Effective Saturday, April 16, international visitors to Jamaica will no longer need to present a negative result from a COVID-19 antigen or PCR test conducted within 72 hours prior to their travel to enter the island. In addition, Jamaica’s mandate to wear a mask in enclosed public spaces ends Friday, April 15.
“Eliminating mask mandates and the need for travelers to present a negative COVID test result are important strides toward our continued gradual relaxation of travel protocols as the spread of COVID-19 keeps declining,” said the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, minister of tourism, Jamaica, in a press statement. “We are optimistic that these simpler requirements will serve to increase the appeal of Jamaica as a premier destination and keep us moving along the road to a stronger recovery for both the tourism sector and the nation’s economy as a whole.”
All other public health measures remain in place, including the requirement for public establishments to provide handwashing stations or hand sanitizing equipment for anyone entering the premises. Visitors and residents are also encouraged to continue to exercise caution and observe best practices for health and safety.
Jamaica recently eliminated travel-related quarantines and the requirement for travelers complete and receive approval of a Travel Authorization Form for entry to the island. It also shortened the isolation period required for U.S. travelers who test positive for COVID-19 while in Jamaica, in keeping with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended guidelines and eliminated quarantine restrictions for fully vaccinated business travelers who present a negative PCR test taken within three days of travel to Jamaica.
Good to know: Last week, the U.S. CDC downgraded Jamaica to a Level 1 designation in its latest COVID-19 travel advisory to citizens due to the country having low cases of the virus. Joining just a handful of countries around the world at Level 1, Jamaica’s case levels have steadily decreased in recent months.
For more information, visit www.visitjamaica.com.
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