The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) has taken all necessary actions to guarantee the protection of its employees, passengers and stakeholders. These actions have been internationally approved and certified by the Airport Health Accreditation body, which falls under the purview of the Airports Council International, Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC). CJIA was the second country in the Caribbean to have obtained the Airport Health Accreditation (AHA). This accreditation will give the travelling public the confidence that the measures implemented at CJIA is on par with international standards.
Those measures include, the installation of handwashing sinks at the entrances of the Departure and arrivals” building, Airport Duty Office and administrative building. This is a daily reminder to persons of the importance of washing their hands, consistently, to beat the spread of COVID-19. Hand sanitizing stations have been placed at strategic points throughout the airport for easy access to passengers, employees and other visitors to the airport.
While, in the terminals, CJIA encourages persons to keep a safe distance of 6 feet between themselves and others, who are not from their household. This is an important practice, because the virus spreads mainly among people who are in close contact (within about 6 feet) for a prolonged period. Among the areas that we have placed social distancing markers are the check-in counters, immigration and customs, baggage carousel and departures” lounge. Face masks are also mandatory when entering the building. At CJIA, thermal imaging cameras were installed. These are used to accurately measure the body temperature of all incoming passengers. According to CJIA, this equipment is widely used in airports around the world to control the spread of COVID-19.
Passengers and visitors, entering the terminal, are also subjected to a temperature check, which is administered by CJIA”s Aviation Security officers. After exploring a number of other safety measures, CJIA has moved to partner with the Ministry of Health and Eureka Medical Laboratory to facilitate on-site Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for incoming passengers. Eureka was able to setup six mobile testing booths, equipped with adequate staffing and tools to conduct on-site PCR testing. Passengers with PCR tests, older than 72 hours, will be directed to one of the six booths to retake the test.
It was collectively agreed that this is a necessary precaution to safeguard our passengers, employees and stakeholders. CJIA”s employees are also equipped with protective gears, such as face masks, face shields, gloves and hand sanitizers. These are among the aggressive steps that the airport has taken, as it joins the fight in Guyana and around the world to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Procedures for Passengers Travelling to Guyana via CJIA All passengers arriving in Guyana are required to obtain a negative PCR test taken within seven (07) days prior to their arrival.
- On arrival at CJIA, passengers whose PCR tests were conducted within 72 hrs prior to their arrival will not be subjected to any further health screening
- Passengers whose tests were conducted between four and seven (4-7) days prior to their arrival will be subjected to a PCR test on arrival at CJIA Passengers are required to complete and submit online their
Passenger Locator forms twenty-four (24) hours prior to the departure of their flight.The Passenger Locator Form can be found on the website: https://Guyanatravel.gy.The negative PCR test result has to be presented at the time of check in at the departure airport. Passengers must complete their Immigration and Customs Declaration Forms before disembarking the aircraft on arrival at CJIA When their flight arrives at CJIA and with strict social distancing protocols in in effect, passengers will enter the terminal building via one of the four air bridges.
As the passengers enter the terminal via the air bridges, the thermal cameras will record their temperatures Passengers will interface with Port Health Officers, who after reviewing the travelers” information will direct them to one of two lanes; those that do not require further health screening and those who require a PCR test.Those that do not require further health screening will proceed to Immigration and Customs and exit the Terminal Those who require a PCR test will enter one of six (06) testing booths to have the test conducted. On completion of the test, the passenger will proceed to clear Immigration/customs and then depart from the airport.
Test samples will be taken to Georgetown for analysis and the results subsequently communicated to the Port Health Authority at the airport. All persons tested upon arrival in Guyana are expected to self-isolate, until their results are returned. All persons must provide a valid local telephone number, verifiable by Port Health. Passengers will be contacted via phone by a Port Health official to be alerted of their results.
Passengers, leaving Guyana, do not need to complete the test. However, it is important that they check for the health requirements of their destination country. For instance, some countries, like Guyana, are requesting that passengers present proof of a negative PCR test, before entering the respective countries. For More Information – https://cjairport-gy.com/
