Canadians returning abroad from Jamaica are experiencing more confusion regarding the new COVID requirement tests.
It appears that the federal government has made an exception for travellers returning from Jamaica via WestJet and MicroLabs, a lab in Jamaica that is doing the bulk of PCR tests.
Angella Bennett of the Jamaica Tourist Board,said it was a misunderstanding that Jamaica was not able to do the tests.
"The Labs were not able to process the tests volume that was needed by this weekend's departure date. All passengers leaving moving forward, test are prioritized based on their return departure date."
Early Saturday morning, TravelPulse Canada received a copy of an email sent to a WestJet traveller. The letter explains that an exemption has been made for travellers returning between January 10 and 18.
We reached out to WestJet, which confirmed the information is correct for both WestJet and its sister airline Swoop.
"We sent our guests this correspondence as we anticipate issues for those currently in destination in Jamaica, specifically Montego Bay, with flights departing this weekend," WestJet spokesperson Morgan Bell said in an email.
"We issued an urgent notice to the hundreds of our guests scheduled to fly home this weekend from Montego Bay (MBJ) as we understand there is a lack of availability for PCR COVID-19 testing in the Montego Bay area. We are doing everything we can to work with guests in destination and those that have secured PCR tests should proceed to the airport for their scheduled flights."
Air Canada said Transport Canada made some changes and are working to get us details. TravelPulse Canada has also reached out to Transport Canada, but have not gotten a comment.
In the meantime, we are receiving multiple concerns from travellers and agents in destination, some of who paid excessive amounts ($350 US pp for a family of four) to fulfill the original requirements and be able to return home.
The Jamaica Tourist Board on Friday posted details on testing sites on Facebook, but many of those are being questioned as either a lab processing site only, or centres that simply do not have the supplies or facilities to keep up with demand.
This story is ever-evolving and will continue to be updated.
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