The Guyana Government has lifted the COVID-19 testing requirement for international travel from today, June 18.
Persons travelling to Guyana were required to present a negative COVID-19 test, either an antigen or PCR, that was taken within 72 hours of their arrival in the country. But an advisory issued by the Health Ministry on Friday has informed that this requirement has been removed.
However, travellers 12 years and older are still required to be fully vaccinated for entry into Guyana. This is currently the only requirement needed by someone wishing to pass through the ports of entry.
“We would be removing the requirement for people to present a negative antigen or PCR test, or before they board the plane to travel to Guyana. As of [today], that requirement would be removed, and people would be able to come to Guyana, but they would still have to present their vaccination card to show that they are fully vaccinated,” Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said during Friday’s COVID-19 update.
This move comes as countries around the world are opening up to visitors and removing COVID-19 restrictions, or testing requirements that were implemented after the pandemic had struck.
A few days ago, the Biden Administration also lifted the requirement for international travellers to produce a negative COVID-19 test to gain entry into the USA. Countries in which no COVID-19 testing is mandated include the United Kingdom, Mexico, Norway, Bahrain, Aruba, Curacao, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, Sweden, Poland, Grenada, Denmark, Argentina, Jamaica, Greece, Dominican Republic and Italy, among others.
In March of this year, the Government officially announced that numerous changes have been made to the COVID-19 regulations, paving the way for several of these restrictions to be lifted.
A newly-gazetted order – Public Health (Coronavirus) (No 3) Regulations 2022 – has stated that wearing a face mask is no longer mandatory, but is encouraged when in public; proof of vaccination is no longer required to enter public buildings, and the COVID-19 restrictions on social activities and gatherings have been removed.
Guyana first implemented a host of COVID-19 measures shortly after the first case of the virus was detected in the country on March 11, 2020; and over the past two years, those restrictions have been amended – strengthened as well as partially removed – in order to fit the situation of the pandemic in Guyana.
With respect to persons testing positive for the virus, the order states they are required to isolate and follow the quarantine requirements.
The order states: “Any person who has tested positive for coronavirus, or identified for quarantine, shall (a) comply with all applicable directions given and requirements imposed by the Health Emergency Operations Centre, including home isolation or quarantine, or placement in an isolation or quarantine facility; (b) provide information to the Health Emergency Operations Centre about any individual with whom the person may have had contact with at least fourteen days before testing positive for coronavirus; and (c) not knowingly expose themselves without proper and necessary precautions against spreading the coronavirus in any public place or to any person.”
