CDC Moves Bahamas Advisory Back to Level 3

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has bumped the Bahamas back up to a level three travel advisory, encouraging Americans to reconsider travel.

It comes less than a month after the advisory was lowered to level two.

This, as tourism officials announced a change in travel protocols, which will loosen restrictions for vaccinated passengers.

Overnight, the CDC bumping The Bahamas back up to a more serious level three-urging Americans, with plans for travel to the country, to reconsider.

On its website the January 4th advisory warned:

• Reconsider travel to The Bahamas due to Covid-19.
• Exercise increased caution in The Bahamas due to crime.

However, Tourism and Investments minister Chester Cooper says there is no need to worry. He was referring to markets like the U.S., which on Monday confirmed a record 1 million Covid cases.

The advisory follows a busy holiday season for tourism in The Bahamas that saw major resorts booked out.

Despite the global spread of the Omicron variant and the country confirming Covid cases by the hundreds daily, the tourism minister explains why government is sticking to its decision to loosen this restriction.

Now, the protocol for vaccinated travelers no longer requires PCR testing applies to children between the ages of 2-11, as well. They only need an antigen test no older than 72 hours.

Cooper said government is looking at the daily confirmed cases in country, assessing from a health standpoint, while also looking at the country’s economy- which Cooper said is critical. And, also the main reason why days of shutting down the country are behind us.