Director of Primary Health Care and Head of the Border Reopening Task force, Dr. Laura Esprit has called on returning nationals to follow the set protocols established by the Ministry of Health so as to preserve Dominica’s Zero COVID-19 status. She says that it takes only one person to throw all our hard work over the last months into the wind.
Dr. Esprit reiterated the pre arrival protocols that returning Dominicans must adhere to.
She says that the prearrival protocols includes 2 main components.
1. A mandatory negative PCR test from an accredited lab done within 24 to 72 hours prior to arrival
2. Set of questions to be filled out online. After one has filled out the questionnaire, he will receive an email notification of approval.
If a positive PCR test result is obtained, one needs to seek medical attention and then reapply after some time, meaning filling out the online questionnaire and retesting.
A traveler must also observe health protocols before arrival and in airport transits. This is to ensure arrival on island in a healthy state as well as the safety of all involved.
Upon disembarkation, a passenger must proceed to a first station where he will be greeted by airport staff and required to use automated sanitization stations. A temperature check will be done and if a normal body temperature is obtained, he will be allowed to proceed to a second station and be subjected to primary medical screening, while an elevated or high temperature will have him discreetly removed from the line and accompanied to the secondary medical screening area.
A second station of documentation verification entails that one submits a hard copy of a negative PCR test result as well as the approval notice which one receives after successfully completing the online questionnaire.
Any passenger with inaccurate or falsified information will be removed from the line and penalties incurred upon him or her. Also, any person deemed to be of high risk or who may be ill- looking despite a negative PCR test would be required to proceed directly to the secondary medical screening area.
A third station is set up to allow passengers to be subjected to medical screening whereby a rapid diagnostic test will be done at no cost. The passenger will then be escorted to a waiting area for approximately 20 mins to await results.
If a negative result is obtained, the traveler goes on the immigration and customs and then allowed to leave.
Persons have the choice of being driven by a certified taxi driver or having only one(1) family member- the driver- do the pick up at the airport.
If the traveler fails verification and screening, he will be escorted to the secondary screening area where the traveler will receive a PCR test and transported to quarantine. The traveler is expected to pay for 2 nights accommodation and the PCR test.
All travelers, whether allowed to go home or at a Government facility must undergo a 14 day mandatory home quarantine. This is to track one’s daily temperature and report to the district nurse. Further, this also allows for unexpected visits from medical officials. Dr. Esprit says that a penalty is being finalized for violators of home quarantine.
She advises all to continue to wear masks at all times; observe physical distancing; practice good respiratory etiquette and observe written and verbal instructions especially at ports of entry and departure.
Dr. Esprit reports that approximately 183 persons have returned home since the reopening of the borders on July 15 and more than 70% have had to be accommodated in the Government operated facility because of non compliance to established protocols.
