Edit: August 4, 2020
The following information has been amended. To read more about The Bahamas travel restrictions, click here.
With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to spread and get worse in some countries and changing situations around the world, countries and governments are constantly adjusting policies and guidelines. On July 19, The Bahamas Ministry of Health confirmed 15 new cases with the total number of cases at 153, and according the Surveillance Unit, there have been 49 new cases since their borders fully opened on July 1.
To address the increase, the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas Dr. Hubert Minnis announced a series of measures, including international commercial flights and commercial vessels carrying passengers will not be permitted to enter borders, except for commercial flights from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, which goes into effect on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, at midnight. Bahamasair will cease outgoing flights to the U.S., effective immediately, according to the national address. However, private international flights and charters for Bahamians, residents, and visitors will be permitted, along with pleasure craft and yachts. These measures are not applicable to Grand Bahama.
“All returning Bahamians, residents, and visitors by air or sea from overseas will require a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test result from an accredited lab,” he said in the address. Documents will need to be presented to immigration officials upon arrival, and tests must have been taken no later than 10 days before the date of travel. In addition, all individuals must have an approved Health Visa to enter the country. Domestic travel will continue to be permitted, but these travelers are still required to complete an electronic Health Visa prior to departure at travel.gov.bs.
Public and private beaches and parks on New Providence, Paradise Island, Rose Island, Athol Island, and surrounding cays will be closed until further notice, effective July 20, 2020, at 5 a.m.
Due to Grand Bahama seeing a resurgence of cases after being COVID-19-free for a little over two months, the Prime Minster announced a separate set of measures, including a daily curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. and “international and domestic borders will be closed to all incoming and outgoing flights and sea vessels to and from Grand Bahama, except for emergencies and to transport essential services and goods, effective midnight Wednesday, July 22, 2020.”
To read more specifics and the Prime Minister’s address, visit: opm.gov.bs/national-address/