Falkland Islands Government
COVID-19: Information and Guidance
On Wednesday 22 September, ExCo agreed to revise its policy in connection with the categories of visitors allowed entry into the Falkland Islands. This decision was taken as part of the government’s regular review of ongoing pandemic management plans.
Welcome to September’s monthly Covid-19 update.
Quarantine helps protect the public by preventing exposure to people who have or may have Covid-19. While morally we each have a responsibility to do what we can to keep each other safe, the requirements of the Infectious Diseases Control Regulations 2021 means that there are significant legal consequences for people who are found to contravene the law, including a fine of up to £2,000, imprisonment for up to three months, or both.
Following on from the recent public meeting on the continued suspension of airlinks with South America, two issues that came to light were the number of people currently unable to travel, because they have not been able to renew their travel documents, and also the babies of foreign nationals born in the Falkland Islands during the pandemic, but who do not have documentation due to ongoing travel complications and restrictions.
The existing requirements of the Infectious Diseases Control (Coronavirus, Quarantine) Regulations 2021, together with the Directions in force under these regulations, were recently reviewed ahead of their expiration on 8 August 2021.
Today, ExCo agreed a further set of economic support measures for the community and local businesses, in light of the ongoing pandemic. Having conducted detailed data-gathering and analysis into the existing and previous support schemes, to determine value for money, levels of uptake and local impact, members of the Executive Council were asked to consider the renewal, extension or cancellation of previous programmes.
With the introduction of the 5 day ‘test to release’ option for arriving passengers it is vital that all inbound passengers complete their documentation correctly.
Further to the announcement made on 21 April, the Falkland Islands Government can confirm that commercial airlinks with both Chile and Brazil will remain suspended until at least 1 February 2022.
Following the relaxation of the legal requirement to wear masks in England, it is down to individual businesses to decide whether or not to ask people to continue to wear masks. As a result, Airtanker – operators of the South Atlantic Airbridge – has held a series of internal discussions and, in line with other UK carriers, is mandating the wearing of masks onboard all flights, north and southbound.