137 stranded Guyanese in Miami to return today

The first wave of stranded Guyanese to return home after a decision by the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) is scheduled to touch down at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Saturday.

The Eastern Airlines flight will depart Miami and arrive in Guyana at 16:00h, the Department of Public Information reported.

All arriving passengers would have been subjected to the strict guidelines instituted by the NCTF, which includes but is not limited to the nationals submitting negative tests for COVID-19 no less than 48 hours before arrival, the DPI noted.

On Friday, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson noted several passengers would have had issues related to their COVID-19 tests while a few were deemed ineligible to travel.

Nevertheless, the Minister maintained that stranded Guyanese should continue to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with the respective embassies and consulates in their area.

The News Room understands that 137 passengers are on board Flight 321.

Al returning Guyanese are subject to a 7-day home quarantine upon return. During this period, none of the citizens will be permitted to leave their homes except to seek emergency medical services, DPI noted.

The NCTF has extended the nation’s COVID-19 emergency measures to June 17, 2020.