UK warns against travel to Jamaica

Jamaica JamPro

Less than a week after Jamaica lifted its travel ban on the United Kingdom, Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FDCO) has advised its nationals against all types of travel to Jamaica, due to the growing number of COVID-19 cases.

“The FCDO suggests against all but necessary travel to the whole of Jamaica based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks,” it said in its latest travel advisory on Thursday.

Jamaica had instituted the ban as part of the measures under Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Act.

The ban brought travel between Jamaica and the UK to a halt and was done as part of the island’s efforts to reduce the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Several countries around the globe have also been forced to institute similar travel bans as a part of their COVID-19 management measures.

In its travel advisory, the FDCO reminded Britons that it is illegal to travel abroad from the UK for holidays, adding that only essential travels could be allowed and people can only leave the UK if they have a reasonable excuse. The condition applies to both UK and non-UK passport holders currently residing in England.

FCDO said over 225,000 British nationals visited Jamaica in 2019, and most of the visits were trouble-free.