St Lucia bans travelers from Ebola-hit countries
As the US remains resolute in keeping borders open to travelers from Ebola-hit West Africa, elsewhere in the Americas, doors are slamming shut.
Yesterday the Caribbean island of St. Lucia took steps to ban visitors from three West African nations worst hit by the virus.
St. Lucia Prime Minister Kenny Anthony said all travelers from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone were banned from entering until the outbreak is under control.
As a poor nation St. Lucia does not have resources "to manage any crisis that lands on our doorstep, any crisis of that kind," Anthony said.
Anthony said tourism accounts for 60% of GDP, and the economy would be devastated if there was an outbreak on the island.
In an additional measure, travelers from Nigeria will be required to produce a ‘recent medical certificate’ giving them a clean bill of health.
In South America, Colombia has also followed suit.
The Colombian Foreign Ministry said it will bar entry for travelers who had been in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal in recent weeks.
It can take up to three weeks before an infected person shows signs of the Ebola virus which can be picked up in airport screening tests.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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