Following a decision taken in consultation with the directors of the regional health agencies of Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyana, the prefects of these three overseas territories have decided to tighten their entry conditions by air in order to fight against the Covid-19 epidemic and avoid the proliferation of the new British variant. Passeport Santé takes stock of these latest health measures.
Mandatory negative PCR test
While in mainland France, a national curfew from 6 p.m. has been implemented since this weekend, the overseas territories have in turn announced new restrictive measures to fight against the epidemic of Covid-19. Indeed, the Martinique prefect Stanislas Cazelles has announced a tightening of entry conditions for travelers who wish to go to Martinique. As a result, the prefects of Guadeloupe and Mayotte followed by also strengthening the security of air travel to these their territories.
From this Monday, January 18, 2021, travelers who have to go to Martinique, Guadeloupe and Mayotte will have to present a negative PCR test, carried out less than 72 hours before the flight at the airport. . In addition, press releases from the prefectures of the Overseas Territories have specified that antigenic tests will no longer be accepted.
7-day self-isolation
Beyond the mandatory presentation of a negative PCR test, travelers will also have to self-isolate when arriving in overseas territories. The prefect of Martinique thus explained that all travelers will have to ” stay at home for seven days, reduce outings to the strict minimum [courses alimentaires, rendez-vous médical], carry out a test seven days after arrival in the territory “. Travelers will then have to present a sworn certificate declaring the absence of symptoms. They will also have to undertake to respect a self-isolation of 7 days after their arrival and to carry out a test at the end of this isolation.
The same goes for travelers arriving in Guadeloupe, Reunion Island and Mayotte. The only exception: travelers from Guyana and Mayotte can no longer travel to Martinique, Guadeloupe and Réunion if they have no compelling reasons to justify themselves.
According to Stanislas Cazelles, all of these new restrictive measures are put in place in order to avoid “ the introduction of the English variant by a traveler who would carry the virus, but who would not have been tested positively on departure “.
