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Jamaica COVID-19 Travel Resources Everything You Need to Know About Traveling to Jamaica
Are you skeptical about whether to travel to Jamaica post-lockdown? , this guide is for you.
These unprecedented times require some additional preparation and information to travel safely and foresee any comings.
Although the pandemic hit Jamaica tourism really badly, the good news is the shores of Jamaica are healing, and the people, the weather, the flavorful culture is ready to host you now.
Jamaican Tourism board is working hard to revive the industry and is genuinely interested in hosting travelers from all over the world once again.
More than 150,000 visitors arrived in Jamaica since June last year, and Jamaica most successful reopening has been phenomenal to keep things safe and incident-free
Pre-Travel Process and Risk Management
Jamaica has emerged as a world leader in reopening its country for travelers. So they are continuously reviewing the health and safety recommendations from health experts around the world. Adhering to CDC, WHO, and local health authority recommendations to ensure your safety.
The Jamaican Govt. has implemented a new Jamaica Care Program, which is mandatory travel insurance for all the visitors and travelers arriving on the island.
Before coming, Jamaica requires a negative COVID-19 lab test done within 10 days of your arrival. Days before travel, you should fill out an entry form and upload your negative COVID test results on the Jamaica Tourism Website (Linked), then wait for an approval letter (Travel Authorization) via email. This process can take two to four days till you get your approval email.
Keep in mind, it is mandatory even if you already have travel insurance, as the local government is trying to make things as easy and safe as possible during these infectious times.
Jamaican Government COVID Guide for Travelers:
- Every visitor traveling to Jamaica will require a Travel Authorization Card before check-in.
- Travelers that will be deemed low risk can continue their trip within the tourism corridor.
- Travelers that are considered high-risk will be tested again on arrival.
- Travelers coming from high-risk countries (i.e. USA, Canada, etc.) will require a PCR test before travel and will be tested again on arrival.
- Low-risk travelers in the tourism corridor will have to quarantine for 14 days after arrival.
- Visitors from Brazil, Dominican Republic, and Mexican have now required COVID-19 PCR test results before coming to Jamaican Island.
- Jamaica minister of Tourism Ministry states that anyone over the age of 12 entering Jamaica is required to take a PCR test result and to be quarantined after their arrival.
- Ports of Jamaica are closed for cruise ship arrivals.
- People leaving Jamaica are allowed to leave without any additional processes.
COVID Entry & Post-Arrival Requirements:
After the flight arrival, all the passengers on board could be tested for COVID-19 if authorities will see any reason to ensure safety. There are laboratories near the airport location to ease with the procedure.
After the test, the visitors must quarantine for 48 hours at the tourism corridor while awaiting the test result. If your test result is positive, they will be quarantined for 14 days and will be monitored as well. After 14 days of quarantine, you will not have to self-quarantine anymore.
Despite these additional requirements, all the visitors have to follow the regular visa requirements. It is better to check with your embassy or government authorities whether you need a visa to travel to Jamaica or not.
COVID Health Guidelines While Arriving and Staying in Jamaica:
Below is a guideline of what is required before arriving and staying in Jamaica.
- Public health officials at the airport will carry out a risk assessment.
- Every non-resident, non-business passenger from a low-risk area will be screened and assessed at the airport.
- If you are considered to be high risk or traveling from a high-risk area. You will be required to take a PCR test and placed in quarantine until the results arrive.
- If your test result comes back negative, you’ll be quarantined at your accommodation that has been booked within the tourism corridor, and your movement will be restricted under the safe zone.
- If you get a positive result, you’ll be placed in isolation at a location determined by health authorities for 14 days.
- If a PCR test is not required from you upon arrival, you’ll be allowed to continue your trip at your accommodations under the stay-in-zone measures.
Jamaica has established Tourism Corridors at the airports. Each with trained staff and health officials is present to ensure the safety of visitors.
If you are not staying in Tourism corridors, then you will have to quarantine for 14 days even if you have negative COVID-19 results upon arrival. So it is advised to leverage the ease offered by the Jamaican government.
After all that process, you can continue your trip just follow some mandatory instructions like:
- Wear a mask when instructed by the officials
- Follow physical distancing instructions and markers.
- Avoid going out of stay-in-zones.
- Avoid going outside your accommodations i.e. hotels, resorts, or resilient licensed attractions.
The COVID vaccine process has not yet started in Jamaica, and it is not available to the public as of yet. Keep that in mind while your country has any regulations of you coming back from a trip and entering your homeland again.
Your Jamaican visit is restricted to a Resilient Corridor. It is expanded along the North Coast (Negril, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, and Portland).
The second Resilient Corridor is along the South Coast (from Milk River to Negril). You are prohibited from going outside of this Resilient Corridor and approved hotels and resorts.
CDC Requirements for US Citizens Traveling to Jamaica:
Although CDC does not recommend traveling at this time because it causes the spreading of COVID-19. However, they offer their guidance if you are willing to take some additional care.
If you must travel then;
- Get tested at least 1-3 days before your flight.
- Do not travel if you are exposed to COVID-1; and if you are having symptoms such as flu, fever, or continuous cough.
- Do not travel with anyone who is sick or showing any symptoms.
- Follow entry requirements of your desired destination, and read about the required or requested health guidelines provided by local officials.
- During your visit, wear a mask, stay 6 feet apart, avoid going to crowded places, wash your hands regularly, use a sanitizer, and watch for symptoms.
- Consult your doctor about your travel plans and get guidance
- Before traveling back to the USA, you will need to do a PCR test again within 3 days before your flight. A negative test result is required for your re-entry into the USA.
- Keep a copy of your test results with you during your stay and while traveling should you be asked for them by authorities.
- Follow all airlines and destination travel guidelines during COVID-19, and also follow rules of quarantine. Because the authorities are doing as much as they can to ensure your safety.
- After returning from your trip, you will need to get tested again after 3 to 5 days and stay at home or self-quarantine for 7 days to avoid spreading any infectious disease.
- If you did not get tested again, you should quarantine for 10 days at least.
Whether you are staying in a private home, villa, or hotel, here are some frequently asked questions while traveling to Jamaica during COVID-19.
FAQs
How much will a COVID test cost in Jamaica?
The Jamaican government is acting aggressively to expand its testing capacity. Many hotels, resorts, and other accommodations provide on-site testing facilities for their guests. If testing is not a part of your trip package, it will cost you $50-60 dollars to undergo an Antigen test and $150 to $240 for a PCR test.
What kind of documentation of my test result do I need to provide before visiting Jamaica?
If you are traveling from a high-risk location, you need to provide a Travel Authorization Card, which you can get by applying online on the Jamaican Tourism Department Website.
It can take 2 to 4 days to get it via email. And all the travelers above age 12 need to provide a copy of a negative PCR test result for COVID-19 done within 10 days before arrival.
Result reports can be uploaded on the site as well while applying for a Travel Authorization Card. Approval will be based on valid negative, PCR test reports.
Do I need to get a test before leaving for Jamaica?
Yes. You do. Especially if you are coming from a high-risk country like the USA, Canada.
You need to get a PCR test for COVID-19 within 10 days before your flight to Jamaica.
Remember, after arrival, the airport authorities can also make you get tested again if they notice any symptoms.
When did the testing order take effect?
Jamaican government made it mandatory for every visitor to get tested with immediate effect from 31 Oct 2020. This is part of the government’s aggressive policy for fighting the spread of COVID-19. And ensure the safety of all the travelers and their hometown.
Does the testing order apply to all flights?
Non-resident, the non-business person visiting Jamaica, then a testing order is applied to your flight.
All the flights entering Jamaica have to go through a pre-travel test, and they can be tested again upon arrival at the airport if showing any symptoms.
If I have one or more connecting flights to the USA; does the 3-day period apply to the first flight or the last one?
If your travel plans to Jamaica include one or more connecting flights. Your COVID test will be considered valid within the 3 days before the departure of the first flight.
I am a US citizen. Do I still need to get tested before boarding my flight in Jamaica?
Yes, you do. You will need to get tested and provide a PCR test result copy for your visit approval. You will need to get tested within 10 days before your flight. Also, follow the CDC guidelines for traveling and re-entering the USA.
When do I need to get a test to travel to the US?
For all US citizens traveling to Jamaica, you need to get tested 10 days before your flight to Jamaica.
And what kind of test do I need?
You will need a PCR test or Antigen Test for COVID-19 from any local government-approved laboratory in your hometown. You will have to provide a valid test result report to get approval for your travel to Jamaica. Samples collected using home test kits ( i.e. Pixel by LabCorp) or any kind-of antibody tests will not be accepted.
Do I have to quarantine again when I arrive home from Jamaica?
It depends on your local health authority guidelines. According to the CDC, you should quarantine for at least 10 days after coming back home. CDC also recommends getting tested again within 3 days after coming back home from your trip.
What kind of documentation of my test result do I need to provide?
You need to upload a scan of your PCR test result for COVID within 10 days before your flight to get a Travel Authorization Card, and you will be asked for a copy of your test result upon arrival. It is advisable that you keep a copy with you s at all times.
My trip is less than 3 days. Will I still need to get tested?
All non-resident, the non-business person visiting Jamaica, must have a PCR test for COVID done within 10 days of their arrival. A valid test report must be provided to the authorities on landing in Jamaica.
Where do I apply for a Travel Authorization Card?
A Travel Authorization Card will be issued to you online. This is mandatory to enter Jamaica.
It is part of the Controlled Entry Program implemented by the Jamaican Tourism Industry to ensure the spread of COVID.
You must apply for it before arriving in Jamaica. The authorization card will be emailed to you within 2-4 days of application.
PCR test results for COVID is mandatory because approval will be granted based on that.
These measures help the government in assessing the risk of visitors entering the County.
AS well as to auto-populate portions of the Immigration and Customs Declaration to enhance the process on your arrival.
You can apply for it by visiting this link: https://travelauth.visitjamaica.com/
If you have any other queries regarding your visit to Jamaica, please feel free to contact us. Also, we offer the best private villa accommodations with a personal chef for you to enjoy the maximum while you are staying in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
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COVID-19 Testing Availability in Jamaica
Jamaica has made an aggressive effort to expand our testing capacity, and we are in full compliance with new rules and testing requirements in place for the United States and Canada-bound travelers. We wish to assure you that the country’s COVID-19 testing capacity is adequate to facilitate all visitors to the Island.
Many hotels and resorts are providing COVID-19 testing on-site for their guests.
For travellers staying at other locations, the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Ministry of Tourism are working together to establish mobile testing sites within the Resilient Corridors. Testing resources will also be added at both of Jamaica’s International airports.
Both Antigen and PCR tests are available.
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Ocho “Rios Jamaica Covid Testing
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TOMLINSON’S MEDICAL & CHILD HEALTH CENTRE
65 Main Street Ocho RIos, JA
(876) 974-2610, (876) 974-0558
MD LINK
Ocho RIos, JA
(876) 974-2610, (876) 974-0558
VISIT THEIR WEBSITE
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