LifestyleTravelWork from home in Barbados: Caribbean island plans a Barbados Welcome Stamp to let tourists work there remotely for 12 months

Monday, 13th July 2020, 4:56 pm

The Barbados government has announced a new idea for helping its tourism industry while giving UK residents the chance to escape the new daily routine of working from home.

The Caribbean island says it will give British nationals who work remotely the chance to make Barbados their home for a year, under a new Barbados Welcome Stamp scheme.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley came up with the idea with the aim of increasing the country's GDP and boost the tourism industry on the island.

When will the scheme start?

The scheme is in the first stages of development and therefore hasn't been finalised yet.

Mottley has also not yet revealed when the scheme will be open for applicants, so those who are interested will need to keep their eyes peeled.

However, Barbados will start welcoming international travellers from Sunday 12 July.

Those who choose to visit the island will have to undergo mandatory tests for Covid-19 upon arrival and will need to isolate until the test results are provided.

How would the scheme work?

The initiative would allow international arrivals to live on the island while working remotely at their current jobs.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley said the Barbados Welcome Stamp scheme would allow persons to come and work from here overseas, digitally so, so that persons dont need to remain in the countries in which they are.

However those who wish to make Barbados their permanent home, will have to do so in another way, as the scheme only permits you to remain on the island for 12 months.

How has Barbados handled the coronavirus crisis?

If you love the idea of spending your work days on the beach, rather than the sofa, but are worried about the safety aspects of living in Barbados, here are some reassuring facts:

The number of coronavirus cases and fatalities is extremely low in comparison to that of the UK, with only 98 recorded infections and seven deaths.

Safety measures currently in place to protect the country, include mandatory face masks for all incoming visitors as well as coronavirus testing at the airports.

Barbados has now relaxed some of its restrictions and lifted its curfews.

It is now allowing social events with up to 500 people, as well as spectator sporting events, however it has introduced social distancing rules whereby people must remain at least three feet apart.

The UK government included Barbados in its list of approved nations announced last week, meaning that tourists arriving in the UK from the Carribean island would not need to go into a 14 day quarantine.

Prime Minister Mottley said in a statement, "You don't need to work in Europe, or the US or Latin America if you can come here and work for a couple months at a time; go back and come back.

"The government is committed to working with you on the promotion of new concepts like the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp, being able to open our borders to persons travelling and making it as hospitable as ever for all of us, and making it available for Barbadians from every walk of life to believe that for special occasions, or just for so, that they can come out and be a part of this wonderful exercise."

Read the rest here:

Work from home in Barbados: Caribbean island plans a Barbados Welcome Stamp to let tourists work there remotely for 12 months - The Scotsman

A collector site known as Worthpoint has removed a piece of controversial Pirates of the Caribbean jewelry in the shape of a noose from its site.

Since the end of May with the push of the Black Lives Matter movement, it seems like more and more companies are starting to be held accountable for actions that would be widely considered racist and insensitive. For example, Twitch recently received heavy backlash following a tone-deaf Black Lives Matter video that centered, confusingly enough, around white content creators. Now Disney is receiving similar backlash for a seemingly insensitive product it sold not this year, but 14 years ago.

ThePirates of the Caribbean franchise is no stranger to controversy these days. Following the accusations of domestic abuse by ex-wife Amber Heard, Disney made the decision to remove Johnny Depp from the upcoming movies. Since then, many fans have speculated whether or not Jack Sparrow will have any reference or involvement with the franchise going forward.

RELATED: Kirby Gets Fancy Jewelry Line

Now thePirates franchise may start to come under fire again for a piece of jewelry Disney sold alongside the release ofPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. TMZ originally pointed out the piece in question: a 14k gold-plated 20-inch long necklace that featured a noose pendant.

It's quite possible that this obviously insensitive piece of jewelry would have gone unnoticed had it not been featured on the collector site Worthpoint. Worthpoint is a site that catalogs price points for different collectibles and allows for collectors to sell through eBay. Worthpoint has since removed the necklace from its site after being contacted by TMZ.

It's still a mystery as to why this necklace was even made by Disney in the first place. It was originally launched as part of a pirate-themed line up of jewelry from Disney Couture featuring things like flintlock pistols, skulls, and cutlasses. Even though there are a couple of instances of main characters in thePirates series facing the gallows, it seems hard to imagine a world where this product was in the planning stage and no one thought of the racist implications behind it.

While there has been no statement about the necklace from Disney, that doesn't mean it isn't discussing the future of thePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise. Recently it was announced that Margot Robbie would be taking the lead in upcoming series reboot. Hopefully, Disney will do better about the products it decides to launch alongside these movies than it has in the past.

MORE: Final Fantasy 7 Remake Reveals Pricey Aerith Jewelry

Source: Worthpoint (via TMZ)

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When not writing for GameRant, Kyle spends his time streaming, writing short stories, and playing Dungeons & Dragons.

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Pirates of the Caribbean Jewelry Removed Amid Controversy - GameRant

A regally-approved Caribbean villa is up for grabs, but itll definitely cost you. The luxurious Barbados home where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have vacationed is on the market, with a hefty $25 million price tag attached.

The clifftop mansion, known as Cove Spring House, was previously listed for an even pricier $40 million.

SEE ALSO:No, Jessica Mulroney Isnt Writing a Tell-All Book About Meghan Markle

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spent time at the villa. Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage

The Duke of Sussex stayed at the Barbados getaway in 2010, and according to the listing, held by Wilfords Caribbean and One Caribbean Estates, hes also spent time at the property with Meghan, so he must have returned to the villa at some point in the past few years.

A private driveway leads up to the 10-bedroom, 10-bathroom villa. The formal, double-height marble entry features a glittery chandelier dangling from the ceiling.

The main level of the 14,000-square-foot home is composed of a living room, dining room, kitchen, study and lots of entertaining spaces, as well as a full gym and staff rooms.

The master suite is located on the first floor, with a walk-in closet, dressing room and marble-accented bathrooms.

There are multiple covered terraces set-up for lounging, entertaining and dining, plus an outdoor kitchen.

Outside, theres a crescent-shaped pool, spa and entertainment terrace, as well as a highly-coveted private beach.

Theres also 24-hour security, which must have been an especially attractive feature for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as well as a separate three-bedroom guest cottage, which spans 2,500 square feet and has its own patio space. If youre not looking for a permanent beach getaway, the retreat is also available for private stays.

Prince Harry and Meghan arent the only famous faces whove chosen to stay at Cove Spring Housepast guests include Simon Cowell, Rihanna and Elton John.

See the article here:

Prince Harry and Meghans Barbados Vacation Villa Is Listed for $25 Million - Observer

KEY FIGURES

2.8M CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES IN LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN AS OF 5 JULY

COLLAPSING TOURISM THREATENING REGIONAL ECONOMIES

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) reports that Latin America and the Caribbean, home to many tourism-dependent economies, will suffer an unprecedented economic shock due to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on tourism. Tourism in the Caribbean accounts for 50 to 90 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and employment in some countries, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

While Central and South America are comparatively less reliant on tourism, some countries will also feel the downturn - from 2014 to 2018, tourism accounted for an average of 16 per cent of economic output and employment in Mexico and 10 per cent of GDP and employment in Uruguay, Argentina and Chile.

IDB predicts that the drop in tourism in the region due to the pandemic could be from 40 to 70 per cent.

Read more:

Latin America & The Caribbean - Weekly Situation Update (29 June-5 July 2020) As of 6 July 2020 - Brazil - ReliefWeb

The one question readers are asking is if their upcoming cruise in 2020 or 2021 will sail, and the simple answer is no one knows.

While Royal Caribbean currently plans toresume operations on September 16th, 2020, the cruise line has pushed back its date cruises will restart a number of times, which leaves many wondering if their cruise they have booked will happen.

While the "TL;DR" answer is "no one knows", here is a look at why no one knows and what we should be looking for to get a better idea of when cruises might restart.

So many people with cruises booked that have not been cancelled yet want to know what are the chances their cruise will happen.

The most commonly asked question I have seen in the last few months is what are the odds a sailing will be able to go, but unfortunately no one knows because there is not enough information available and too many variables to make such a prediction.

Since Royal Caribbean started its global suspension of cruises in March, the cruise line has taken a "wait and see" approach to cruises resuming. They have periodically cancelled about a month worth of cruises at a time, and evaluate the ever-changing situation to determine if more cruises need to be cancelled.

Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President of Sales and Trade Support & ServiceVicki Freed said recently with the current climate,"things can change rather quickly," and that, "we all have to take it day by day."

At this point, there is not nearly enough information available to have insight into what Royal Caribbean (or any cruise line) is looking for in order to resume sailings.

While it stands to reason the further out your cruise is, the more time you have for the global health situation to improve, it is impossible to quantify or wager a guess as to which sailings may or may not occur.

Simply put, no one knows when exactly cruises will be able to resume sailings because the public does not have a list of milestones for Royal Caribbean to reach to start up again.

This much is clear: in order for cruises to resume, some obvious tasks need to be completed.

This is not the complete list of what Royal Caribbean (or any cruise line) must do, but they are some of the critical steps.

The first step to starting up again is to come up with a plan of action to keep crew and guests safe, and Royal Caribbean announced this step is underway.

Announced last week, theHealthy Sail Panel is a group of public health experts that will create a list of recommendations that will include things like enhanced embarkation screening, temperature screenings at the pier, testing options for guests and crew.

The panel's initial findings are expected by late August, and further work and refinement to come in the months after.

Once Royal Caribbean receives the recommendations, they will incorporate them into a new set of policies for the cruise line.

After Royal Caribbean crafts its new policy, it will need to submit them to theUnited States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for approval.

Currently, cruise lines are under a 100-day No Sail Order that extends through the end of July, although that could be extended.

Government restrictions and warnings have been chiefly responsible for the decision of all cruise lines to suspend operations and subsequently remain idle. Until the CDC signs off, cruising seems unlikely.

Even if cruises were allowed to resume immediately, many foreign ports of call remain closed to cruise traffic and/or Americans.

Royal Caribbean's ships must make at least one stop in a foreign port to satisfy thePassenger Vessel Services Act, which requires foreign flagged vessels to stop outside the United States. Essentially, it means Royal Caribbean cannot offer "cruises to nowhere".

While some Caribbean and European ports are beginning to open their borders again, cruise lines need much greater access to start back up again.

It may seem like the elephant in the room to not talk about, but the pandemic status likely needs to no longer be a major health crisis.

It is debatable to what extent the situation needs to improve, but the cruise industry is looking for the risks associated with operating to be substantially less.

Part of this will be achieved via the Health Sail Panel's recommendations, but a reduction in cases around the world would help ease concerns across the board.

When do you think cruises will resume? Share your best guessin the comments!

Read the rest here:

No, nobody knows if the cruise you have booked will actually sail - Royal Caribbean Blog

Imagine living in the Caribbean and waking up to the fantastic weather and breathtaking scenery every day. It may sound like a fantasy, but its a reality for numerous people. You can do it, too! But what career option will allow you to live this life? Here are careers that would enable you to live in the Caribbean.

Hospitality is a top industry in the Caribbean since people love to go to the area for vacation. If you want to live in a permanent vacation environment, you could do worse than working toward a career in hospitality. Find a job in a hotel, for example, and ensure that guests have a stay that enhances their entire Caribbean experience. If you want a college degree, you can study hospitality management. A degree might help you land your dream job, earn higher pay, and set you apart from others competing for the same jobs.

When people come to the area, they need someone to show them around. They wont know where to go or what to look at if someone doesnt help them. You can become the person to point out the most amazing landmarks and day trips. You will not only get to experience the journey with your tour group every day, but youll also get the opportunity to meet many interesting people from all over the world. Some tour companies will even provide training and teach you everything youll need to know.

You arent the only one who wants to live in the Caribbean. Many other people are looking at properties. Some may need to stay in an apartment for a year or two for temporary work. Other people may want a vacation home. Still others may want a permanent residence. By starting a business, you can be the person to help connect people with their dream home in their dream location.

People get sick and injured everywhere in the world, even in a place as beautiful as the Caribbean. They need nurses and doctors just like anywhere else in the world. You can work in different clinics or hospitals or even start your own practice. Many people assume they must complete their medical training before they move, but thats not true. There is even a medical school in the Caribbean, so you dont have to wait until after your training is finished to make a move.

Many people arent able to go to the Caribbean to learn about what is happening in that part of the world. Too often, people dont even care if someone doesnt bring it to their attention. Go to the Caribbean to become a journalist. You can write about your experiences while in the area for different travel blogs and travel magazines. You can also write on topics that affect the area, such as politics and natural disasters. Get a degree in English or Journalism to help establish yourself. You may even choose to start your own travel blog to develop a following.

Tourists in the Caribbean are going to eat out and go out for drinks more often than at home. They will probably tip better than at home. They are on vacation, after all! You can work in the restaurant industry as a server, cook, hostess, or bartender. You may even get to enjoy some of the best establishments in the country for yourself.

The Caribbean is a group of islands. That means theres a lot of water in the area and a lot of marine life. You can do your part to help the animals in the air by working as a marine biologist. As a marine biologist, you will learn how to best protect wildlife and keep the oceans clean. You may even get the opportunity to go diving to see the beauty underwater for yourself. Look into different marine biology programs at your local college or at a college in the Caribbean.

If you have adventure in your blood, you should pick a career that could take you to fun places. All of these careers can bring you to the Caribbean. Once you are done in the Caribbean, who knows where your career will take you next?

Read more:

7 Careers For People Who Want to Live in the Caribbean - South Florida Caribbean News

As it stands now, travel advisors are on the fence as to when the Caribbean will again be fully back in business. The one thing thats certain, they say, is that nothing is certain.

Earlier this season, we all seemed to think the Caribbean would be the place where we could send our displaced travelers from Europe, said Becky Lukovic of Bella Travel Planning, an affiliate of Travel Experts. However, with the current COVID-19 situation in the U.S., some islands are changing their travel restrictions often, giving many advisors pause in even recommending them or booking them, lest our travelers suddenly be unable to travel to their destination.

Further exacerbating the situation is that even if the island is open for U.S. tourists to visit, the resort openings may be significantly behind the border opening dates, she added.

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For a full recovery, Lukovic believes that several things need to happen. First, the numbers of COVID cases in the U.S. will have to decrease enough for the islands to welcome our travelers. Second, the public in the U.S. and other countries need to be willing to travel in order for the resorts to be able to financially afford to open, she said.

Third, there needs to be some sort of stability in the entry requirements for each island. When the entry requirements change as quickly as they been in the past few weeks, its a gamble to plan travel there.

As a case in point, Holly Lombardo of Classic Travel Advisors, an affiliate of Travel Experts, relayed a travel scenario illustrating the challenges the Caribbean and its visitors face.

Lombardos clients canceled a trip to Greece on June 2 for travel in July because of the border closure. On June 26, I suggested St. Barts as a tropical alternative since it has just opened to the U.S. on June 2, she said, adding that entry requirements included arrival with a negative COVID-19 within 72 hours or alternatively taking a test on the island within 24 hours.

On June 28, Lombardo booked nonrefundable flights from Atlanta connecting through St Martin after researching that St Martin would open to the U.S. on July 1.

On June 29, Lombardo booked the prepaid non-refundable hotel stay in St Barts for arrival a week later, on July 7.

On July 3, St Martin announced it changed its mind and it would now not be allowing [travelers from] the U.S. in until July 15, she said. The hotel refused to refund monies [of] $12,000, [but] I was able to get the last two seats on a connection via San Juan on Tradewinds instead arriving on July 8 rather than July 7, which resulted in one lost hotel night for the clients and $2,500 in lost and higher-priced airfare.

Then, on July 7, St Barts announced new entry requirements, which would take effect on July 10, requiring that travelers must arrive with negative COVID-19 tests that were administered within 72 hoursand with no option to wait until you arrive to have it done, Lombardo said.

On July 8, her clients were almost denied boarding by Delta because of the announcement by St Barts, which Lombardo said she thought was simply a case of employees misreading the Timatic, which verifies passenger travel document requirements.

Meanwhile, the clients were able to get the COVID-19 tests completed at the San Juan International Airport, arriving in St. Barts with negative results in hand.

You can see how this is an absolute mess. Literally, I thought to myself, I may stop selling any 2020 departures, she said. It may not be worth the liability and the heart palpitations!

Approximately one-third of Lombardos business is generated from Caribbean bookings. Because Im an Atlanta-based agent, travelers can easily get to the Caribbean for three- to five-night getaways, she said. All but one of my March/April/May/June/July/ bookings were canceled by clients or refunded by hotels due to closures. Not one person has rebooked yet. They have kicked the tires and asked for extensions of rebooking deadline dates.

Those clients with future-stay credits generally are feeling more comfortable with the possibility of first and second quarters of 2021, Lombardo said.

Prior to the pandemic, Time For Travel was having a huge year for Caribbean bookings, said its president, Sarah Kline. The Caribbean was hot, and the demand was higher than ever, adding that its about 50/50 in terms of clients who rebooked versus canceled.

For James Berglie of Be All Inclusive, about 80 to 85 percent of our clients rebooked versus canceled.

He predicts a full Caribbean recovery will take years. My guess would be two to three years, he said. Travel will slowly return as people become more comfortable in the post quarantine world, but that will take time. The availability of a daily nonstop will be a huge determinant depending on the market guests are coming from.

Noting that clients always prefer nonstops, in a post -quarantine world I think it will be even more important to some people, as they want to lessen the time in planes and traveling. For us in Baltimore, that means Jamaica, Punta Cana, Aruba and Cancun.

For Kline, weve had the most demand for Riviera Maya and Jamaica for 2020, but for 2021 clients seem to want less crowded destinations and weve had more requests for Antigua, Saint Lucia, Turks and Caicos and Costa Rica.

Not surprisingly, agents contend that Caribbean destinations that fare the best will be those with the most effective health and safety protocols.

Generally speaking, it will be a destination where the government and resorts work together to have good health protocols in place across the board and supervision of some sort to make sure those protocols are uniformly followed, said Claire Schoeder of Elevations Travel.

Read more from the original source:

When Will the Caribbean Be Back in Full Swing? - TravelPulse

Additional sources of funding must be established to help Caribbean tourism withstand future crisesaccording toa new report on astudy on the effects of COVID-19 (coronavirus)on national destination management and marketing organizations in member countries of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and their early responses to the global pandemic.

The survey found that COVID-19 affected the financial health of the tourism organizations, with nearly of all of those polled either had, or expected, cuts to their operating budgets. This is an ominous signal, the report said.

It also called for advocacy on behalf of the destination organizations for financial support in order to remain strong and help to lead tourisms recovery and rebuilding efforts, adding that these entities would have to find creative ways to do more with less, especially with regards to marketing.

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Moving forward, destination organizations will need to consider how to diversify their funding sources, which are mainly based on lodging and cruise taxes, to ensure that they can withstand future COVID-19 waves and future shocks to the tourism industry, the George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies (GW IITS), who conducted the study with the CTO, said in the report.

At the same time, it said the tourism bodies needed to remain vigilant and advocate for continued support to tourism businesses if these businesses are to survive. Without sustained financial assistance, tourism businesses that are operating at less than full capacity will be challenged to remain in business through 2020, the report added.

Beyond funding, the report stressed the need for effective crisis management and communications among the immediate steps needed to recover from the economic fallout of COVID-19 and its impact on tourism. Seleni Matus, GW IITS executive director said, Its essential that destination organizations act now to work with local governments and businesses to find ways to create public and private partnerships that will benefit all parties involved, from hotels, tour operators and restaurants to local residents and touristsimmediate investment is urgently needed.

The online survey, designed and analyzed by GW IITS, was conducted from May 6 22 amongst CTOs 24 member countries. The GW IITS also inventoried tourism destination actions from mid-March to early May on mobility, economic relief, destination management and community support, crisis communication and destination marketing.

The university additionally reviewed the websites and social media channels of various destination marketing organizations, industry associations and destination consumer-facing websites to better understand the tourism industrys response to COVID-19, and it compiled data on mobility and economic relief from various secondary sources.Forty-three countries in the greater Caribbean, including CTOs 24 member countries, were included in this component of the research.

To learn more, visit http://www.onecaribbean.org.

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Funding Needed to Help Caribbean Tourism Withstand Crisis - Travel Agent

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring three tropical systems, two of which have yet to develop into tropical depressions but could sometime this week.

In the northern Gulf of Mexico, an area of low pressure is spinning off the Florida panhandle, south of Panama City.

It's possible a tropical depression forms before the system moves ashore Monday. But the higher chance for development will unfold after it moves over into the Atlantic Ocean later in the week.

"This system is expected to evolve into a larger low pressure system and move northeastward, possibly emerging offshore of the Carolinas later this week where environmental conditions are expected to be more conducive for development," the NHC said in a Sunday evening tropical update.

The system has 40% chance of tropical development in the next five days, according to the NHC's forecast.

Meanwhile, a tropical wave about 700 miles east of the Winward Islands in the Caribbean Sea also has forecasters' attention too, but the window of time for it to develop into a tropical depression is narrow.

"Some slight development of this system is possible on Monday before environmental conditions become hostile for development on Tuesday," the NHC said.

Tropical Depression 5, centered northeast of Bermuda, is forecast to possibly become Tropical StormEdouard on Monday.

If that occurs, a record would be set for the earliest a fifth-named storm has formed in a hurricane season.

Colorado State University meteorologist Philip Kloztbach said that the current record for the earliest fifth-named storm formation was Emily on July 12, 2005.

Original post:

Low in the Gulf and wave in the Caribbean might develop into tropical systems, NHC says - NOLA.com

Barbados wants to help fix your COVID-19 cabin fever by offering a change of scenery for a year.

The Caribbean island is considering allowing visitors to stay for up to 12 months, extending the previous limit for U.S. passport holders without a visa by six months.

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley announced the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp earlier this month that would allow persons to come and work from here overseas, digitally so, so that persons dont need to remain in the countries in which they are, Mottley said in a press conference.

Mottley noted that working remotely doesn't mean youhave to physically work near your office, making the case that living elsewhere or even abroad is possible for some occupations that simply require a reliable internet connection to accomplish work.

She continued: The government is committed to working with you on the promotion of new concepts like the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp, being able to open our borders to persons traveling and making it as hospitable as ever for all of us, and making it available for Barbadians from every walk of life to believe that for special occasions, or just for so, that they can come out and be a part of this wonderful exercise.

Read more: Coronavirus and travel: What you need to know as states reopen

Work-from-home is the new normal for many office jobs since the pandemic, with big-name companies like Facebook and Twitter leading the trend towards working from home as a permanent arrangement. Economists predict that in a post-COVID world companies will have as many as 74% of their workforces go remote.

And the change offers employees, especially those who were once beholden to large cities with expensive living costs, to live where its cheaper.

The country has 98 confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to the U.S. Embassy in Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS.

Story continues

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has designated Barbados its highest degree of Level 3 - Travel Health Notice, meaning there is widespread ongoing transmission without restriction on entry to the United States and to avoid non-essential travel.

Earlier this month, Barbados started to relax and lift certain restrictions. The country no longer abides by a curfew, social gatherings for up to 500 people can now take place, and three feet instead of the U.S.s requisite six feet is sufficient for social distancing.

To ensure that international visitors dont bring COVID-19 with them, the government set forth strict guidelines for entry.

Upon arrival, you will have a mandatory health assessment that may entail a temperature check and brief interview by a government official. Those under the age of five are exempt from testing.

If you arrive in Barbados with a negative COVID-19 test from an accredited lab or clinic that was administered within 72 hours prior to travel, you can be considered for fast-tracking through immigration.

If you dont have a COVID-19 test, you can still arrive in the country and get tested at the airport free of charge. Testing will also take place at certain hotels for a fee of $150 USD.

Read more: Coronavirus and travel: Here are the states where travelers must self-quarantine

Test results typically come back within 24 hours, and during that time visitors are permitted to stay in a designated holding hotel or temporary government housing free of charge.

After your test comes back negative, youre free to carry on with your vacation or extended stay. On the other hand, if your test results are positive, you wont be given the option to travel home. Instead, youll be transported to an alternative accommodation for isolation and treatment. Only after your recovery will you be allowed to resume your time in Barbados or head home.

Being an island nation, air travel is the easiest form of accessibility.

Commercial flights to Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI), the countrys main international gateway, will resume beginning July 12.

When planning your travel, be aware that face masks are required to be worn while in the airport. Consult the CDC for guidelines and safety measures while traveling.

It sounds like wherever you want to, according to Mottley.

Extended-stay visitors can find accommodations in villas, condominiums, hotel rooms, and rental houses. There will also be workspaces available if you desire a work-life separation.

Emphasizing the remote in remote working is a great idea in theory, except if you dont have a strong internet connection.

Mottley addressed the concern: In terms of broadband, we have two major telecommunications companies, and at the same time we are looking to see how we can continue to boost our national television station and move it from being a broadcasting entity to digital services.

The country officially opens its borders to international visitors on July 12, 2020.

Stephanie is a reporter for Yahoo Money andCashay, a new personal finance website. Follow her on Twitter@SJAsymkos.

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Barbados introduces plan to allow visitors to work remotely there for a year - Yahoo Money

LifestyleTravelWork from home in Barbados: Caribbean island considering Barbados Welcome Stamp to let tourists work there remotely for 12 months

Friday, 10th July 2020, 2:35 pm

The Barbados government has come up with a plan to help its tourism industry while giving UK residents the chance to escape the new daily routine of working from home.

The Caribbean island says it will offer British nationals who work remotely the chance to make Barbados their home for a year, under a new Barbados Welcome Stamp scheme.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley created the scheme to increase the country's GDP and boost the tourism industry on the island.

When will the scheme start?

The scheme is in the first stages of development and therefore hasn't been finalised yet.

Mottley has also not yet revealed when the scheme will be open for applicants, so those who are interested will need to keep their eyes peeled.

However, Barbados will start welcoming international travellers from Sunday 12 July.

Those who choose to visit the island will have to undergo mandatory tests for Covid-19 upon arrival and will need to isolate until the test results are provided.

How would the scheme work?

The initiative would allow international arrivals to live on the island while working remotely at their current jobs.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley said the Barbados Welcome Stamp scheme would allow persons to come and work from here overseas, digitally so, so that persons dont need to remain in the countries in which they are.

However those who wish to make Barbados their permanent home, will have to do so in another way, as the scheme only permits you to remain on the island for 12 months.

How has Barbados handled the coronavirus crisis?

If you love the idea of spending your work days on the beach, rather than the sofa, but are worried about the safety aspects of living in Barbados, here are some reassuring facts:

The number of coronavirus cases and fatalities is extremely low in comparison to that of the UK, with only 98 recorded infections and seven deaths.

Safety measures currently in place to protect the country, include mandatory face masks for all incoming visitors as well as coronavirus testing at the airports.

Barbados has now relaxed some of its restrictions and lifted its curfews.

It is now allowing social events with up to 500 people, as well as spectator sporting events, however it has introduced social distancing rules whereby people must remain at least three feet apart.

The UK government included Barbados in its list of approved nations announced last week, meaning that tourists arriving in the UK from the Carribean island would not need to go into a 14 day quarantine.

Prime Minister Mottley said in a statement, "You don't need to work in Europe, or the US or Latin America if you can come here and work for a couple months at a time; go back and come back.

"The government is committed to working with you on the promotion of new concepts like the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp, being able to open our borders to persons travelling and making it as hospitable as ever for all of us, and making it available for Barbadians from every walk of life to believe that for special occasions, or just for so, that they can come out and be a part of this wonderful exercise."

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Work from home in Barbados: Caribbean island considering Barbados Welcome Stamp to let tourists work there remotely for 12 months - The Scotsman

Disney will allow the new Pirates of the Caribbean movies to reference Captain Jack Sparrow and Johnny Depp if the actor's current press dies down.

Back in 2018, UK publisher The Sun described Johnny Depp known best for playingCaptain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean as a "wife-beater" in one of their prints. It did so in reference to accusations Depp's ex-wife Amber Heard threw at him during their infamous divorce back in 2015-2017. Depp decided to retaliate against this by suing The Sun, and his libel case begins this week.

Amidst all of this, Disney has announced that it has plans to create anewPirates of the Caribbeanmovie starring Margot Robbie. The film will feature an all-female main cast and be completely separate from the previously announced Pirates of the Caribbean reboot helmed by the series original writer, Ted Elliott.

RELATED:Birds of Prey Director Cathy Yan Fought to Keep Controversial Scene in the Film

Jerry Bruckheimer, the producer of the originalPirates of the Caribbeantrilogy and its two sequels, would like to reference Johnny Depp and Sparrow in the upcoming Margot Robbie spin-off. But Disney is apparently hesitating in allowing it because of Depp's past being in the spotlight again. It seems the company will only give the green light if Depp's press dies down a bit.

It's worth noting that Amber Heard is on tape admitting that she's the one who abusedJohnny Depp. Overall, the situation is somewhat similar to that of James Gunn's when he was under fire for some questionable tweets he made in the past. Disney felt it needed to distance itself from Gunn because of the controversy surrounding him. Hopefully, Depp will get the chance to move on the same way Gunn was allowed to.

MORE:Birds of Prey Director Reveals Which Batman Villain Will Join Harley Quinn in Potential Sequel

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Batman Gotham Knights Title Leak May Solidify Other Rumors

For as long as his terrible memory can recall, Jametrious has had a love for the art of storytelling and its resulting creations. His passions led him to Full Sail University, where studying and producing creative media allowed him to goof his way to a BFA in Creative Writing. Now a certified professional man-child, Jametrious spends his time playing and writing about video games. He favors action-RPGs over most, but hell pretty much play anything that features mindless action wrapped up in an intriguing story. You can follow him on twitter @J_Broson for updates.

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New Pirates of the Caribbean Movie Will Reference Johnny Depp and Captain Jack Sparrow on One Condition - GameRant

A massive plume of dust from the Sahara Desert has already surged into the Caribbean Sea, and it's expected to reach the Gulf of Mexico and parts of the United States this week.

Known as the Saharan Air Layer (SAL), this dry dust plume commonly forms from late spring through early fall and moves into the tropical Atlantic Ocean every three to five days, according to NOAA's Hurricane Research Division (HRD).

The densest plume began to emerge off western Africa last weekend and has now traveled over 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to the eastern Caribbean Sea, covering an area larger than the contiguous United States and western Europe.

University of Maryland scientist Santiago Gass noted late last week that the densest dust within the plume covered an unusually large area, as estimated by satellite. NASA's Terra satellite captured an amazing image Friday of the dense plume hanging over Cabo Verde, a group of islands off the western coast of Africa.

Saharan dust tracks as far west as the Caribbean Sea, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico each year a 5,000-mile-long journey.

NOAA's HRD says the Saharan Air Layer is typically located between 5,000 and 20,000 feet above the Earth's surface. It is transported westward by bursts of strong winds and tropical waves located in the central and western Atlantic Ocean at altitudes between 6,500 and 14,500 feet.

The Saharan dust plume is forecast to continue plowing westward through the Caribbean Sea, then reach parts of the Gulf Coast and Deep South later this week. You can see this in the forecast below from NASA's GEOS-5 model.

The dust particles can contribute to hazy skies and spectacular sunrises and sunsets in the Caribbean Islands, South Florida, the Florida Keys and the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The dust can also cause toxic algal blooms in the Gulf of Mexico, according to NASA. It can also aggravate those suffering from respiratory issues such as asthma and COPD. Air quality was already categorized as "unhealthy" Sunday morning in the Lesser Antilles.

NASA says this Saharan dust also plays beneficial, crucial roles in both fertilizing soil in the Amazon and maintaining Caribbean beaches.

Given the SAL is most common during hurricane season, research has been done on how it can affect the development of tropical storms and hurricanes. According to NOAA, some of the potential impacts to tropical development caused by the SAL include:

- The dry air can create downdrafts (sinking air) around tropical storms and hurricanes, which may result in the weakening of tropical cyclones.

- Strong winds associated with the SAL can contribute to increased vertical wind shear the change in wind speed with height which makes the environment hostile for tropical cyclone development.

- The role dust plays in tropical storm and hurricane intensity is not known. However, some research says it might impact cloud formation.

The early part of hurricane season is typically quiet in the tropical Atlantic. But this outbreak of dust along with unfavorable upper-level winds will likely put a lid on any significant tropical development in the near-term future.

The Weather Companys primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

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Massive Saharan Dust Plume Now in the Caribbean Sea to Complete 5000-Mile Journey From Africa to US This Week - The Weather Channel

An island vacation might actually be on the cards this year. The islands that make up the Caribbean are in various stages of reopening this summer, with many countries already open to tourists. Throw in the fact thatAmericans probably won't be able to visit Europe this summer, and you have even more reason to lounge on a beach in the middle of the Atlantic.

From the Bahamas to Bermuda, these are all the Caribbean islands reopening to tourists this summer:

OPENING IN JUNE

Antigua:Antigua will allow flights from the United States to recommence on June 4.To be allowed into the country, travelers will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival at the airport.

Jamaica: Jamaica reopened to tourists from all countries on June 15.

St. Barth: St. Barth will reopen June 22 with all beaches, restaurants and stores open without restrictions. Tourists must provide aCOVID-negative RT-PCR test performed within three days prior to the visitors departure.

St. Lucia:St. Lucia began a phased reopening on June 4, allowing only tourists from the United States.Visitors must alsopresent certified proof of a negative coronavirus test taken within 48 hours of boarding their flights when arriving on the island and must also continue wearing face masks and practicing social distancing. Phase two of reopening starts August 1.

US Virgin Islands:The islands have been open since June 1. The nation's stay-at-home order stillr requires masks to be worn in public buildings, limits gatherings to 10 people or less, and requires bars and restaurants to operate at 50 percent capacity.

OPENING IN JULY

Aruba: Aruba currently allows visitors from Bonaire and Curaao. Tourism from other Caribbean nations (except the Dominican Republic and Haiti), Europe, and Canada will begin on July 1. United States tourism will begin on July 10.

Bahamas: As part of a phased opening, the islands will welcome private yachts and planes starting June 15 before opening for commercial tourism on July 1.

Bermuda:Bermuda will reopen to international air travel on July 1, but before arriving on the island, visitors will be required to obtain a certified negativePCR COVID-19 testwithin 72 hours of departure.

Dominican Republic: The DR will reopen for tourism starting July 1 as part of the fourth phase of its reopening plan.

Puerto Rico: Puerto Rice will reopen on July 15.Temperature checks will be enforced and anyone with a temperature over 100.3 will be denied entry.

Turks and Caicos:On June 5, Turks and Caicos will allow businesses to reopen, and restaurants plan to reopen on July 6 before tourism commences on July 22.

OPENING IN AUGUST

Cuba:Cuba will allow tourism in late August but Havana and the mainland will be off-limits. International visitorswill be bussed directly to all-inclusive resorts on Cubas outlying islands.At airports, all arriving travelers will be given mandatory PCR (swab) and temperature tests.

When will we be able to travel again? Heres everything we know so far.

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All the Caribbean countries that are currently open for tourism - Time Out

by Clipper Round the World Race 21 Jun 05:14 PDT

The race from Panama through the Caribbean Sea is a far stretch from a holiday on the relaxed paced, tropical islands the Clipper Race teams will traverse. A definite gear shift is experienced by crew compared to the sometimes Champagne sailing conditions off the West Coast of the United States, Mexico and Central America the teams will have faced on the first stage of Leg 7.

Whilst it is comparatively shorter than earlier ocean crossing in the circumnavigation, it is a tactically tough race as the route passes through a complex arrangement of islands and reefs.

Crew can expect everything from searing temperatures, light and fickle winds to squalls and tropical storms with spectacular displays of lightning. Countless sail changes will be on the cards and it's a race where we often see frequent changes in the leaderboard as distance can be lost as quickly as it is gained.

Jennifer Burgis raced halfway round the world, from the Whitsundays to London, during the 2015-16 edition and during Leg 7 she experienced Tropical Storm Colin. Looking back she said: "Once we went through the Panama Canal it was all change. The second race of this leg started nice and sunny then slowly it got a little colder and wetter and with it the number of sail changes increased. Once through the Caribbean islands, Storm Colin was a wake up call. We hadn't really had any serious weather since leaving Seattle, a good five weeks earlier!"

The first stage of the race in the western side of the Caribbean Sea, up to the Windward Passage, usually sees fairly light winds with close to beam reach sailing. Once past Cuba, the fleet has to pick its way through the northern Caribbean Islands which can be characterised by fluky winds accompanied by spectacular displays of lightning. The third section of the race is back in the North Atlantic and the conditions will be greatly influenced by the Atlantic High with its clockwise circling winds.

This, the penultimate leg, sees the battle for leaderboard positions heat up. Each finishing position and scoring opportunity become all the more important as the chances to secure points become fewer. It's at this point the overall leaderboard really starts to shape up. With the competition often within sight, its head out of boat sailing and sees match racing with your closest competitors.

Clipper Race circumnavigators will not have been in the North Atlantic since crossing the equator when racing to South America around nine months earlier. A momentous occasion that often sees much self-reflection and thoughts of life after the race start to creep in.

In an extract from circumnavigator Charlie Garrett's crew blog, from during the 2017-18 edition, she said: "Time on board is running short; before we set sail 11 months felt like a lifetime and although it has felt like it at times, the reality is that this adventure has only been a snapshot in time. I am eager to return home to see friends and loved ones but with that follows a little trepidation as that means this experience will be over and I will have to say goodbye to the ones I have called family this year."

The variety of conditions, wildlife, Panama Canal, Caribbean sailing and incredible destinations means that the USA Coast to Coast Leg continues to be one of the most popular stages of the circumnavigation.

For more information visit http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com.

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Anything but plain sailing through the Caribbean - Sail World

This new age of travel means visitors have new questions as they plan their trips.

What is the flying experience like? How have hotels changed? How can I ensure that I feel safe? How is the on-island experience different?

To answer some of the questions, Caribbean Journal has launched a new CJ Webinar series with Marriott International focused on Caribbean destinations and the protocols and practices of their reopening plans.

The first Caribbean destination to reopen was the US Virgin Islands, which officially reopened to tourists on June 1.

The latest CJ Webinar, presented in partnership with Mariott International, brought together top tourism industry leaders from the USVI to explain how the experience has changed and why travelers can feel confident.

The panel included Joseph Boschulte, Commissioner of the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism; Dale McKinney, Regional Manager for the Caribbean at Delta Air Lines; Cliff Brutus, Director of Sales and Marketing at The Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas; and Lisa Hamilton, President of the US Virgin Islands Hotel and Tourism Association.

The new realities of travel mean that destinations, airlines, hotels need to explain whats expected from travelers, and what travelers can expect from them, said Alexander Britell, editor-in-chief of Caribbean Journal, who moderated the webinar. Our new webinar series is all about facilitating that conversation.

And dont miss this special report on what to expect in the reopened US Virgin Islands.

You can watch the full Webinar below:

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Traveling to the US Virgin Islands, Explained Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal

Ritz-Carlton is reopening its Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico next month, Caribbean Journal has learned.

The resort, the only Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the Caribbean, is relaunching on July 1.

The relaunch of what is Puerto Ricos leading luxury resort comes ahead of Puerto Ricos planned July 15 reopening for tourism.

It is the second Ritz-Carlton-branded property to reopen in the Caribbean, following the relaunch of the Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas, which began welcoming back visitors to the US Virgin Islands this week.

The 115-room-and-suite resort has reopened with parent company Marriott Internationals new cleanliness practices.

The resorts signature golf course has been open for several weeks already.

We are thrilled to once again welcome our beloved guests toDoradoBeach, said George Sotelo, General Manager. Our team of dedicated Ladies and Gentlemen have been hard at work preparing for our reopening and are excited to introduce guests to new handcrafted, memorable experiences while maintaining the sense of barefoot elegance and personalized service for which we are known.

In the age of COVID-19, the resort is emphasizing that each of the rooms and suites is accessible from the outdoors; many of the units have their own private plunge pools, and all of them have direct beach access, allowing ample space for physical distancing.

Puerto Rico officials say the destination is implementing major health and safety protocols island-wide ahead of the tourism reopening.

We mean it when we say we want to aim for a gold standard in health and safety. All tourism-related businesses must comply and practice the guidelines included in this comprehensive program, said Carla Campos, executive director of the Puert The PRTC will also inspect and certify over 350 hotels and operators over the next four months that must comply with these standards. We are certain that the assurances and security these measures provide, coupled with the experiences that makePuertoRicosuch an attractive destination, will play a vital role in the short-term recovery of the travel industry of the island.

For more, visit Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.

CJ

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Ritz-Carlton Reserve Reopening in Puerto Rico Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal

The Caribbeans most glamorous destination is reopening for tourism, Caribbean Journal has learned.

The French Caribbean island of St Barth is reopening for travel and tourism on June 22, according to Bruno Magras, president of the islands territorial council.

Whether you are visiting an island friend or local resident, returning to spend time in your vacation home or coming back to spend some vacation time on the island, St Barth is pleased to welcome you back, Magras said.

Magras said life on the island has returned to normal.

Island beaches are open without restriction, restaurants and boutiques are operating as usual, houses of worship are open and holding services and nautical services as well as the other services to which you are accustomed are being provided as usual, he said.

Thats due to early, aggressive action to lock down the island in the early days of the pandemics spread, and now it means St Barth is open for business.

The island has implemented new COVID-19 protocols for incoming travelers, however.

Every visitor to the island will be asked to provide a COVID-negative RT-PCR test performed within three days prior to the visitors departure.

If its not possible to arrange a test prior to departure, visitors will be required to be tested for COVID-19 within 24 hours of arrival.

Until test results are known, visitors will be required to observe strict quarantine in their villa or hotel room during which time interaction is limited to only those traveling in your party.

Test results will take less than 24 hours to be released, Magras said. For those staying on the island for more than seven days, a second RT-PCR test will be required on Day 7. (Children under the age of 10 do not require a test).

The islands villas and resorts are beginning to reopen, most notably the Hotel Le Toiny, the first hotel on the island to announce its reopening, along with the popular Les Ilets de la Plage beachfront resort in St Jean.

Of course, leading villa companies like WIMCO and St Barth Properties are also reopening their properties for travelers.

And the best ways to get there from the United States remains flying luxury carrier Tradewind Aviation via San Juan.

CJ

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St Barth to Reopen for Tourism on June 22 Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal

CTOSG, Neil Walters predicts significant integration of health and tourism

BRIDGETOWN,Barbados Tourism in the Caribbean and the rest of the world will be considerably different as countries begin to reopen their borders to international traffic following the forced closures occasioned by the onset of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), says the regions top tourism official.

Neil Walters, the acting secretary general of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), predicts closer alignment of tourism and health functions as destinations seek to reassure potential visitors that their health, safety and well-being are being taken seriously.

Walters says not only did the pause in tourism activity hurt Caribbean economies and disrupt lives, but it also allowed Caribbean countries to retrain workers across the sector and improve the product.

But one thing that has become critical is that the tourism that emerges from this pause will be different from the tourism that paused at the end of March. And the key way it will be different is that now tourism will be living and functioning with COVID-19. That means that there will be a significant integration of tourism and health functions across the world not just in the Caribbean and the Caribbean as arguably the most tourism-dependent region in the world has had to do the same thing: integrate tourism functions to ensure the safety and health of visitors and locals alike, he says in the final episode of theCTOpodcast,COVID-19: The Unwanted Visitor.

Although it has been economically impactful, that pause has actually given our destinations the chance to get that new process right, to work on getting it right, and to ensure that they reopen in a way that theres a level of comfort on all sides, he stresses.

The acting secretary general also emphasizes the level of collaboration among member countries, saying he hopes this will continue.

Ive been very heartened by the level of collaboration that Ive seen throughout this process. I hope that collaboration continues. That is the way this region and the brand Caribbean will become stronger. Even in the face of all the uncertainty we faced recently, that collaboration is key. I think that once we continue that collaboration, the spirit that it has been done in so far, the region which we live in will bounce back, he says.

This is the final episode in this series of podcasts, which covered a range of subjects, including coping with working from home during lock-down, consumer trust, the aviation and hospitality sectors and how the English-speaking Caribbean contained the virus.

The podcast is available on a number of platforms, including Anchor, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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Tourism in the Caribbean will be different as they emerge from COVID-19 - South Florida Caribbean News

16/06/2020 Health spending in Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC) was about USD 1,000 per person in 2017, only of what was spent in OECD countries (adjusted for purchasing power). At the same time, health systems capacity is also considerably lower, including the ability to provide access to services of good quality to the most vulnerable groups. In addition, much is left to to be done to improve efficiency, effectiveness and targeting of health spending. While the LAC region is struggling to respond to the major challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, a serious reflection is needed not only on how to secure more funding but also on how to spend resources better, according to a new joint OECD World Bank report, the first Health at a Glance publication entirely dedicated to the LAC region.

Health at a Glance: Latin America & the Caribbean 2020 says that total health expenditure across LAC countries is 6.6% of GDP, lower than the 8.8% in OECD countries. Spending varied from 1.1% in Venezuela to up to 11.7% in Cuba and 9.2% in Uruguay in 2017.

Government spending and compulsory health insurance represent an average of 54.3% of total health spending in LAC, significantly lower than the 73.6% in the OECD. This shows that health systems in the LAC region are heavily dependent on out-of-pocket expenditures or supplemental private insurance from households. Honduras, Haiti and Guatemala have the highest proportions of private spending, while Cuba and Costa Rica have the lowest.

Health systems in LAC have fewer resources and less capacity than OECD countries to confront the COVID-19 pandemic. The LAC region has an average of two doctors per 1,000 population, and most countries stand well below the OECD average of 3.5, with only Cuba, Argentina and Uruguay having more. The average number of hospital beds in LAC is 2.1 per 1,000 population, that is less than half of the OECD average of 4.7. Barbados, Cuba and Argentina have more hospital beds than the OECD average, whereas the stock is below one hospital bed per 1,000 population in Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Venezuela and Nicaragua. Moreover, according to data gathered just before the COVID-19 pandemic started, there were just 9.1 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) average beds per 100,000 population in 13 LAC countries, which is much lower than the 12 ICU average beds per 100,000 population found in OECD countries. Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina are above the LAC average, while the lowest ratios are observed in Costa Rica and El Salvador.

Health at a Glance: LAC 2020 highlights that poor allocation of health spending is slowing down, if not halting, progress towards universal health coverage in LAC. For example, weak health information systems are a major impediment. Across 22 LAC countries, an average of 10% of all deaths are never reported in public mortality databases. This means a reliable picture of population health is often missing. According to the Global Corruption Barometer, 42% of respondents across 12 LAC countries considered that there were corruption problems in the health sector. Most LAC countries have parallel health sub-systems with multiple and overlapping mechanisms of governance, financing and service provision, making it hard to steer resources to where they are most needed in an efficient way.

The report also highlights how quality of care in LAC is often poor. Twelve out of the 33 LAC countries fall short of attaining the minimum immunisation levels recommended by the WHO to prevent the spread of diphteria, tetanus and pertussis (90% of the target population) and 21 out of 33 fail to meet this target for measles (95% of the target population). This indicates the difficulties that countries are likely to have in making a future COVID-19 vaccine available for the whole population. Among six LAC countries with available data, women with early diagnosis for breast cancer had a 78% probability of surviving at least five years, while in adults with colon cancer it was 52% and for rectal cancer it was 46%, which are all much lower than the 85%, 62% and 61% survival rates observed in OECD countries.

Finally, the publication identifies key critical risk factors for poor health in LAC. Eight percent of children under the age of 5 and 28% of adolescents are overweight. This figure increases to over 53% among adult men and to more than 61% among adult women. Obesity increases the risk of chronic disease, and can also lead to complications and death in patients infected by COVID-19. Moreover, nearly one in four men and close to one in ten women aged 15 and above smoke daily. Smoking rates among children aged between 13 and 15 years old are 15% for boys and 12% for girls. Although average alcohol consumption in LAC is lower than in the OECD, it has increased by 3% between 2010 and 2016. Almost 35% and 22% of road traffic accidents among men and women, respectively, can be attributed to alcohol consumption.

Health at a Glance: Latin America & the Caribbean 2020 is available from June 16 at http://www.oecd.org/health/health-at-a-glance-latin-america-and-the-caribbean-2020-6089164f-en.htm.

World Bank Group Response to COVID-19 (coronavirus)

The World Bank Group, one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, is taking broad, fast action to help developing countries strengthen their pandemic response. We are increasing disease surveillance, improving public health interventions, and helping the private sector continue to operate and sustain jobs. Over the next 15 months, we will be deploying up to $160 billion in financial support to help countries protect the poor and vulnerable, support businesses, and bolster economic recovery, including $50 billion of new IDA resources in grants or highly concessional terms.

For further information, journalists should contact Carolina Ziehl, carolina.ziehl@oecd.org, and Shane Romig, sromig@worldbank.org.

Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.

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Latin America & the Caribbean countries need to spend more and better on health to be better able to face a major health emergency like COVID-19...