(Jamaica Gleaner) Hundreds of vacationers hoping to return to Canada are now stranded in Jamaica after new rules requiring them to show proof of a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test in order to enter the country came into effect on January 7.
All travellers are required to have this proof in hand at the time of boarding, regardless of citizenship. Failure to comply will mean an automatic denial of boarding by the air carrier operating the flight to Canada.
Canadian citizen Denise Mendez is among those who are affected by the new policy after she decided to visit the island on December 30 to see her ailing mother.
“It was my mother’s 70th birthday and my mom has Parkinson, so me and my sisters said you know, this is a milestone for her and so we said you know we kind of wanted to celebrate this,” she said.
Mendez, who is scheduled to leave Jamaica on a Caribbean Airlines flight this morning, said the new requirements were announced while she was in Jamaica. Since being informed, she tried to set an appointment with Microlabs Limited, but she said the next available date for testing according to their website is in February.
“I need to get back to work and so I am trying to do everything I can to get back to work,” said the frustrated office manager.
Mendez said when she made contact with the Canadian Consulate on Thursday, she was told that several other persons are experiencing a similar dilemma.
According to permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health & Wellness, Dunstan Bryan, an estimated 2,000 Canadians are schedule to return to Canada between now and next week. However, several of these persons have been having a difficult time finding an approved private lab to conduct the required tests due to the demand.
Only two private labs have been approved by the Ministry of Health & Wellness to offer PCR testing for COVID-19 in Jamaica. They are Caribbean Genetics (CARIGEN) and Microlabs Limited.
