SABA:— Saba will be partially reopening its borders per May 1, 2021. Quarantining will be lifted for fully-vaccinated persons, quarantining for non-vaccinated persons will be five days, and vaccinated day-trippers will be welcome again.
Until now, Saba has used a containment strategy with strict entry regulations to keep COVID-19 at bay. With more than 85 percent of the adult population and the risk groups fully vaccinated by May 1, thereby protecting the vulnerable Sabans against severe disease, the Public Entity Saba has decided to implement the first phase of the mitigation strategy per May 1.
Per this date, fully-vaccinated persons may enter the island without quarantine for 10 days. Non-vaccinated persons will continue to require quarantine during this phase, but for 5 days instead of 10. The 5-day quarantine decision is based on the recommendation of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).
Non-vaccinated persons under the age of 18 coming in from high-risk areas will not have to go into strict quarantine as they are much less infectious, but they will have to stay out of school, daycare, afterschool care for 5 days after arrival. All incoming travelers from high-risk areas will still need to do a pre-travel test. Tests on arrival and/or after day 5 will also be in place for certain groups.
People will keep having to acquire permission through info@sabagov.nl before coming to Saba, except for visitors who come to the island for one day. Only vaccinated persons will be allowed as day-trippers.
Saba will move to a two-category risk categorization system: high and low risk. Countries/territories are considered low risk if there is no local circulation of COVID-19 for the past 14 days. As is already the case, persons coming from low-risk areas don’t have to do a pre-travel test and don’t have to quarantine. For now, the island will remain at awareness level 1, which means that daily routines will continue, with basic hygiene measures and extra emphasis on persons remaining at home when sick.
This first phase per May 1 will be assessed after a month. The reopening strategy is, as always, dependent on how the pandemic continues to develop, and for example, the emergence of a vaccine-escaping strain could lead to adjustments of the strategy.
On March 19, the second batch of Moderna vaccines will arrive on Saba from the Netherlands. The week after, the second round of vaccinations will take place.
- Home
- /
- St. Martin News Network
- /
- Saba partially reopens on...
Saba partially reopens on May 1.
March 10, 2021
Source: https://www.smn-news.com/st-maarten-st-martin-news/37010-saba-partially-reopens-on-may-1.html
Top Weekly
August 19, 2026
August 17, 2026
Headlines
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Court of First Instance has rendered its judgment in the criminal cases against M.R. and J.E.B., the remaining defendants in the “Jasmine” investigation. Both defendants were convicted of co-perpetrating fraud and money laundering. M.R. was also...
Read more : Court convicts two defendants in “Jasmine” investigation | Soualiganewsday
August 19, 2026
Approx. $53 million budgeted for new Pointe Blanche Prison | The Daily Herald
Artist’s impression PHILIPSBURG--Construction of the new Pointe Blanche prison began in January 2026 and is expected to be completed by July 2028, according to Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling. The project is being implemented through the United Nations Office for Project...
August 18, 2026
WIB Supports Playground Upgrade at Raoul Illidge Sports Complex | The Peoples Tribune
GREAT BAY--The Windward Islands Bank, WIB, has supported the upgrade of the playground at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex as part of its continued commitment to corporate social responsibility and investment in children, families and healthy communities across St. Maarten. Th...
August 18, 2026
TEATT shifts more tourism funding to Expedia | The Peoples TribuneGREAT BAY--The Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication, TEATT, is directing more of St. Maarten’s tourism promotion budget toward online travel agency campaigns after previous Expedia marketing generated more than US $38 million in tracked bookin...
August 18, 2026
Unmanned vessel from St. Barths washes up on Saba with dog aboard | BES REPORTERTHE BOTTOM, Saba – An unmanned vessel believed to belong to a resident of St. Barths was found on the rocks along Saba’s coastline on Monday, with a dog (named Archie) still aboard.
August 17, 2026
Justice Minister outlines eight priority changes to modernize traffic laws | The Peoples TribuneGREAT BAY--The Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling has identified eight priority areas for a major modernization of St. Maarten’s Road Traffic Ordinance, including tougher rules on mobile phone use while driving, speed cameras, stronger DUI laws, vehicle impoundment for reck...