TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Thoughts on the proposed BVI protocol...

There is an article on 285 Media that, pending approval, the following would apply to BVI travel:

1. a negative covid test uploaded to an app that's currently being developed.
2. ANOTHER covid test upon arrival to the BVI
3. Quarantine in one location x 4 days
3. THEN ANOTHER COVID test...if all three are negative
4. Then wear a wristband that tracks movements for the duration of the visit.

This has not yet (but probably will) be approved by the cabinet soon.

All of this makes a charter vacation that we have scheduled for the end of January VERY unlikely :-( I would love to get back to the BVI soon and dump some $ in to their economy but maybe we should be looking at a more distant horizon...2023?

What do you all think about this protocol?

It is unworkable for tourists and there is no point in the BVI bothering to reopen.
G

The current protocol is something that I could not support nor would I allow my villa guests to stay at the villa with the current protocol. It requires a huge change. I think the current government should resign and the BVI start all over. SAD!!!

IF, the above new story from "284 Media" is correct information, then it is too cumbersome and tourist from outside the BVI will not come.

As a homeowner, coming in for an extended period, I would be happy to comply with the proposed protocol so that we can get back to our villa.

I do not see our guests, loyal as they are, wanting to take these steps to access the BVI for a short vacation.

So many added costs on top of the already difficult and costly trek to be in paradise.

I have two charters planned, one in December and one in February. I do want to protect the islanders and am willing to self quarantine at home 14 days prior to travel, take a test 72 hours prior to departure and one again on arrival (but watch out for those false positives!). A quarantine will make things very difficult unless I can quarantine on the boat, in a nice location other than the charter base docks (Bight, N. Sound, Cooper, etc.) Already have provisioning/delivery arranged so that isn't an issue. I anticipate there would be lots of boats coming back in for testing on day 4 - how/where would they handle that? IMHO if the gov't is serious about Q's, they should do a serious 10-14 day and target opening for villa owners and long term vacationers. The rest of us with 10 day and under availability will just need to go elsewhere. Sure I could Q in a hotel or a villa but being stuck inside, or on a balcony for 4+ days, plus the additional lodging/testing and food costs puts this at the brink of being the straw that broke the camels back. The cost of Q in a villa with a private pool would REALLY break the camel's back. Sad sigh.

Agree - we would cancel.

We have been sailing every year 1992 to last July (owned a cat with TMM mid 90's ) obviously we LOVE the BVI!! Have a few friends in the tourist industry there. As have most of you, spent $$$$$$$$$ there. However, we will NOT visit under the proposed protocol. It's all so wrong headed in many ways...

Sorry, that is just stupid. A villa owner might do it but no tourists.

I’ve been pessimistic Thinking that the bvi government would shut down travel at first sign of trouble after opening and planning a trip would be iffy. They have poor facilities for handling serious Covid cases and lots of multigenerational families living closely together. Politically it is a tough situation. With offshore banking down, no tourism is killing the economy.

The path they outline is one meant to provide maximum safety to residents and claim they are opening up for tourism. They say a camel was a horse designed by a committee of politicians. I believe similarly the proposed solution is totally unworkable for tourism.

We have no expense involved with flyer miles and place to stay on VG, but we would not likely go under those restrictions even if young and unafraid of Covid. Too many hoops for a “bcation”. Few if any will do it. The other problem that those with age and or issues that make Covid more problematic..then what if you get it there. Skymed won’t evacuate you. You can’t fly commercial. Peeples is all you got.

I’m hoping Britain shoots enough of the AstraZeneca vaccine to the BVI when available to shoot up the population. Then they can take vaccinated travelers and this is behind us. I don’t know what any other answers are. Covid is so infectious and with asymptomatic spreaders it’s going to go wherever people travel. It’s going to be a long slow high season imo.

Will - a vaccine is not on a close horizon - at least a safe, proven one, IMHO. I, for one, will not be taking it for at least 2 years - want to see the longer term results/complications. Not something rushed to market - especially for this virus. Guess that means I buy my own catamaran and enjoy US waters.

Agreed.

They should look at what other countries are doing. Haven't really looked at cases in Aruba, but friends went. Had to get a test before leaving and they had a great time. If they just did a bit of the honor system and requested people isolate at home prior to going and get a test prior, it would be far more reasonable. And I think many people can isolate prior to going.

Agree - kiss the season good by

Probably should just shut down for anyone except staycationers

I tired to listen to their hotel/villa protocol meeting. Could not log in as they change the web site address at the last moment. They can't even get that right.

not sure why tpcook. I signed up, as requested, two days ago, and used the link they sent with no issues. Actually looked for you in the participant list, but did not find you listed.

I was on the wrong site too but I saw one of the participants who was trying to help had posted the link to the new site so I clicked it and got in.

A question I had asked during the session was with the reduced requirements for quarantine to tourists on Dec 1st, would there be an early elimination of the current 2 week quarantine/$3500 guard fee. The question was misinterpreted and not answered so I still would like to know.

We have a flight into EIS on 12/4. We will submit any test required, but any quarantine is ridiculous, excessive and purely a CYA moment. We would cancel. Sorry locals. We really want to come see you.

I saw your question come up and I was surprised they weren't willing answer it. I tried several times to ask if any possible quarantine would have exceptions to allow people to grocery shop or how they were expected to get food but it was also ignored.

The key take away for the TTOL community is these are all rumors until official protocols are approved by Cabinet. To me, the Premier seemed like he had softened on the quarantine requirement. I have noticed over the last 7 months of COVID fun that the government here is heavily influenced by social media activity. I'd say the feedback over the last few days has been some of the strongest I've seen and I am hopeful it will have an influence on the Cabinet when they approve final measures.

Please keep in mind, it has only been proposed and it sounds like they will be meeting about entry protocols on Friday. Maybe we'll get more definite news next week.

A question for the TTOL community: If the protocols included a test prior to entry, another test upon entry, and a contact tracing bracelet would that be acceptable to consider BVI travel?

Same here. We are not sailors like most of y'all. We love spending a week on Anegada a couple of times a year. But the 4 day quarantine is a deal breaker. I love to cook at home. Not while on vacation. Besides, that would seriously cut into the amount of money we would spend on the island with Peter, Liston, Ann and others. For the first time since '05 sadly we may need to go elsewhere. But for now, still holding out for hope.

I'd be fine with the testing prior and on entry. Wearing a tracking bracelet? Not so keen on that.

Big question is what happens if someone tests positive upon entry? I'd really want to know the accuracy of the tests they use as well.

They are using the PCR test that seems common other places. Not using the rapid test.

If they would use the PCR test upon entry--which frankly, I think the rapid test is absolutely useless--they would have to quarantine people until the results of the test are known. That would be probably overnight, as a minimum. That, people could put up with, somehow. But 4 days? No way. And a tracking bracelet?? Oh h*ll no..

I think the BVI (and all organizations using PCR testing) need to disclose the Cycle Threshold (Ct) where they consider a test to be positive. If you run enough cycles (for example, 40 or more) a very large number of people will have "positive results" due to genetic fragments from some prior infection (COVID or possibly something else). A Ct of somewhere around 30 is much more likely to accurately indicate a "real" case with fewer false positives. A false positive, for an arriving tourist, could trigger a series of events that would result in an unpleasant experience. I realize there may be some false positives - no test is 100% accurate - but they really need to tune their reading of the tests.

In order to make sure that a test performed prior to departure is "valid" for the BVI, both tests (before travel and upon arrival) need to be interpreted with the same Ct value. Else it's the old apples to oranges problem.

I would also like to know the accuracy of the test they are using. As well as the capacity and protocols of the labs performing the diagnostics. There is the potential for the need to process hundreds per day (and process them correctly and accurately) dependent on flight loads. Forget about seaports. If someone gets a positive, especially after testing before travel (and I would move this up to 72 hours prior to departure), a second test should be offered. I, for one, would demand it. A tracking bracelet? I guess if I had to but what else is it recording besides location/movement? Would need full-disclosure. And it better be waterproof to 100',

The four day quarantine and retesting is going to be the deal breaker for me.

I would, alongside mandatory facemask wearing and abundant local availability of alcohol hand hand sanitiser for purchase.

Jason, I am fine with the testing. Regarding the bracelet ~ I seemed to have missed where it has a GPS tracker in it. Is that fact or assumption?
Some other countries require bracelets but from what I understand it is color coded and the color shows you have negative test results. If that is all that bracelet would do I would be ok with wearing a bracelet in the BVI. I do not really like that it sort of makes you stand out as a tourist and labels you "clean" but whatever.
Some places also have people sign into restaurants so that if a case is reported they can contact and let you know. Very reasonable request I think.

Sigh, sadly I think it will be 2021 before I venture back. Hopefully an immediate result test will soon be available and all this quarantine mess goes away.

A question for the TTOL community: If the protocols included a test prior to entry, another test upon entry, and a contact tracing bracelet would that be acceptable to consider BVI travel?[/quote]

I fully expect testing of some kind and I could live with the bracelet. I think a 4 day quarantine for a tourists is a lot to ask for when most are only there for a week or two. My own concern is the process of pre-trip testing, submitting to IATA, booking the flight and completing travel. All that has to happen within 5 days. In some places right now tests are hard to get and take days to get results back. The process is complicated and hard to execute.

And ...I would still like to know if they are dropping the $3500 guarded quarantine for November homeowner & worker arrivals. I imagine that those in the charter boat industry who need to bring back crews and/or boats have this concern as well.

Gary--you are correct about the timing of the test. There is a lot of the US that it is almost impossible to get a test and results with 72 hours. 120 hours is a lot more doable--BUT gives you also a much longer time to be infected, after the test..

The tracking bracelt is a not needed as Google download a Covid-19 tracker on everyones phones months ago, just needs to be turned on(or off if you don't know its on already) don't know about iPhones.

Jason, yes as a villa owner, no as a vacationing tourist who is normally taking a 7 -10 day trip.....

Off topic, but can you say Long term rental anyone? Thinking we may take our villa for 2020-2021 and turn it into a long term rental for people who want to be land based and have some time to kill...…

The problem with the phone trackers is many guests don't carry their phones around because they don't have roaming turned on so they are useless to the guest. No way to enforce someone carrying their phone 100% of the time but a bracelet that can't be removed is more foolproof.

lol you guys really believe the BVI government is capable of pulling off GPS tracking bracelets for 1000's of tourists in 7 weeks time? Much less a functional phone application?

Yes but only because the idea of the tracking bracelets isn't new. When we were inspected to house quarantined belongers, the health inspector was already talking about using the bracelets instead of hiring security to guard every person. So that means they've been considering it since June. 6 months might be enough time...

The BVI Traveler article (which was apparently quoting from the 284 Media article) stated: "In addition, they will be required to wear a wristband that will track their movement while in the BVI to insure that the quarantine is obeyed. The wristband must be worn until their vacation concludes."

Yes, and a nice source of income for the BVI. Fine folks!!

Just to clarify for me... as of now... if these requirements go thru... If I was planning a trip to VG, and port of entry is only going to be Beef Island, do I have to do my 4 day quarantine in Tortola, or would they let me go to my villa rental on VG? We usually fly directly into VG. Thanks for any clarification.

What are the associate costs for all these tests and the bracelets? Has there been discussion about mandatory COVID insurance - several other destinations are requiring this, along with interesting premium costs. I would also like to know about those of us that already have flights booked. The protocols indicate you can only book flights after you upload test results. That just will not work - I can't even imagine what those last minute ticket prices would be.

Sure, the article says that. I just don't buy it for a second.

I personally don't think the government is capable of ordering, tracking and maintaining such a system. For example, what happens when someone takes off their bracelet (or it just breaks off) during their charter? Is immigration going to go out and track them down?