By Carl Joseph
Jamaica has announced a travel ban between China and the Caribbean island, amid concerns over the deadly coronavirus.
Antigua, however, will not be following suit – at least not yet.
“We took a decision… that a travel advisory would be issued where persons in China, who were planning to travel to the island will be advised or asked to remain in China,” Dr Tufton said on Tuesday after a suspected case of the illness in Kingston sparked alarm across the region.
The advisory, Tufton said, would also extend to Jamaican nationals and Chinese nationals who were planning to make trips to China.
“We’re advising them to postpone, at least for the time being, those travel arrangements that they would have made or are planning to make,” Dr Tufton added.
The minister had no specific timeline for the expected length of the newly-imposed ban. The advisory will also be extended to potential in-transit travellers.
“Our quarantine protocols will be put into place, where persons would either be quarantined in specially designed facilities or within their home environment depending on their particular circumstance and depending on the risk assessment that would be done,” the minister explained.
The quarantine arrangements will reflect the two to 14-day incubation period consistent with the virus.
Meanwhile, Antigua and Barbuda health officials say they have no immediate plans to issue similar travel restrictions between the twin island nation and China.
Read more in today’s newspaper
I guess we still think Antigua is a magical place that the virus will never reach. Yes why put off today what you can put off till tomorrow and maybe the tomorrow after that. Take a hint if China has quarantined its cities of millions and is building thousands of hospital bed so fast maybe they know something? It’s time to be proactive not reactive. From past experience if we wait it will be too late.
Dammmm smart minister, protect your people.
Antigua government crazy ns. …Dem nah think and so…..once a money Dem head in Dem battum……arue need to use arue damn head…..help out how u can but for the safety of your country and it’s people it needs to be done…Gaston needa think about the long run and not just his pocket… Antigua is a small country and we very poor…u think Antigua ready for a virus like that…..one out break and everybody dead to how Antigua people lub catch-up under each other .. me a warm Dem from me nuh…make proper decisions plz..????swear Dem nah use Dem head… hospital nah even good
So we’re still going with the old procrastination method? Wait till someone is dead before taking action, and shuffle about having a meting to decide what do next. I know hold another meeting except this time get a better caterer..