TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Thoughts as to what will be required when the BVI reopens

So, whenever the BVI does finally announce the requirements for tourists to come once it reopens, what will be required?

Looking at what has happened in St. Maarten, it has been a sh*t show since they reopened, with constant changes as to what is required. Hopefully whenever the BVI makes their announcement, they will stick with what the requirements are, and not change them every week, as SXM seems to do.
HERE

is a link to what is currently required for SXM. Note that, as of today, they are probably going to REQUIRE Covid insurance, at a cost of approximately $70 per person, per week.

Does anyone know what COVID insurance covers? Is it medical and evacuation insurance or would it cover cancellation costs like lost deposits and/or change fees?

That's just the point, no one knows. My understanding is that it will cover ONLY Covid expenses for medical care and medical evac. I think that you would still need other insurance to cover trip cancellation or interruption and medical expenses NOT involving Covid.

LINK to the story in today's Daily Herald.

I would imagine they will require a negative test within 72hrs of arrival, a questionnaire relative to Covid-19 and temperature check. Masks to be work on arrival and in supermarkets. I do not imagine there will be any flotillas allowed. I hope this covers everything they do as too many hoops to jump through do not make a holiday.

Better still a vaccination cert will stop all this.

Requiring a negative test within 72 hours has proven to be EXTREMELY difficult to obtain in many parts of the US, up to this point. SXM just recently amended their test requirement to 120 hours, as seen by the link I posted with the current requirements. There is quite a complicated procedure to even get the certification required to even board the plane, as well as requiring the person to check in EVERY SINGLE DAY by email and post their temperature.

We've been lucky at our location here in MI (outside of the Detroit metro area) - have a great health center that does PCR in 30 minutes. Came in handy for our July sailing trip - although tests weren't required by the USVI at the time for our state, we did them anyway to be safe.

First I've heard of covid insurance. In addition, I'm sure a negative test either prior to arrival or maybe they can get rapid tests to be done on arrival. Or they could have a non-rapid test (48-72 hours) and simply require those arriving go right to their hotel/boat and remain isolated from others. Easy to do on a boat. Not as easy at a resort..

I'm skeptical that they will move forward with their reopening plans though. Not with what is going on in many places. Madrid is locking things down and many states in the US are seeing an increase. The only real solution for them is to only allow people to enter if they are 100% sure they aren't infected. And with that, still require masks in public and social distancing. Because nothing is perfect.

Ahoy Captains,

Trying to Help.
Not a Board Certified Clinical Epidemiologist, so all I can say is, I expect Testing and Treatment will Continue to Improve over the next few Weeks and Months.
Recent mainstream news reports chronologically.

Testing USA
Sept 25 - https://www.goodrx.com/blog/drive-thru-coronavirus-testing-near-me/
Undated Overview - https://www.goodrx.com/treatment/coronavirus-test
Sept 19 - https://www.cnet.com/health/covid-t...ke-to-get-coronavirus-test-results-back/

Testing UK
Sept 17 - https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51943612

Testing Canada, Eh.
Sept 30 - https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coron...est-for-use-in-coming-weeks-pm-1.5126678
Sept 29 - https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/feds-rapid-testing-purchase-1.5743171

Located at Airports –
Sept 30 - https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/tampa-airport-covid-testing-trnd/index.html
Sept 30 - https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news...d-19-testing-at-bradley-airport/2339570/
Sept 28 - https://www.theglobeandmail.com/wor...ute-covid-19-tests-will-end-quarantines/
Sept 25 - https://www.king5.com/article/news/...281-7b061a81-5d98-492b-8efe-e60e3fe7e88c
Sept 24 - https://www.stattimes.com/news/edmo...new-covid19-testing-technology-covid-19/

Supported by Airlines -
Sept 29 - https://news.aa.com/news/news-detai...COVID-19-Testing-OPS-DIS-09/default.aspx
Sept 29 - https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/united-airlines-covid-testing/index.html
Sept 28 - https://www.businesstravelnews.com/...ssengers-At-Home-Covid-19-Testing-Access
Sept 22 - https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...starting-october-executive-idUSKCN26D2Z0
Sept 8 - https://www.flightglobal.com/strate...port-covid-testing-scheme/140078.article
Aug 29 - https://ca.travelpulse.com/news/air...a-will-trial-airport-covid-19-tests.html
Aug 19 - https://news.gtp.gr/2020/08/19/air-france-klm-assist-passengers-needing-covid-19-tests-travel/

Aircraft Safety –
Sept 16 - https://www.travelpulse.com/news/ai...bial-coating-to-cleaning-procedures.html
Aug 24 - https://news.aa.com/news/news-detai...d-Customers-From-Coronavirus-OPS-DIS-08/
Aug 20 - https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/odds-catching-covid-19-flight-wellness-scn/index.html

Vaccine Progress –
Oct 1 - https://www.theglobeandmail.com/wor...ime-review-of-astrazenecas-experimental/
Oct 1- https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/mar...art-in-europe/ar-BB19zXlU?ocid=bingcovid
Oct 1 - https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/01/cor...icipants-exhaustion-fever-headaches.html
Sept 30 - https://www.healthline.com/health-n...ith-vaccines-and-treatments-for-covid-19
Sept 28 - https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/health/covid-vaccine-update-coronavirus/
Sept 23 - https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2020-coronavirus-drug-vaccine-status/
Sept 18 - https://www.goodrx.com/blog/coronavirus-treatments-on-the-way/

Sorry, no politics, no crystal ball, no tin foil hat.

Fair Winds, Brent from The Captains Compass

maytrix--the test required for SXM is NOT a rapid test, which is NOT acceptable. It has to be a PCR test. And MI diver--I sincerely doubt anywhere can do a PCR test in 30 minutes.

Hi Carol - beg to differ. I have had two PCR tests delivered in 30 minutes. Both negative. Both very uncomfortable nasal swabs.

I think I have found sources for testing here (Virginia) that will suffice to travel to St. Thomas and possibly to the BVI (requirements so far unpublished) but I started thinking - what about the return trip? Will I be able to get tested in the BVI in order to re-enter the U.S.? St. Thomas and San Juan currently want to see a negative test result. The BVI has just announced they will perform some testing for travelers for a fee of $135. I have just asked them about the locations. It wouldn't be too bad if you could get it at the airport but, if you are flying, it wouldn't be very convenient to have to get it in RoadTown.

Great links, Brent. Thanks for putting that together - very informative.

Currently at Road Town and Sea Cow's Bay. I think those are the only options but there may be a location on VG.

There is a private clinic very near us that will do a PCR test with results in 24-48 hours for $50. That BVI test must be a real profit center!

Ahoy Captains,

With a charter with The Captains Compass, I would be available to facilitate the pick up of a 'Home Test Kit' delivered to the FedEx office in RoadTown, and deliver it to any harbor on Tortola. With a strong WiFi connection the test could be administered, and I would again facilitate a pick up and delivery of the Sealed Package back to FedEx. Depending on balancing the logistics, the test results should be available for your return to Reality.
https://www.goodrx.com/blog/coronavirus-at-home-tests/
And the Question if the BVI Health Care System, or if one of the BVI Private Health care clinics, will facilitate testing?
And the Question of What test will be accepted and by Whom?

Fair Winds, Brent from The Captains Compass

Jason: The BVI publication had a VG phone number to make an appointment. I jumped to the conclusion that there must be a location on VG. Clearly that could be a bad jump.
It's on the government's Facebook page but I can't find it on the government web site. [img]https://www.facebook.com/BVIHSA/photos/a.1682179318704555/2719036445018832[/img]

RatmansWife: We have a local pharmacy that charges $250 for a test if you want same-day results. Plenty of profit being made there.

It has been my understanding that if you are traveling by air, and not exiting the airport, you are not required to have a negative COVID test to enter the US at these locations. I could be wrong but can't find anything to contradict this. No clue about ferries and seaport entry, where you will have more contact with the community (taxi providers, etc.). I emailed the USVI contact email address provided in their COVID updates/site for clarification but have not received any response. Most likely no one yet knows.

MIDiver: I have also sent them a message. One reason I want to find out is that we usually like to stay a day or two in St. Thomas on the way home. If it means the difference between a possible testing snafu or not, I would forgo the stay over and just transfer. It's not clear to me whether a test is required in-bound if you are just connecting.

This is all quite odd in that the U.S. appears to have dropped the testing requirements for in-bound foreign travelers from the (formerly) high-risk countries to the mainland . . .CDC Publication re: Testing Arriving Passengers

ecm: I wish obtaining info was easier. Ha. My contacts (pilots) in the airline industry assume me that we will not need tests when transferring - but then again they are just the pilots (Delta and AA). I rebooked my arrival into EIS and double booked (using points that can easily be redeposited) my return, including an EIS-SJU-home option. Wait and see I suppose.

I really don't think that's possible, to deliver that test in 30 minutes... I think you are getting the RAPID test, which is not acceptable in St. Maarten. There is a PCR test, and then an rt-PCR test, which is different. The latter is the one that is currently required for St. Maarten, and that test cannot be done on any kind of a consistent basis, really, in even 3 days, throughout most of the US. There are also some places in the US that you can't even get a test unless you state that you have symptoms.

Speculation is never helpful.

Believe what you will Carol. Not going to argue with you. I took the tests, have the results. Have a great night.

I edited my post above. I believe you took the RAPID PCR test, which is not acceptable for St. Maarten. No idea what will be required in the BVI.

Carol, this <IS<> the BVI forum. We aren't concerned about what the Prefete in SXM hears from Macron. The BVI is not a French territory.

Sorry to grab you, but we'd all ask you to remember how you want us to think of you.

The problem is the rapid tests aren't as reliable, although worst case they give a false positive and then the person then does a PCR test. I'm not sure if the rapid test is too sensitive though or not sensitive enough?

Breeze--Actually I was talking about St. MAARTEN, which is the Dutch side. The question is, what type of a test will be required for the BVI, which of course they haven't released that information. And IF it is a rt-PCR test that is required, in most of the US, it is very difficult to obtain in less than 120 hours. And in some states, it is difficult to obtain a test at ALL unless you lie and say you are symptomatic. These are some issues to consider.

Testing is widely available in NC now with a 2 day turnaround. The time frame to get results has dropped quite a bit in the last month. I suspect by Dec it won’t be a problem.

Glad to hear that. It all depends on what type of test they require also. If it's only a rapid test, that can be obtained very easily anywhere.

This is the PCR text most countries require for travel.

OK

I saw my physician last week and was told that their lab provides PCR results in 24 hours. He also told me the rapid test is wrong 30% of the time and not to trust it for travel purposes.

I got tested in Massachusetts in order to go to Maine. Had the results in 24 hours. $150

ETA - drive up, PCR test, nasal swab (and not really that bad - I use a neti pot daily so I didn't think so - my husband had another opinion)