Jamaica has added four countries—Italy, South Korea, Singapore and Iran—to its travel restrictions as it relates to the novel coronavirus/COVID-19. Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness adds that it is reviewing the situation in Japan, where there are 164 cases and 1 death, and will advise whether that country is to be included in the list of restricted countries.
The new restrictions include:
- All Jamaicans who have visited Italy, South Korea, Iran, and Singapore in the last 14 days will have landing privileges in accordance with the law but will be subject to a health assessment and quarantine
- Persons who have visited Italy, South Korea, Iran and Singapore in the last 14 days and who do not have permanent residency or marriage exemption in Jamaica will not be granted landing privileges at any of the country’s ports of entry
- Non-Jamaicans who have permanent residence and marriage exemptions who are landed and who had visited Italy, South Korea, Iran, and Singapore in the last 14 days will be subject to a health assessment and quarantine
- Persons who have visited Italy, South Korea, Iran and Singapore and have been granted landing privileges and classified by the Ministry of Health and Wellness as high risk will be quarantined in Government facilities; and those who are assessed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness as low-risk will be quarantined at home under the supervision of the Parish Health Department
- Individuals returning from Italy, South Korea, Iran and Singapore who have been granted landing privileges and who display any symptom of COVID-19, as per the case definition published by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, will be placed in immediate isolation at a health facility.
Regarding its seaport, MSC Meraviglia, carrying more than 4,500 passengers and 1,600 crew members, was denied access to the port of call in Ocho Rios, St. Ann. The vessel arrived at approximately 8:30 a.m. and, upon inspection by Port Health Officials, it was discovered that a crew member had been put in isolation on board. The crew member had a cough, fever and associated muscle pains, together with a travel history to a country of interest relating to COVID-19.
(MSC Meraviglia was then denied entry at George Town, Grand Cayman but has since been cleared to disembark in Cozumel where guests and crew were given a “clean bill of health.”)
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