Unvaccinated nationals and residents abroad can now travel back, but must be tested for virus and then quarantine at home

The decisions taken by Cabinet to ease some restrictions and requirements under the COVID-19 Regulations will also impact nationals and residents returning home: Effective March 16, they are not required to be vaccinated. 

However, they do require a COVID-19 test – PCR or approved Rapid Antigen – no more than four days before travel, and must be quarantined in their own homes for 10 to 14 days.

Further, nationals and residents who are already vaccinated do not require a COVID test to enter Antigua and Barbuda, unless they show symptoms of possible infection.

Up to this point, nationals and residents were not allowed to return home if they were unvaccinated.  This forced some who did not wish to take the jab to do so, since they had to attend to emergency matters at home, including the deaths of loved ones.

The slackening of Regulations follows statements by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rhonda Sealy-Thomas earlier this week.  She expressed her disappointment at the slow pace of the vaccination drive, sharing that fewer than 10 people are showing up daily to be jabbed.

But she is still encouraging residents to be inoculated, since the virus is still very much around.

Meanwhile, more than 40,000 vaccination ID cards have been issued so far, enabling persons to prove their vaccination status when a request is made.