Regional Caribbean air carrier Winair has relaunched its service between St Maarten and Antigua.
The St Maarten-based carrier is operating the service twice daily, five days per week, according to a statement.
It’s the latest relaunched route for the company, which has also resumed service to Curacao, Aruba and St Barth out of the airline’s hub at St Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport.
St Maarten’s airport officially resumed operations on July 1.
Travel industry leaders in the country asked the Scottish government to include Spain on that list, citing that 60% of leisure flight arrivals are from Spain.
“It’s important we work quickly to bring the travel advice issued today in line with the rest of the UK. We’ve requested a meeting with the Scottish Government to discuss what further measures could be put in place that would allow the lifting of restrictions and prevent airlines from cancelling routes to what is one of Scotland’s most popular and important tourism destinations,” said Derek Provan, CEO of AGS Airports to insider.co.uk
However, the Scottish government said that it cannot lift the restrictions on people arriving from Spain and Serbia due to the higher prevalence of COVID-19 and a recent outbreak respectively in the two countries.
From 10 July, the quarantine for those arriving in Scotland will not be imposed if they come from countries included in the travel corridor list.
Those who have stopped off in a country not on the list will still be required to self-isolate for two weeks, as will travellers arriving into Scotland via an English port or airport if they have been in a country which is not on the exemption list.
All inbound travellers, whether visitors or UK residents, must provide a passenger locator form before their arrival into the country.
The measure is not necessarily reciprocal; for example, although travellers won’t have to self-isolate when returning from New Zealand, there is very little chance of them gaining entry there in the first place.
The list of exempt countries will be reviewed on 20 July.
Countries exempted from quarantine on arrival to Scotland
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Belgium
Bonaire, Saint Eustatius and Saba
Croatia
Curaçao
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Polynesia
Germany
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Malta
Mauritius
Monaco
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Réunion
San Marino
Seychelles
South Korea
St Barthélemy
Saint Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Pierre and Miquelon
Switzerland
Taiwan
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
Vatican City
Vietnam
Ireland is already exempt as part of the common travel area, as are the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The 14 British Overseas Territories will also be exempt.
But COVID-19 risks blowing HIV progress way off course
A recent report by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) revealed that the new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in the Caribbean has decreased by 29 percent since 2010, while AIDS-related deaths have also gone done to 37 percent.
This is a great progress, according to the UNAIDS, since the incidence:prevalence ratio of the region went down to 3.9 percent in 2019 from 6.1 percent in 2010.
“Great strides continue to be made in the Caribbean towards the elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission, with seven countries achieving revalidation,” the 384-page report said.
The report further showed that “the Bahamas and Barbados remain the only countries that have national programmes providing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) through the public health sector.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines PrEP as a method for people, who do not have HIV but who are at very high risk of getting HIV, to prevent HIV infection by taking a pill every day.
Meanhwhile, nongovernmental organizations are providing PrEP in the Dominican Republic, and it is available in Jamaica and Suriname through the private sector and pilot studies.
UNAIDS Caribbean Director Dr James Guwani, meanwhile expressed his concern over the coronavirus pandemic that has apparently slowed down the timeline for HIV/AIDS countermeasures in the region.
“We were not on track to meet the 2020 targets now; COVID-19 increases the crisis that may blow us off the course. The report urges us to leverage HIV leadership and lessons against this new pandemic threat,” Guwani was quoted as saying by the Jamaican Observer.
The recent UNAIDS report also said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously impacted the AIDS response and could disrupt it more. A 20% disruption could cause an additional 110 000 deaths.”
Challenges ahead
The high levels of migration remains as an ongoing challenge for HIV responses in the Caribbean, said the report.
“Government health systems are also struggling to absorb programmes that are traditionally funded by international donors, including HIV prevention and key population focused initiatives. Innovative financing strategies are needed to ensure sustained progress,” it added.
UNAIDS suggests that the Caribbean nations must scale-up effective strategies to ensure early presentation for antenatal care and continuity of treatment for pregnant women living with HIV. These should include those in poverty and those who are migrants or survivors of gender-based violence.
Aruba is now officially open for travelers from the United States.
The Dutch Caribbean Island officially reopened for U.S. travelers on July 10, following a July 1 reopening for Canadian and European travelers, following an initial relaunch for visitors from neighboring Caribbean countries.
In light of recent COVID-19 spikes in certain U.S. states, Aruba said it would be requiring travelers residing in 24 U.S. states to upload proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to departure as part of a required online Embarkation/Disembarkation form (you can find it here).
You can find the full list of states from which pre-arrival negative test results are required below:
Travelers who reside in other U.S. states have the option of taking a PCR test within the 72-hour window and uploading it, or taking a PCR test at their own expense upon arrival at the airport.
Aruba is requiring all visitors to purchase “Aruba Visitors Insurance” as part of their trip, although some hotels like the Renaissance are actually covering these costs in their rates.
“We recognize this causes an extra step for those wanting to travel, and also know not everyone will be able to have access to this test in their state. These are necessary safeguards designed to keep Aruba safe and free of health risks,” the Aruba Tourism Authority said in a statement.
The Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort actually never closed, although it has completed a series of major upgrades, both cosmetic and health and safety-related.
And the Aruba Marriott has also reopened in its signature perch on Palm Beach.
“With Aruba being a popular destination for guests from all over the world, the island knew it had to be extremely careful in implementing safeguards so guests coming from areas where COVID-19 hit harder would not pose a risk to the island and our visitors,” said Ewald Biemans, owner and CEO of the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort. “I’m confident in Aruba’s approach to COVID-19 safety and that Bucuti & Tara’s new high-tech, hospital-grade safety protocol will keep our guests safe to enjoy their romantic vacations and our staff and community safe.”
Aruba has not yet announced when it will be opening for South American and Central American visitors.
“Aruba’s health and safety protocols will be revisited and reevaluated on an ongoing basis,” the ATA said.
