The newly installed United States government, chaired by Joe Biden, has said one of its priorities is to fight the coronavirus pandemic. On this basis, it announced as one of its main measures that all travelers coming from another country must undergo mandatory quarantine.
This measure, if effective, would affect the flow of American tourists to the Dominican Republic, said President of the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants (Asonahores), Rafael Blanco.
Blanco explained that according to the information available to him, this has not yet been confirmed, but is currently under evaluation by the United States government.
Local measures
The president of Asonahores stressed that from Jan. 26, the Dominican Republic is ready to begin applying antigen tests to tourists to diagnose Covid-19, mostly Americans, as announced Monday by the cabinet for tourism led by the minister. of Tourism, David Collado.
Collado indicated that the test will be covered by the Dominican government and that this will be done to continue to promote the recovery of the tourism industry. Hence, more emphasis is placed on travelers coming from the United States as this country is the main tourist source.
The US government’s move could end actions being taken internally.
What Biden said
Biden pledged to step up measures to tackle the pandemic that has caused thousands of deaths in his country, one of which is to subject travelers entering the territory to mandatory quarantine.
“Those traveling to the United States from another country must undergo a test before boarding the plane and quarantine upon arrival,” said the president.
The airports
The airport authorities are working on the latest logistical preparations to be applied at national airports in response to the demands of several countries demanding a negative result of Covid-19 for the entry of their citizens or foreign visitors.
The Director of the Airport Department (DA), Víctor Pichardo, held meetings with the Ministry of Health, the Specialized Corps of Airport Security and Civil Aviation (CESAC) and representatives of the country’s airports to define the logistics involved in the air terminals, before the requirements finalize the details and requirements of different countries that require negative results from Covid-19 for the return of their citizens and tourists.
“It is about launching this initiative, designed by the tourism cabinet, mainly to respond to countries that need the various Covid-19 tests to enter their territory, such as PCR and antigen,” said Pichardo. During a meeting with the public. Health headquarters headed by Minister Plutarco Arias.
It is reiterated that tourists will be able to access Covid-19 tests through hotels, covered by the insurance travel assistance plan, other passengers must go to the airport with their results made 72 hours in advance and present them at the time of checking to the airline present -out.
Likewise, all passengers are urged to research beforehand the type of testing required by the destination country, be it PCR or antigen.
Pichardo pointed out that the meeting strengthens the processes that management is implementing from the start at the different airports of the Dominican Republic, for which he thanked the Ministry of Health, CESAC and the airport representatives for their collaboration and integration to ensure the industry functions optimally. .
Knowing more
New varieties
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, explained that this measure is due to the new strains of the virus discovered in other countries, at a time when more than 400,000 people are killed in the United States as a result of the pandemic, a figure that surpasses the number of American soldiers killed during World War II.
Not a malfunction
The North American president also affirmed that he will ensure that scientists and experts can work free from “any political interference and that they can base their decisions strictly on science” to face the challenges of the new coronavirus.