It’s been less than 3 weeks since the Bahamas began to welcome back international visitors. Unfortunately, that combined with their own economic reopening, has led to an uptick in coronavirus cases.
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The Bahamas is Closed To Visitors from the US Effective Wednesday July 22nd
It just goes to show how fluid the situation is for Americans trying to travel abroad these days. We can’t go to Europe. We certainly can’t go to Australia or New Zealand.
Croatia is allowing Americans with a negative COVID-19 test and Greece “may” start allowing Americans in August. Either of those can change tomorrow.
The Bahamas just reopened to international visitors a few weeks ago, but due to the rising case count on the island, they have now restricted entry by both air and sea for Americans.
Europeans, Canadians, and UK visitors can still go to the Bahamas with proof of a negative PCR test within the last 10 days.
Don’t even think of trying to submit a falsified test either (yes, it’s happened) as you’ll be subject to a $2,000 fine, two years imprisonment or both if caught.
In a national address, the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Hubert Minnis, said that Bahamasair will cease all flights to/ from the US effective immediately.
In Grand Bahama, he announced that there will be an island-wide curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Monday and that all indoor dining, public and private beaches and parks are now closed until further notice.
Minnis is taking COVID-19 extremely serious, pointing out that we still do not know the long term effects of the illness, even in those who recover, stating that “There may be serious long-term effects to people of all ages, effects that diminish quality of life, and possibly shorten life.”
Were you headed to Atlantis?
Certainly, given the Status Match Merry Go Round which confers Caesars Diamond status and a comped trip to Atlantis in the Bahamas, there are no doubt some MilesTalkers with upcoming trips. Sadly, Atlantis, which was going to open July 30th, has said it will remain closed for now, with no reopening date given at this time.
Even if you *could* go, you’d be disappointed to learn that as of 5am tomorrow, all public and private beached on the island that Atlantis is on will be completely closed.
Turks and Caicos Reopens Wednesday – But For How Long?
If you have an upcoming trip to Turks and Caicos, I’d stay glued to the news to see if the situation changes there as well.
All of the Caribbean islands that are welcoming tourists from abroad but also have scarce medical resources of their own may find themselves also torn between reopening for economic reasons and staying closed to some tourism for safety reasons.
HT: Miami Herald
Were you headed to the Bahamas?
Let me know below in the comments, on Twitter, or in the private MilesTalk Facebook group.
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