TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Rapid antigen test now accepted

** Travel entry requirements updated to allow rapid antigen tests **

The Ministers of TEATT Ludmila de Weever and VSA Richard Panneflek have updated the entry requirements to include antigen testing with effective date of November 25th. Travelers to St. Maarten are required to complete a mandatory health authorization application via the Electronic Health Authorization System (EHAS) available on www.stmaartenentry.com and upload their negative RT-PCR test within 5 days or their negative antigen test result within 48 hours. Currently, the following antigen tests have been approved: Abbott (CGIA Panbio COVID-19 Ag rapid test), Becton Dickinson (CGIA BD Veritor COVID-19 test) and Roche (SD Biosensor F test). The list of acceptable tests is constantly being reviewed as government continues to seek the most accurate alternatives to the PCR test.

“I’m happy with the addition of another test as this will assist in easing travel to St. Maarten since these specific antigen tests are readily available in our main tourist markets. In fact, one of our major airlines, Air France, is already using this test for travel between Paris and Guadeloupe, within the 48-hour window. Our island’s economy needs to return to pre-pandemic levels as safely and quickly as possible and this decision allows us to make the necessary adjustments to help improve load factors, thereby increasing the number of visitors and with it economic activity,” said Minister of TEATT Ludmila de Weever.

The Minister of Public Health, Richard Panneflek, stated, “I am diligently working at the possibility of using antigen tests for the local population. This will allow us to further synchronize the protocols that CPS and ARS have been working on. Due to the improved accuracy of antigen tests, the realization of mass testing will be possible for St. Maarten in the near future, allowing for a more realistic depiction of our COVID-19 situation. However, PCR test will remain St. Maarten’s gold standard testing method.”

Any chance you can provide a link to this?

Yes. I'll find it. Was on government site.
https://www.facebook.com/354761848028480/posts/1803142676523716/

Not to ask a stupid question, but this is not the same as the self-test in the other thread?

I don't know the answer to that question, but I do know, for a fact, from my own experience, that they are accepting nasal swab tests that aren't the nasopharyngeal (deep swab) test. We submitted ours yesterday and were approved. Clearly the powers that be realize that they're killing the island with their unreasonable restrictions.

As we are travelling to the island January 15th for a month, we have started looking for testing in our county. This rapid antigen test will fit the bill and is available nearby. The labs I am looking at report the results and provide a report within 15 minutes. This is great news for sure.

It is not on their website yet?
https://stmaartenehas.com/travel-requirements/

I'm not sure that either. I trust more clarification is yet to come.

As of yesterday, no.

The site also still clearly lists the following:Results from home covid-19 collection test kits will also not be accepted.

Perhaps this will change as well and with the implementation date of the other tests.

Baby steps.....moving in the right direction

This was announced in the Daily Herald this morning here in St Maarten. This is great news as the Nasopharyngeal rt-PCR test can take longer time to get results due to the huge increase in testing in USA as Corona Virus spikes higher .

TEATT Minister Ludmila de Weever and VSA Minister Richard Panneflek.

PHILIPSBURG--The travel entry requirements for St. Maarten have been updated to include rapid antigen testing effective November 25.

As of this date, travellers to St. Maarten will be required to complete a mandatory health authorisation application via the Electronic Health Authorization System (EHAS) available on www.stmaartenentry.com and upload their negative rt-PCR test results within five days or their negative antigen test result within 48 hours.

Currently, the following antigen tests have been approved: Abbott (CGIA Panbio COVID-19 Ag rapid test), Becton Dickinson (CGIA BD Veritor COVID-19 test) and Roche (SD Biosensor F test). The list of acceptable tests is constantly being reviewed as government continues to seek the most accurate alternatives to the PCR test, it was stated in a press release issued jointly by Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunication Minister Ludmila de Weever and Health Minister Richard Panneflek.

And the Everly well home test kit is NOT listed there.

Unfortunately for Americans, it appears this list is geared towards Europeans, as 2/3 of the listed antigen tests aren't even approved for emergency use within the USA, and the other one (BD Veritor) is among the least used rapid tests. If they approve the use of the Sofia (used by CVS, among others), biofire (common in ambulatory settings for hospitals), or Abbott's ID Now (commonly found at freestanding nurse practicioner urgent care clinics), then it will be a game changer.