The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis wishes to remind citizens and residents
to restrict travel to China until the World Health Organisation (WHO) gives the
all clear in relation to the Novel Coronavirus now being referred to as COVID-19.
Citizens and residents were first notified of this travel advisory on February 1,
2020, following the WHO declaration on January 30th, 2020 that the outbreak of
the Novel Coronavirus constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International
Concern.
The novel corona virus has, as at 17:55 GMT on February 20, 2020 caused a
total of 2,130 deaths and 75,781 infections, with most of these occurring in
mainland China, the country where the outbreak of the illness occurred.
The Federal Ministry of Health wishes to remind persons with plans to travel to
China to postpone their plans for the immediate future. Persons travelling from
China or who have travelled to another country from China within the last 14
days are asked to remain where they are and not to travel to St. Kitts & Nevis.
This advisory remains in effect for citizens, residents and travellers.
In the event that there are persons who have travelled to St. Kitts and Nevis from
China such persons are hereby informed that they will be subject to screening
at the port of entry and may, if necessary, have their movements restricted either
at home or other appropriate facility based on risk assessment. This is in line
with the WHO’s guidelines that in the event of international exportation of cases
all countries should be prepared for containment, including active surveillance,
early detection, isolation, case management and contact tracing to prevent
onward spread. Every visitor, or returning national or resident to the Federation
must also complete Question #17 of the Immigration Card, which demands
disclosure of the countries which the passenger would have visited during the
past six (6) weeks prior to arrival in the Federation. The responses to this
question will be considered seriously in determining how the passenger will be
handled thereafter by the Immigration and Health officials at the port of entry.
Citizens, residents and businesses with interests in the hotel, tourism and allied
services sectors are hereby asked to be guided accordingly by this travel advisory.
While St. Kitts and Nevis is the smallest jurisdiction in the Western Hemisphere
our Government still takes seriously its commitments to protect our borders,
and the health and wellness of all citizens and residents.
Persons seeking further information on this travel advisory are encouraged to
contact the Federal Ministry of Health, c/o the Office of the Chief Medical Officer,
Bladen Commercial Development, Basseterre, St. Kitts.
