Kingston, Jamaica, November 19, 2020 (PAHO) - In June 2020, countries and territories in the Caribbean Region initiated the process to resume non-essential international travel in order to reactivate their economies heavily affected by measures adopted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In that context, on 9 July 2020, the Country Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Jamaica, shared with national authorities its technical document Considerations for resuming non-essential international traffic in the Caribbean in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In compliance with the request to PAHO Director formulated by PAHO Member States through Resolution CD58.R9 - COVID-19 Pandemic in the Region of the Americas, adopted by the PAHO Directing Council in its 58th Session (28-29 September 2020), on 5 October 2020, PAHO published the technical document Resuming non-essential international travel in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic – Advice on the use of COVID-19-related testing, reiterating and expanding on considerations previously offered.
The overarching objectives of the above mentioned PAHO technical documents, prepared in the spirit of solidarity and to facilitate the harmonization of travel-related measures, are to:
- Protect the health of the local population in the country at destination;
- Protect the health of the travellers;
- Contribute to the reactivation of the national economy.
The elements considered by PAHO in preparing those technical documents are the following:
- Scientific evidence available (unchanged since the time of the writing);
- Legal and operational aspects;
- Rational and sustainable use of resources; experience of countries in the Region; and
- Most importantly, the fact that the cornerstone interventions to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic lies on the countries’ capacities – across the entirety of their territory – to detect, isolate, and treat COVID-19 cases; to identify and quarantine their contacts; to promote and, if needed, to enforce the adoption of personal protective measures by the population; and social and physical distancing measures.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, through unprecedented capacity building efforts, countries and territories in the Caribbean Region have extraordinarily enhanced those capacities.
PAHO is acutely aware of the extreme challenges faced by national authorities while deciding on public health actions in the context of an unpredictable event like the unfolding of the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Similarly, PAHO recognizes the primacy of national sovereignty, trusting that decisions made by national authorities intend to benefit the overall interest of their country’s population. This might include adapting PAHO guidelines and recommendations to the local context.
With respect to resuming non-essential international travel, PAHO is recommending national authorities to consider shaping their policy around the following elements:
- A risk-based approach – risk assessment, risk mitigation, and risk communication;
- Visual screening at points of entry;
- Health monitoring of incoming travellers for 14 days after arrival at destination;
- Adherence to personal protective measures by individual travellers;
- Adherence to social and physical distancing measures in place in the country at destination.
PAHO recognizes the efforts of the authorities of Jamaica in progressively considering and adopting public health measures to resume non-essential international traffic.
This is exemplified by the establishment, early on in the pandemic, of the Resilient Corridors in the most touristic areas of the country – where travelers can enjoy a safe stay without being subject to quarantine. PAHO considers that this approach represents a best practice, to be replicated by other countries and territories in the Caribbean Region and beyond, and which has contributed to inspiring the above mentioned PAHO technical documents.
Similarly, the issuance of electronic Travel Authorization to be obtained prior to departure through an online portal, is fully aligned with PAHO recommendations and represent a best practice.
PAHO trusts that, as Jamaica is continuing to advance in strengthening its capacities to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, further considerations will be given by national authorities to revisiting and adjusting the measures applied to international travellers.
