The past several days in Anguilla have seen the repatriation of a growing number of Anguillians from the Caribbean region, the United Kingdom, United States and elsewhere, with the partial relaxation of the restrictions against the spread of the coronavirus.
The Anguillian nationals, including students, are the first persons being allowed to enter Anguilla by air and seas since travel regulations were put in place by the Executive Council in consultation with the Health Authority of Anguilla.
The largest number of Anguillians, 21 students, arrived on Thursday evening, June 11, at the Clayton J Lloyd International Airport – via Paris and Martinique – on an Air Antilles fLight. It was arranged for another large batch of nationals to arrive in Anguilla the following day, on other travel means on Friday, mainly from the United States. In recent days, smaller numbers of Anguillians were booked to return from Antigua, Barbados, St Kitts, the US Virgin Islands, St. Maarten/St. Martin and other regional islands.
According to an update from Deputy Governor, Mr Perin Bradley, who heads the repatriation team, some 370 persons have applied to return to Anguilla and many of the applications have already been approved.
A period of 14 days’ quarantine, at approved private locations or at government facilities, has been put into place for all persons who are being tested on arrival. Following that time, they will be tested again and, if found not to have the COVID-19 virus, they will be released into the community.
After the return of the Anguillians, the next group of persons to be allowed to enter the island under the repatriation arrangements will be permanent residents and those holding work permits. Priority is being given to persons from countries with no active cases of the COVID-19 disease.
In the meantime, the island’s borders are being patrolled on land, sea and air to prevent illegal entry into Anguilla.
This has been mostly pronounced on the southern borders which link Anguilla with a number of French and Dutch territories.
