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Bahamas closes borders to US tourists

21 July 2020 00:51 (UTC +04:00)

The Bahamas has announced it will ban US visitors amid recent rises in Covid-19. The Caribbean nation had begun reopening its borders at the start of July, APA reports citing Fox News.

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said in an address on Sunday: "Regrettably, the situation here at home has already deteriorated since we began the reopening of our domestic economy. It has deteriorated at an exponential rate since we reopened our international borders."

The Ministry of Health has confirmed a total of 153 Covid-19 cases, 49 of which happened after the borders opened on 1 July.

"Our current situation demands decisive action, if we are to avoid being overrun and defeated by this virus."

By Wednesday, the Bahamas will prohibit all international commercial flights and vessels - with exceptions for commercial flights from the UK, Canada and the EU.

All visitors - as well as any returning Bahamians - will be asked to show a negative Covid-19 test from an accredited laboratory upon arrival.

Americans who are currently on the islands will still be able to leave on outgoing flights, but no new tourists from the US will be allowed in.