GUYANESE arriving in the United Kingdom (UK) will still have to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine requirement.

The UK, in an updated report, announced that nationals of 12 Caribbean territories are among a list of 59 countries that are exempted from quarantine restrictions, effective July 10, 2020. Included among the 12 Caribbean countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St Lucia and Curacao.

Of note, is that the United States, like Guyana, did not make the list. The report quoted UK’s Prime Minister as saying, at a news briefing, “Instead of quarantining arrivals from the whole world, we will only quarantine arrivals from those countries where the virus is, sadly, not under control.” Guyana has to date recorded a total of 284 coronavirus cases with 16 deaths. Health authorities, meanwhile, continue to plead with citizens to adhere to the quarantine restrictions, in an effort to avoid a further spread.
The new UK advisory that goes into effect on Friday, July 10, 2020 specifically states that, if passengers arriving from the 59 named countries or territories did not visit or stop in any other country or territory in the preceding days, they will not be required to self-isolate, on arrival in the UK. It is a requirement for both visitors and residents of the UK, that all passengers, before arriving in the country, complete a passenger locator form which is presented upon arrival. In the circumstances, persons are therefore asked to continue to monitor the UK gov’t’s website for travel advice. Also, they can check the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website for update information.