This past Sunday, the prime minister of the Bahamas
announced that the country will be restricting its borders after the Ministry
of Health reported a recent spike in local COVID-19 cases. According to the
nation's surveillance unit, there have been 49 new confirmed cases at a
national level since the country announced the reopening of its international
borders on July 1. The prime minister referenced the United States's rapidly
increasing number of cases and referred to the growing number of deaths in
countries often visited by Bahamian citizens.
The new regulations, which will come into effect as of
Wednesday, July 22, at midnight, will not apply to commercial flights and
vessels coming from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European union. Bahamas
Air, the country's airline, will stop all flight services to the United States
until further notice.
The official communication from the government stated that
citizens of the Bahamas who are studying in the United States will be
accommodated so that they can resume their educational programs in a timely
manner.
The new regulations demand all incoming residents and
visitors to present a negative COVID-19 test upon arriving to the country or to
quarantine for 14 days. Air travel to and from the United States will remain
restricted until the health team working with the Bahamian government instructs
that it is safe to resume these flights.