TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin State of Emergency for SXM Extended 3 More Weeks

DAILY HERALD ARTICLE

More details to follow.

Not good for travelers who have their fingers crossed for May trips

But it's GREAT for the people of the island so they don't die.

bizzottom--people who were still expecting to go to SXM in May were deluding themselves.

So agree Elaine.
Somehow people do not understand that we who are still here do not want the virus imported in again till there are proven ways to detect and control it.
They were all in such a hurry to get out when it was confirmed in the Caribbean and now in such a hurry to get back.
Just don’t get it.

Being able to shop three days a week is enough to allow people to get what they need. It is a different way of shopping for many people in the Caribbean and Europe, though, as they are used to shopping every day. And many or most don't have the huge fridges and freezers, like many do in the US. You know, I do wish that retailers in the US would be required to at least have some measures AVAILABLE for people to sanitize their shopping carts. Here, Winn Dixie had it and Wal-Mart, before corona, but no one else. I have taken to taking along wipes that I can use on my cart, regardless of where I am going.

It has pretty much been a given May trips would NOT happen. Airport hibernation, lack of knowing what is going on with testing, etc. both in the US and on the island AND the protection of the island resident all come into play. This has been discussed ad nauseam on here.

I will agree with Carol on this one, it was not rational thinking to expect a May trip to happen. Sorry.

The problem here with available sanitizers for carts is there is NO availability. Most groceries had a large dispenser of wipes just inside the door, they are gone as people started stealing them and then probably unavailability to even purchase. Kroger has gone to having 1-2 employees with a spray bottle of some type of mixed sanitizer prepping the carts as people enter, they seem to be doing a decent job.

I did see 8-10 containers of sanitizing wipes on the shelf at Kroger yesterday but within minutes, 3 people bought them all.

3 days a week for shopping should be sufficient in most cases as the island resident will not be competing with tourists needing groceries at the same time. I hope it works.

Most places around here never did have any wipes for carts. The store should have limited the sale of the wipes to one per family. Haven't seen sanitizing wipes anywhere around here since this thing started.

I’m doing 100% curbside. I won’t be entering any store for a while.

At Costco they are spaying your cart and then delivering it to you before you go in. Very efficient. So far most all other stores have bucket size wipe dispensers at the door to wipe your own cars of along with large sanitation gel dispensers.

So far, they don't have that at very many stores around here. I wish they did.

Agree with so many of the posts here - yes Elaine, all measures should be taken to prevent further introduction of the virus onto the island and all the others in the Caribbean. And we personally are very anxious to visit again, but ONLY after everything is clear and safe - for visitors and just as importantly for the residents. I can't understand the thought process that by such and such a date it's going to be safe to go to the islands, or anywhere for that matter. Carol, in San Antonio, our big south Texas grocer, HEB, has done a great job of keeping the shelves stocked, sanitizing shopping carts, maintaining number of people in stores, and providing distance markers. And as Scubaman said of Costco, they are doing the same thing here. A lot of responsible businesses are trying to do what's right - we just need our people to continue to participate and maintain the diligence.

It's been so long since we have been in a store, I don't know what is happening---just news reports and regulations.
All of our doctors cancelled appointments and everything non essential closed a while back.
It was the epicenter of the virus, here in Fairfield County and our town, so we stayed put.

A few months ago, I was told I was overreacting saying it wasn't wise to travel, and also said sxm doesn't need tourists to bring them the virus.
I am afraid of things opening too soon for everyone!

Terry,

We’ve had this discussion before but my plan is still to heed the warnings and obey the rules and dictates as they apply to Covid-19 but what I will NOT do is live my life in fear of ‘what if’s’ and I totally agree - these walls are starting to take their toll on all of us. I will only go to the grocery store if I really need to but if I must, I will wear my mask and gloves and follow the markings on the floor allowing for proper social distancing. But if there’s a doubt in my mind I will not be broken-hearted if I have to cancel another vacation. As the saying goes, I’d rather be six feet apart than six feet under. I hope it doesn’t come to that but in life there are few absolutes. 🙂🙂

I am not questioning what you are doing--and yes, you have told me how you feel many times.
I was responding to what Elaine had said in ref to the island staying closed --- "But it's GREAT for the people of the island so they don't die".

There were many people who said if the planes are flying they are going and my response was we can't spread this virus.
I'm sure they didn't believe how bad it was going to be.
Sorry you took it personally, but a PM would have cleared that up.

To me if the PM opens PJIA and all curfews are lifted I am good to go. Tickets are bought and accommodations are reserved. July here we come if all is well.

Pat, Every morning I read the papers with coffee and get depressed when I read how many more deaths we have had in Connecticut alone, not to mention the rest of the country. Yesterday we topped 1,000 death's in our state and it's not over yet. We, as you have stated are very careful when we have to go out and how close we get to other people. I am in the high risk category and have to be careful but. I have the Warden (wife) asst. warden (daughter) staying on top of every move I make. We had to cancel two weeks on the island in May (not happy) but, the best statement I have read was by you
"it's better to be six feet apart than six under". How true that is. Best to everyone and be safe.
Bob, down in Milford.

Bob, that is exactly what I am saying.
What is important is our health and the health of the people of SXM.
(And the World)

Vacations will come when it's time.

Staying safe in Connecticut.

I agree with your statement but would hope this PM is not pressured into making decisions that do not take the safety of its citizens and those here now first.
We do not need any imports of Coronavirus back into the country.
The first case was imported and look at what the country has had to deal with because of that one case.

Terry,

I know I directed my response from yesterday to you but it was not intended to belittle or argue your points with you but merely to agree with what you said and also to reemphasize my own beliefs which you and I had already discussed. I am truly sorry if the way I stated it caused you or anyone else to take them personally or think I was being argumentative. This issue is way too serious for that,

Bob,

The ‘six foot’ comment wasn’t mine originally and I don’t know where I first heard it, but it more or less says it all, or at least I thought so.

**********

These are very stressful times for all of us. We’re being forced into crazy situations by something we can’t see and don’t fully understand or have all the facts on. We’re being asked to distance from loved ones and avoid friends and neighbors, not to mention rescheduling our lives around this invisible monster. I know I’d far prefer to be carrying out my April SXM vacation right now than staring at the thermometer on my porch that reads 30 degrees.

I can’t speak for anyone else but I know that it’s starting to wear on me but I’m still following the ‘rules’ and I will continue to do so, even if it means having to cancel a second SXM vacation this year but it sure won’t make me happy.

if my words caused anyone personal stress I sincerely apologize and I hope you know that wasn’t my intention when I wrote them.

Feel the same way about friends who winter in Florida. They said “heading North in 3 weeks”. I said “stay in Florida”. They said thought I was referring to the weather, “we are ready to come home”. I said “stay in Florida, we don’t know what you got”.

So, rather than it become a state border discussion like could be made that Michigan is way worse off than Ohio and we need a border check, the moral of the story is you stay in your current circle for awhile and if you choose/have to go from one circle to another you should self isolate to prove to yourself you are symptom free for a minimum of 14 days.

If what they say is true about 14 days, shouldn’t we be able to play the biggest game of “freeze tag” For 14 days and stop this thing cold?

So glad the Canadian border is closed to supply chain only .

Pat,
I know you meant no harm and I agree with you 1000%. We are well supplied with wipes. masks and hand sanitizers. My biggest fear is my
21 yr old grandson who has been suffering with diabetes type one and also eplilepsy for the past 19 years. If he gets the virus and ends up in the
hospital it will not be a good ending. Thank God his mother is right on top of everything with my grandson..Lastly,
I just wish everyone would do what they should be doing.....And peace and good health to all.

Bob

Hi Bob ,
Wishing your Grandson well.
Prayers.

Thank you Lesley

Thank you, Bob, and prayers and good wishes for the continued good health of your grandson.