Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 5, 2020 (ZIZ News): Chairman of the National Emergency Operations Task Force Abdias Samuel has outlined what is being done and requirements that need to be taken into consideration in preparation for reopening the borders.
He said the taskforce has been working with a number of stakeholders to ensure that the federation is prepared for this occurrence.
Each person arriving in the federation will have to download a specific app. This app will offer traceability, market St. Kitts and Nevis and assist in the fight against covid 19.
“In this app we will be able to manage while also being able to trace persons who will have to go into quarantine. The reality is that we are not going to be able to pay for someone to be in quarantine or sustain persons to be in one particular location like we have now where we have the OTI facility. We are going to have to open up our quarantine facilities. That means probably we will set a criteria going forward where facilities such as guest houses and villas can become quarantine facilities.”
He outlined some of the other things that will be put in place upon entry which will include a touchless kiosk medical testing booth.
“You walk up to the touchless kiosk and the kiosk will screen you; that’s the first process. As the kiosk screens you, it gathers all the information necessary for all the frontline agencies that need to have that information, in particular the health. From the screening you will then move over to the medical testing booth. This is a negative pressure testing booth whereby we are protecting the healthcare worker and the passenger entering St. Kitts and Nevis.”
Mr. Samuel said the task force is working with the Ministry of Tourism for training for Covid 19 certified taxi operators.
“You should have sanitizing stations within your vehicles so that as persons enter they can sanitize their hands. Ensure you wear a mask and persons entering your vehicle wear a mask. If necessary the driver should be wearing gloves when handling money or handling suitcases, ensuring that they change these gloves ever so often. Finally we have to become innovative. Our taxi operators will have to enhance their payment system by possibly going to e-payment where no one has to touch it is just swiping the card and making the payment.”
He said one of the challenges faced by the task force is transportation for citizens who have been repatriated. He said with certified taxi operators, these persons can be moved from the airport to the quarantine facilities, which will in turn generate economic activity.