MOVING forward with its mandate of making Guyana’s main ports of entry more accessible while minimising the number of imported cases of COVID-19 into the country, the government, on Friday, announced its decision to accept negative antigen COVID-19 tests at its land and sea ports.

The decision was reflected in the newly instituted COVID-19 emergency measures which were published in the Official Gazette.

The new measure, which will be remain in place from November 1 to November 31, 2021, states “Before any person is allowed to enter Guyana, whether by land or sea, that person shall present to the relevant authorities a negative Molecular Biological Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, or an approved antigen test taken within seventy-two hours of the date of their arrival in Guyana and proof of vaccination.”

Since the reopening of Guyana’s main ports of entry in 2020, the government had only recognised the use of negative Molecular Biological Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests at its air, land and sea ports.

AIRPORTS
Meanwhile, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, on October 30, 2021 announced a similar decision to accept negative antigen COVID-19 tests.

A notice posted on the airport’s Facebook page read, “Effective from November 1, persons requiring entry into Guyana must provide a negative PCR or Antigen test, taken within 72hrs of their arrival in Guyana and proof of being ‘fully’ vaccinated.”

Antibody test; Rapid PC; Rapid test using Saliva Sample and home testing kits are still not accepted at the country’s main ports of entry.

All persons travelling to Guyana, 18 years and over must be fully vaccinated against COVID 19 before arrival into the country; they are required to present their vaccination card bearing their names, name of vaccine, date vaccine was given and batch number from an accredited health facility.