BVIAA runs COVID-19 drill ahead of controlled re-entry of locals
The BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA) has run its first COVID-19 drill ahead of the June 2 reopening of local borders for the repatriation of nationals and permanent residents trapped abroad.
The BVIAA said the purpose of the drill was focused on procedures it has developed to “ensure industry best-practice for safety for its visitors, employees, airlines, baggage handlers, security and relevant agencies involved”.
“The session covered temperature testing, baggage screen, sanitization and processing of passengers,” the BVIAA said in a post on its official Facebook page.
“Other exercises are planned to improve effectiveness over the upcoming weeks,” it added.
The Airports Authority, in the meantime, has been taking precautionary steps as it relates to travel into the BVI, even before midnight on March 22 when the territory’s ports of entry had officially closed to the travelling public.
The Authority had erected a tent to isolate passengers if any suspected case of the virus were to present at the territory’s main airport on Beef Island.
The Airports Authority’s COVID-19 isolation tent on Beef Island.
Re-entering
Come next Tuesday, the borders will reopen for the controlled re-entry of nationals and permanent residents who have been trapped overseas since late March. They will be required to fill out a registration form to be allowed to re-enter.
Premier and Minister responsible for ports, Andrew Fahie said in a public statement last Thursday that from June 2 up to June 15, 2020, the first priority will be given to the re-entry of “nationals, Belongers, holders of permanent residence and naturalised citizens, who upon registration and certification by the Environmental Health Division, are deemed to have approved private quarantinable accommodation for occupancy for at least a 14-day-period”.
He said priority will also be granted to persons who left the territory to seek medical attention.
Starting June 15, 2020, consideration would then be given for the re-entry of other persons “with approved registration and certification with respect to available government quarantine spaces”.
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All am hearin is who enterin wat about those who are here on vaction an wants to leave who get stuck since march
@ Anonymous…It has always been said that persons are free to leave to return to their home country. An apparent concern they would face, however, is if their homeland is allowing citizens to return home, and the measures thst they have put in place for that to be facilitated.
Two thumbs up BVIAA!
Anonymous, your ears gone deaf….seek help from the tourist board. Or your boarder aint ready for transition yet
Get to the point Premier, on when Belongers and visitors, who want to conduct business transactions, FOR THE DAY ONLY, can come home to conduct business, and visit family!
We need DAY ONLY, approved visitations, Premier!
Signed, AUSAR!!
“Come next Tuesday, the borders will reopen for the controlled re-entry of nationals and permanent residents who have been trapped overseas since late March.”
I don’t see visitors listed.
Again I don’t get why these news media keep saying repatriation Flights. BVI Landers have to pay for their own flights. These are NOT REPATRIATION FLIGHTS! GOV ISNT PAYING FOR ANY FLIGHTS FOR LOCALS COMING IN.
When will Villa and Yacht owners be allowed to enter. They have property in the Territory and no way to access it. Enough is enough
“Come next Tuesday, the borders will reopen for the controlled re-entry of nationals and permanent residents who have been trapped overseas since late March.”
well if they are either of the two listed above I think the protocol allows them to.
if not, they just have to wait.
You will ve able to enter when everyone can. A lot of people are coming from places where they do not adhere to the rules, and we are trying to avoid a covid 19 outbreak. Your property will be here when you return. You probably have property elsewhere too.
I pray to God that Premier Fahie don’t buckle to the pressure from persons who want to fast track opening the borders. I am sure that we all want the economy and borders to open up so we can move forward with our lives. But we want to move on safely so that we can be healthy to lead productive lives. If we get a resurgence of Covid 19, we would have lost all the gains that we have made. So fellow Bvislanders please let us patiently open with caution. Patience is a Virtue.
How come a drill wasn’t carried out on the private plane that brings in the board member from st.kitts during it frequent flights ????
All I have to say, may God be with us, especially when all those people will be returning to the island from next week, quote the island is covet virus free right now! unquote,
What about the man who left in May to DR and came back?