by Kevon Browne
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN) – Incoming unvaccinated nationals to St. Kitts and Nevis will now quarantine for seven days instead of nine.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Hazel Laws announced the change in travel protocols during the COVID-19 press briefing on March 2.
The seven days for the returning nationals can be spent at home without the paid security.
The CMO also laid out two other changes in the protocols, including allowing people vaccinated with five vaccines not yet approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to enter without quarantine.
“No quarantine for persons coming in with any other five following vaccines. These vaccines have not yet achieved WHO Emergency Use Listing. And these vaccines are 1. Abdala vaccine; 2. Soberana 2 vaccine; 3. Soberana Plus vaccine; 4. Medigen vaccine and 5. Sputnik V vaccine. So, individuals who are fully vaccinated with these five vaccines, they can be allowed in, and they would not be required to go into quarantine,” said Dr Laws.
Now students returning from Cuba will not have to quarantine because they have been vaccinated with vaccines recognized by local health officials.
The third change in protocols is for individuals planning short trips (under 24-hours).
Anyone taking that short trip to neighbouring islands and not overnighting must complete the travel form on https://knatravelform.kn.
Travellers must submit a negative COVID-19 test before departure (RT-PCR or Antigen tests depending on destination); must be tested upon arrival (RT-PCR test) and flagged for 24-hour quarantine.
All other protocols remain; visitors must be vaccinated, and a negative RT-PCR done within 72 hours must be submitted, etc.
