All foreign travellers who are travelling to Guyana must be fully vaccinated and must have taken a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to arrival to be allowed entry.
This is according to new guidelines developed by the Ministry of Health.
An individual is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the required doses of the COVID-19 vaccines have been taken. That is, an individual who has taken double dose vaccines like the Sputnik V, Sinopharm and AstraZeneca vaccines used in Guyana would be fully vaccinated two weeks after taking the second dose.
The new guidelines also stated that these fully vaccinated individuals will be required to present proof of vaccination for inspection upon arrival.
Meanwhile, as it relates to the PCR tests, the airlines will be tasked with verifying the test results presented. If an individual took a PCR test more than 72 hours (or three days) prior to the flight but less than seven days, that individual will be required to have a second test done upon arrival.
Importantly, however, individuals with a PCR test taken longer than seven days beyond their flight will not be allowed to board the flight to Guyana.
These new travel guidelines have not been published in the official gazette nor have they been disseminated by the Ministry of Health itself. But, the authenticity of the document was confirmed by an official at the Ministry of Health.
That official was, however, unable to provide any additional information or clarity. As such, it is unclear when these guidelines take effect from and whether there are any other accompanying protocols or sanctions.
Meanwhile, in July, a gazetted regulation made under the Civil Aviation Act stated that nationals of Trinidad and Tobago, specifically, are required to be fully vaccinated before they will be allowed to travel to Guyana.
According to the updated regulations made on July 22, 2021, “…passengers, except for children, travelling to Guyana from Trinidad and Tobago who are not nationals of Guyana are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to be allowed entry into Guyana.”
This updated regulation adds to those measures for airports and aircraft that mandate passengers take other precautionary measures in light of the public health pandemic.
Then, the News Room was reliably informed that this new regulation is meant specifically for nationals of Trinidad and Tobago and not for those who may stop in the Caribbean country due to an in-transit flight.
Therefore, a passenger travelling from the United States (US), who stops in Trinidad and Tobago, does not need to be fully vaccinated.
Previously, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said that the government was considering tougher actions against people who refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Already, he has received proposed guidelines from the Private Sector Commission (PSC).
The measures proposed will essentially see unvaccinated persons having to produce weekly negative COVID-19 tests to be allowed into their workplaces and other entities
