Saint Lucia Outlines New Travel Protocols Including COVID-19 Test

Since reopening its borders to international travel on June 4, Saint Lucia has added new protocols for arriving visitors to mitigate the possible spread of COVID-19.

The government announced that it will introduce several new and updated protocols for arrivals beginning July 9, requiring travelers to take a COVID-19 swab test within seven days of travel.

All visitors must also complete a Pre-Arrival registration form prior to arrival, where they can fill out details including proof of negative PCR testing and indicate which COVID-19 Certified hotel they will be staying in.

Visitors traveling only from destinations that have zero or a low instance of COVID-19 cases will be exempt from the seven day pre-testing requirement. These destinations currently include Antigua, Barbuda, Aruba, Anguilla, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Monsterrat, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Martin, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos. Visitors with a travel history from these areas in the last 14 days will also be exempt from quarantine.

The new requirements will be reviewed after 30 days.

Once at the airport, all arriving passengers will be screened, including temperature checks. Any symptomatic passengers will be isolated and tested.

Passengers arriving with proof of a negative PCR test may be exempt from on-island testing and advance through immigration, baggage claim, customs and arrivals for transportation to their COVID-19 certified hotel. Visitors will be required to follow the local regulations in Saint Lucia, including the wearing of masks during on-island transportation and when in public places.

During Phase One, visitors can stay only at hotels that are COVID-19 Certified. Hotels that have received the certification currently include Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa, Sandals Grande St. Lucian, Stonefield Resort Villas and Sugar Beach – A Viceroy Resort, with several others on track to receive the certification this month.

Among the requirements, hotels and resorts must sanitize luggage upon check in, maintain a fully equipped nurse’s station, observe strict detailed sanitization protocols for housekeeping, maintain required distance with tables for dining, and have hand sanitizer stations installed throughout the property. Sanitizing stations and showers for staff must also be installed for use prior to reentering the public.