TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Additional quarantine days and slower test results coming?

I wanted to pass on two news articles regarding the BVI Government's Covid-19 protocols.

The main points are:

1.) Test results time may increase from 24 to 48 hours

"Hon Malone revealed; however, that government is looking to modify the test result release time from just a 24-hour period to between 24-48 hours, due to increased testing being done.
“We had promised 24 hours, we may have to look in terms of having that 24 to 48 hour period in order to get the results back.”"

[url=http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/5-tested-positive-for-covid-19-on-arrival-in-vi-hon-malone]

2.) Number of quarantine days may be extended

"Speaking at the Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA), Hon Malone said given the rise in imported cases, authorities are now looking to add five more days to the territory’s quarantine duration for tourists and returning residents."

[url=http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/9-imported-covid-19-cases-now-in-vi-3-new-in-past-24hrs-]

Nine days would be the death knell for tourism. Both these changes reflect an inability to plan and implement the protocols. Calculating the time and staffing needed for testing and notification is simple, so the fact they couldn't manage that is emblematic of poor managerial ability. I believe that, had they chosen a competent vendor, proper tracking and tracing of visitors could have been done. Going with a Jamaican software and technology company was always suspect.

The quarantine is not really 4 days. It is 5 days, at best. People coming in are not released from quarantine until their day 4 results are reported to them and they can have their tracking device removed. This is not on day 4. It is on day 5 (at best).

As is, this means that a 7-day charter is really not practical. The boat must report back to Nanny Cay on day 4 for testing, and must again return for the tracking device to be removed. So, a charter boat is essentially tethered to Tortola for 5 days.

With luck, day 6 is free, and return the boat on day 7. If test results time goes to 48 hours, the entire charter is spent in quarantine.

Whoop de friggin do

You are not required to have the device removed. For a short trip, you can just do it on departure.

I agree, the protocols are not practical for a 7 day trip. For our guests with limited vacation, we are encouraging them to fly down and take advantage of the 4 free nights we are offering and work remotely during their quarantine. After that, they are released and can start their vacation fun.

Whether or not the tracking device is removed, you must have the test results before legally being out of quarantine. At present, that is day 5 at best, and day 6 if test results take 48 hours.

We are midway through our 14 day trip and I also agree that a 7 day trip is not practical at this time.
Earlier today, my thinking was that I wish I was able to stay longer, but if there are additional restrictions and closures, that could quickly change.

We are on JVD now and almost nothing is open.

I think it's fair to say this qualifies as adventure tourism at this point.

By the way, I am not objecting at all to the current protocol. It is a pretty damned good compromise. Maybe even a bit lenient.

I live in the BVI, and I would like to see no cases of Covid-19 here, but keeping Covid-19 out of the territory is not realistically possible. Sooner or later, people must come in, and each of them brings risk.

I am just trying to make the point that a week-long visit is really not practical, and that considering everything involved, a two-week visit is questionable.

I agree a 7-day trip is questionable. We were able to do 14 days and it was well worth it. The 4-5 days of Q'ing wasn't a big deal. We enjoyed not having to compete for anchoring space that is the norm this time of year. More like what I imagine the BVI was 40 years ago. The local businesses are just starting to open up and/or are increasing their hours. I'll bet most of the shore businesses will be in full swing in a couple months, especially once the sea ports open in January (assuming they don't delay that again).

Anegada is open

Can anyone confirm the double return is necessary to Nanny Cay? We were told there were testing stations on each of the major islands... Is there anywhere the BVI in indicating this is the process? It seems like we are being told one thing via social media and the Government webpages and like the actual process is different from that.

The communication from the government is that yacht testing takes place from Nanny Cay. There is testing on VG and I think JVD but it's not for the yachts.

Thanks Jason. This is news to us! I did see the "Pickup Locations" post on the Government's social media. That is how they change the plan I guess.

Any info on the bracelet removal?