UPDATED BORDER CONTROL AND QUARANTINE MEASURES FOR PERSONS COMING FROM SELECTED COUNTRIES ON MARCH 5
#Nassau, The Bahamas – March 6, 2020 – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to advise that recent reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that the COVID-19 virus has now spread to more than seventy-five (75) countries. At least, forty-seven (47) of these countries have ten (10) cases or less. Some are reporting their first cases. Significantly, however, there is a prevalence of cases emerging in a few selected countries. According to the Director-General’s 4th March 2020 Briefing, almost 90% of those cases are from three countries: Iran, South Korea and Italy.
The data is compelling and out of an abundance of caution, the Government of
The Bahamas has decided to implement border control and quarantine measures for
persons coming from those countries. Effective immediately any non-resident who
has visited South Korea, Iran or Italy in the last twenty (20) days will be
denied entry into The Bahamas. These countries will be added to China, for
which, we implemented such measures on January 30th, 2020. As such, Bahamian
citizens and Residents returning from all four (4) jurisdictions will now be
subjected to quarantine measures for a maximum of fourteen (14) days. Non-residents currently en route to The
Bahamas from these jurisdictions will be subjected to the same protocol for
returning citizens and residents.
While there remains no reported or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in The Bahamas,
at this time, the Government of The Bahamas is taking extra precaution to
protect the safety and health of our residents and visitors. This new advisory
is part of the government’s enhanced effort to address this public health
threat.