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Bahamas Re-Open to Americans, But with Tough Restrictions

Photo courtesy of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation

Weeks after announcing they would close borders to American travelers, The Bahamas announced they would reverse course and once again welcome U.S. travelers starting in August 2020. However, new visitors must prove they are COVID-19 negative, and agree to a two-week quarantine.

The Bahamas are once again welcoming American travelers to visit the islands, but only if they can provide a negative COVID-19 test and agree to a two-week quarantine. The reversal was announced by the island nation on Friday, July 31, 2020.

Health Visa Requirements Include RT-PCR Test and Quarantine

The move from the nation is a reversal from their previous announcement to ban all Americans, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage across the United States. In order to enter the islands, all visitors from the United States must apply for a health visa.

To apply for the new visa requirement, flyers must submit a completed RT-PCR test within 10 days from when it was taken. Novel Coronavirus antigen tests or antibody tests will not be accepted.

Travelers can’t go anywhere to get this test – rather, it must come from a CDC accredited lab. The name and address of the lab must be submitted with the health visa application. The only individuals exempt from these requirements are children 10 and under, and pilots or airline crewmembers who are only staying overnight in The Bahamas.

From there, visitors must agree to a two-week quarantine upon their arrival. There are three options for quarantine: staying in a private bedroom and bathroom inside a residence; staying at a hotel or resort where travelers can quarantine in a private room; or the government mandated quarantine facility, located at the Poinciania Inn at Nassau. The traveler must stay quarantined in the room on their own – nobody can enter or exit the designated quarantine area for the entire two weeks stay.

After the quarantine, those who want to remain in The Bahamas must agree to another COVID-19 test at their own expense. Travelers can leave The Bahamas at any time during the two-week quarantine period, without special approval from the government.

Rollback Comes as Americans Still Unwelcome in Most Nations

While the rollback will allow Americans the opportunity to return to The Bahamas, U.S. passport holders are still not welcome in many different places on Earth. In their latest revision, the European Commission recommended U.S. based travelers continue to be banned from entering the trade bloc. According to a study by The New York Times, only 30 international destinations are currently open to Americans.

Feature image courtesy: The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation

2 Comments
S
seaduck79 August 4, 2020

Seems useless to say you're open to tourists, but then place conditions on them that only a rare tourist could meet, and during hurricane season to boot. I don't see a long line of people waiting to do this right now.

M
MimiB22 August 4, 2020

uh... gee, but no thanks Bahamas. 2 weeks imprisonment in a room? "The traveler must stay quarantined in the room on their own – nobody can enter or exit the designated quarantine area for the entire two weeks stay." I mean, what's the point? Why bother? Look I understand, they don't want visitors bringing in the Covid virus, but the restrictions they've imposed [on top of mandatory tests] are draconian. I'm staying home.