February 1, 2022
The Centres for Disease Control have put six Caribbean countries on the Level 4 “do not travel” list over fears of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, but these advisories have not put bookings to a full stop. That could be good news depending on where you stand. We of course welcome all visitors to our islands, but we don’t want the sick ones, which appears may be more likely as cases continue to surge in the US, Canada and Europe.
It’s odd that the CDC in the US would put Caribbean countries on a Level 4 when their COVID-19 rates is one of the highest in the world. So their do not travel warning could be saving us in the region from contracting the virus.
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association seems to be worried about these warnings, however. They claim that it puts the region’s recovery at risk. But bookings have not taken a huge hit after these warnings outside of group bookings. Americans are still travelling as the cruise ships are packed and flights are filled.
Americans have grown weary of all of the warnings from the CDC. They are tired of the inconsistency in the information. I can see why too. It’s been two years plus of fear and sickness, worse than that the vaccine mandates are appearing to them to be a scam. Vaccination, then herd immunity, then boosters, what else is someone to do?
We hope for a swift end of this pandemic, but we know it will drag to a complete stop. It’s one of those things that will be over when it is over. We just have to be patient and careful.