Amendment to protocols for entry into the Commonwealth of Dominica

 

 

The Ministry of Tourism International Transport and Maritime Initiatives announced new measures for COVID-19 pre-arrival and entry protocols for travellers to Dominica with immediate effect.

Hon Denise Charles, the Minister for Tourism, International Transport, and Maritime Initiatives indicated that this move is yet another responsible decision in managing the safety of travellers while allowing greater convenience in their travel journey. We are optimistic that the tourism stakeholders will profit from greater arrivals as a result of the relaxation of these protocols, as we have harmonized the protocols for both air and sea travel, allowing visitors to choose their preferred method of transportation to visit Dominica.

The major amendment indicates that All travellers are required to:

 

  • Complete a health questionnaire online before arrival in Dominica at http://domcovid19.dominica.gov.dm and can complete it on arrival if they experienced problems completing it prior to boarding.
  • Upload a negative PCR test result from a swab taken within 72 hours prior to arrival OR upload pre-arrival negative Rapid Antigen Test result from a swab taken within 48 hours prior to expected arrival time into Dominica.

Prior to boarding airlines or other travel carriers, travellers must also present a Negative PCR test result OR a Negative Rapid Antigen Test result.

 

  • Upon arrival in Dominica, fully vaccinated travellers shall be medically cleared after documents have been validated. For un-vaccinated travellers, the protocols for disembarkation remain unchanged. Therefore, un-vaccinated travelers shall take a Rapid Antigen test and proceed to a Safe in Nature certified property for at least 5 days.

 

These revised protocols are to be applied to travellers to Dominica by air and sea. All other protocols for un-vaccinated protocols remain unchanged.

Additionally, the limitations previously placed on ferry operations regarding a limit on the number of passengers and number of calls per week have been lifted.

Director of Tourism, Colin Piper indicated that the change in protocols allowing pre-arrival Antigen testing has been requested from potential visitors in the US and the French West Indies who have had difficulties procuring PCR test results within the testing window. This will benefit all tourism stakeholders, especially accommodations, who have experienced cancellations due to potential visitors’ inability to obtain the required tests in time. With the new protocols, lifting of Ferry restrictions, and direct American Airline flights, visitor arrivals are expected to increase.

For more information on Dominica, contact Discover Dominica Authority at +1 767 448 2045. Or, visit Dominica’s official website: www.DiscoverDominica.com, follow Dominica on Twitter., Instagram and Facebook and take a look at our videos on YouTube

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15 Comments

  1. Mark
    March 2, 2022

    @Maureen Byrnes, we set the protocols for entry into Dominica just like every independent country does therefore you’re free to accept them or go elsewhere, plain and simple.
    All covid related requirements will eventually be lifted when the data tells us it’s safe to do so.

  2. maureen byrnes
    March 1, 2022

    I visited your beautiful home country decades ago. I had never seen a place more beautiful, including the spirit of love within the people. I’d love to return, but I would never accept the dangerous injections which hurt some people terribly and make a small percentage terrifically wealthy. End all restrictions, worldwide.

  3. February 26, 2022

    Whilst tripple vaccinated and fully supportive of our government’s strictest protocols during the initial waves of covid 19, Omicron has changed the landscape completely. Much more transmissible yet far milder symptoms have, according to the UK’s Dr John Campbell, relegated Omicron from pandemic status to merely endemic, just like the flue or the common cold. It can infect the vaccinated just as easily as those who are not, so is there any further need to discriminate? Additionally, natural immunity from Omicron protects against infection from the more deadly Alpha and Delta variants, which have almost vanished as a result. Whilst at maximum protection from vaccination, this is the perfect time to be exposed to Omicron, “the vaccine we failed to make”. I believe that now is the time for Dominica to follow the example of Denmark, by completely lifting all covid 19 restrictions and allowing the virus to run its natural course.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  4. Tony
    February 26, 2022

    Why negative tested unvaccinated are treated differently when both the vaccinated and unvaccinated
    1. Get infected
    2. Spread it to others
    3. Are either symptomatic or asymptotic
    4. Are hospitalized and die from severe cases?

    Is this a case of ensuring guests for hotels?

    They should be allowed to go home too!

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 2
    • Channel 1
      February 27, 2022

      @Tony – Hence the reason why some persons are asking whether it is some sort of racket that is the driving force behind these unjust, UNSCIENTIFIC, discriminatory measures.

      I want to know what is the real purpose for quarantining a negative unvaccinated person while setting free a negative vaccinated person considering that the main selling point of these covid pharmaceutical concoctions (which ‘the experts’ claim are vaccines) is that they reduce symptoms and possible death from covid rather than prevent one from catching and/or transmitting covid to others.

  5. February 26, 2022

    This is a small change. The main issue is that Dominica has quarantines. The secondary issue is the ludicrous testing requirement.

    People with COVID live longer than those without. It’s a mild beneficial thing like eating yogurt. You don’t quarantine people for eating yogurt.

  6. Question Everything
    February 26, 2022

    How do these changes make ANY sense. If EVERYONE whether they are vaccinated or unvaccinated can have the virus and spread the virus, why not treat everyone equally when they enter Dominica once they have a negative result? How about those travelling with relatives and friends and one person in the group is not vaccinated for medical reasons?
    Even we who are vaccinated can now see that this doesn’t make any sense. We are now ALL in the same boat. Whether we are in denial about this or not, the glaring evidence is there for ALL to see.
    Other countries have realised that their people have started to notice what’s going on and made sensibly changes to address this. So, it’s about time Dominica did the same. I am saying this as a vaccinated person who does not want to see a discriminated divided country. This is paramount to apartheid. And I am expecting the thumbs down for my comments from those with NO sense!!

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
  7. Roger Burnett
    February 25, 2022

    I fully agree with tests before and on arrival. The more stringent the better.

    But as the vaccinated can equally spread the infection, why do we continue to stigmatize the unvaccinated?

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 7
    • Zandoli
      February 25, 2022

      Three days of less before they travel, visitors to Dominica must be tested and deemed to be negative before they can even board the aircraft. Doesn’t that count for anything.
      I hardly think travelers to Dominica pose any more risk to the population than those who reside there. I get it that the virus did not originate in Dominica, but once it is in, those who are tested and are deemed to be negative pose little risk to the population. There are the odd person who test negative and later test positive, but they are in the minority.
      Another thing to consider is that the vast majority of Dominicans have had some exposure to the virus. Soon viral infections will be relegated to background noise.

    • Channel 1
      February 25, 2022

      @Roger Burnett – Excellent question.

  8. alice
    February 25, 2022
  9. Zandoli
    February 25, 2022

    As of last night the official government website had not been updated to include the new information. Also, the questionnaire also mentions the $100 payment for the antigen test on arrival.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
    • Just Stating the Facts
      February 25, 2022

      The Antigen Test on arrival still applies. They are just allowing the opportunity for more individuals to be able to enter the country with the use of the Antigen test and not just the PCR.

  10. Bwa-Banday
    February 25, 2022

    :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: Finally I see there is someone with a “little” commonsense or should I say rear-sense left within the group of lost sh**p in environmental health department. Oh Dominica.

    Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 8 Thumb down 7

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