Returning Guyanese don’t need to be vaccinated but must show negative PCR test

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony has said that Guyanese citizens returning home will not be required to prove they have been vaccinated, but they must produce a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken 72 hours prior to travelling to Guyana.

“Based on the new orders, if you were not vaccinated and you’re unable to present your negative PCR, you would not be allowed to [board the] plane,” he said on Monday.

Minister Anthony sought to debunk false reports in some sections of the media that unvaccinated Guyanese abroad are not being allowed to travel home.

He noted however, that other travellers who wish to visit Guyana must be vaccinated with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and produce a negative PCR test before entering the country.

“I think that the only change we have for the guidelines for persons travelling to Guyana is that we also now require them to have been vaccinated and this means that they should have at least one dose of their vaccine.”

Minister Anthony said apart from accepting persons who have been immunised with vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), consideration will be given to persons inoculated using other vaccines.

“Depending on where a traveller might be coming from, there might be other vaccines that might be used.

“So, persons traveling in from India, for example, may use Covaxin, which has not really received its WHO approval is yet, but it’s pending approval or. (Or if a) person is travelling let’s say from Cuba, might receive one of the vaccines developed there. So, once we know, we’ll treat those on a case-by-case basis.”

Minister Anthony also said travellers must inform the Ministry prior to their arrival so proper mechanism can be put in place.

While persons 18 years and older are required to be vaccinated to gain entry, those younger only need to produce a negative PCR test.

However, once children begin to be vaccinated, the requirement will change.