Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, says discussions are in the final stages with insurance and global logistics providers to enable travellers who test positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) to be quickly isolated and repatriated.

“I want to make the point that we have done checks around and Jamaica is the only country in the Caribbean and arguably, the only one in the Americas that has taken on this responsibility now, to begin those negotiations and discussions with insurance and global logistics providers,” he noted.

He said that the discussions are focused on a programme “that will enable low cost coverage for visitors who come into the country.”

“Without trying to give the full figure, I can assure you it will be less than US$20 per person for that coverage, which will allow them to be rescued and be repatriated once there is a positive case of COVID-19,” he noted.

He said that all workers will have access to a trained, onsite COVID-19 safety point person and an onsite or on call medical professional.