense, to be followed by an RT PCR COVID-19 molecular test at the end of the quarantine period.
  • The above 14-day quarantine applies to persons entering The Bahamas via commercial air.  It does not apply to private flights, charter flights, pleasure craft, or yachts (from any country). However, visitors entering via private or charter vessels must still follow the other mandatory entry requirements for entering The Bahamas, to include the COVID-19 testing and Travel Health Visa Application procedures outlined below (under Mandatory Entry Requirements).
  • If traveling from one Bahamian island to another, any persons leaving a Bahamian island for which there is an impending lockdown order must, at their own expense, submit to a 14-day quarantine in a government facility upon arriving at their destination island within The Bahamas, to be followed by an RT PCR COVID-19 molecular test at the end of the quarantine period.

We encourage you to  monitor http://bahamas.com/tourism-reopening, that page’s FAQs*, as well as the website for the Office of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, and your travel vendors (air carriers and hotels) before and during your anticipated travel. For questions, please contact the Ministry of Tourism COVID-19 travel hotline at +1-242-502-0829, Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm EST.

*FAQ page under revision at the time of issuance of this Alert

VISITORS ENTERING THE BAHAMAS VIA COMMERCIAL FLIGHT MUST QUARANTINE 
FOR 14 DAYS UPON ARRIVAL

Effective immediately, all visitors entering via commercial air travel into The Bahamas (regardless of country of origin) will be subject to a 14-day quarantine in a government facility at the expense of the traveler.  The 14-day quarantine will be followed by a mandatory RT PCR COVID-19 molecular test.

Via commercial flight:  The above 14-day quarantine applies to persons entering The Bahamas via commercial air only.  COVID-19 testing and Travel Health Visa Application procedures outlined below are required.

Via private or charter flight:   The 14-day quarantine does not apply, however, visitors entering via a private or charter flight must still follow the other mandatory entry requirements, to include the COVID-19 testing and Travel Health Visa Application procedures outlined below.

GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND:  CLOSURE OF INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC BORDERS TO ALL INCOMING AND OUTGOING FLIGHTS AND VESSELS; 14 DAY LOCKDOWN IN EFFECT UNTIL AUGUST 7 AT 5:00AM

The island of Grand Bahama’s international and domestic borders are closed to all incoming and outgoing flights and sea vessels until further notice.

A full 14-day lockdown is in effect on Grand Bahama until Friday, August 7 at 5:00 am.  During the lockdown, food stores are  allowed to operate weekdays, 7:00am to 5:00pm.  Pharmacies, water depots, and gas stations may operate weekdays, 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  During the week, people on Grand Bahama should not leave their homes unless they intend to purchase food, water, or medicine, or for some other essential purpose.  A complete lockdown will be in place on Saturdays and Sundays.  In the event of an emergency individuals must request permission to leave their place of residence/lodging by calling 311 or the police.

MANDATORY ENTRY REQUIREMENTS BEFORE ENTERING THE BAHAMAS FOR ALL TRAVELERS

The following current entry requirements are strictly enforced and subject to modification.  We encourage you to monitor http://bahamas.com/tourism-reopening, including that page’s FAQs*, as well as the website for the Office of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, that office’s Facebook page, and your travel vendors (air carriers and hotels) before and during your anticipated travel.  Please direct questions directly to the Ministry of Tourism COVID-19 travel hotline at +1-242-502-0829, Monday to Friday, 8:00AM to 6:00PM EST.

*FAQ page under revision at the time of issuance of this Alert

  • Each traveler must go to travel.gov.bs and submit a Travel Health Visa Application prior to travel.  An automated email response will be provided once the application is completed.   This confirmation must be presented upon arrival.  Allow 72 hours for application processing.
  • Each traveler over the age of 10 must have a COVID-19 RT PCR (molecular swab) test with a negative result, taken within 10 days from the date of arrival.  No other type of COVID-19 test is acceptable.  The negative test results must be uploaded when completing the Travel Health Visa Application prior to arrival.

Reminder:  U.S. citizens require a valid U.S. passport for both entry to The Bahamas and return to the United States.

WHILE IN THE BAHAMAS

For information on mandatory health protocols and safety precautions implemented by The Bahamas,  please see https://bs.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ and http://bahamas.com/tourism-reopening.

For Weekend lockdowns, curfews and the prohibition of inter-island travel, see above.

In the event of the lockdown of a particular island:  Any persons traveling from one Bahamian island for which notice has been given of an impending lockdown must, at their own expense, submit to a 14 day quarantine in a government facility, to be followed RT PCR COVID-19 molecular test at the end of the quarantine period.

ACTIONS TO TAKE

FOR ASSISTANCE

For U.S. Citizens in an Emergency:

  • Call State Department – Consular Affairs at
  • 1 888-407-4747 (when dialing from within the U.S.)
  • +1 (202) 501-4444 (when dialing from overseas)

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)   to receive  alerts directly from the Embassy.

For Pet Travel Updates:

  • Email or Call – Bahamas Pet Passport
  • 1-242-341-4062 (Bahamas) | 1-242-449-9622 (WhatsApp text or voice call)
  • 1-888-265-0686 (Toll Free when dialing from within the U.S.)