Less Than One Percent of US Tourists from Jamaica Have Been COVID-19 Positive

The COVID-19 positivity rate for tourists returning to the United States from Jamaica is less than one percent. This was noted by the President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Clifton Reader, in an online forum held recently.

He pointed out that before a guest can return to the United States, they must do an Antigen test, adding that from a sample size of almost 100 percent, the positivity rate has remained less than one percent.

An Antigen test helps to determine whether an individual has developed antibodies against viruses such as COVID-19.

Reader said that the positivity rate of tourists returning to the United States is an acknowledgeable effort, as the tourist industry has no reports of transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19) between staff and guests, to date.

He noted that although some employees have contracted the virus, it is seemingly due to a spread from their communities, and not as a result of activities in the tourism industry.

The JHTA President said even though it is not mandatory for workers in the tourism industry to be vaccinated, it is heavily encouraged.

The online forum was part of a series organized by the Tourism Linkages Network (TLN), under the theme ‘Tourism Diplomacy – Rebuilding Tourism Safely’.

CMC