Jamaica instates mandatory travel insurance

Jamaica is open for tourists, but travelers will need to pay the country a mandatory $40 (R650) as part of the island’s Jamaica Cares programme to cover ’emergency medical services’.

‘Jamaica Cares delivers an unmet need in the travel industry by providing primary medical coverage and medical evacuation services,’ Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Co-chairman, Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, said in a statement. ‘The traveler knows they’re protected, and they know other travelers are, too. That’s what’s needed to give confidence to travelers when they are ready to travel.’

Only certain parts of this holiday destination are open for tourists, however. The ‘Resilient Corridor’ includes popular Negril and Montego Bay, but not its capital, Kingston. Those wanting to travel outside of the corridor must quarantine for 14 days upon arriving in Jamaica and will be subject to certain regulations like night time curfews.

Jamaica has reported a total of 8,787 cases of COVID-19 and 196 deaths as of October 28.