Repatriates Must Mandatorily Quarantine at Hotel

Marvin Manzanero

A revision of quarantine practices and protocols for repatriated persons got underway on Wednesday by Ministry of Health officials. The process has changed several times. Initially, repatriates were swabbed upon entry into the country and then a subsequent test was done after fourteen days of mandatory quarantine.  Based on the evolving situation and the surge in cases, returning persons were then swabbed only after spending two weeks in quarantine; in some cases, exceptions were made for persons to self-isolate and quarantine at home. While the latter remains true for persons returning from travel overseas for medical reasons, Director of Health Services Doctor Marvin Manzanero says that quarantining at a hotel is mandatory for all approved repatriates. 

Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services

“As guidelines change, and you will remember this has changed two or three times already. Initially when repatriates were coming you, we were not swabbing you upon arrival; we were swabbing you at day fourteen, when you are coming out. We started to have two positive cases and then you realise you have to extend their day for fourteen days more, so we went back to doing testing upon arrival and at day fourteen. Based on the current evidence and what guidelines have been published, it may be that we don’t swab you upon arrival, but somewhere in the middle. If you are negative, you are going to be able to go. Dynamics change; as you learn more from the disease, you have to change whatever your guidelines have. Some Caribbean countries are saying you don’t have a written guideline because it changes every day to have a written one.”

Duane Moody

“I am trying to verify whether a person has to quarantine—whether it is at home, whether it is at a hotel, but that person has to be under quarantine when they arrive.”

Dr. Marvin Manzanero

“The only persons who can go home are the ones who have a valid medical reason and we will certify it as such prior to landing. If you don’t have a valid medical reason, you will have to go into the hotel quarantine.”