TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin rt-PCR test change--AGAIN--now back to 120 hours

I am 100% with you Mort.

The 120 hours gives us more breathing room. We are scheduled to leave Saturday, 2/13. Just made our appointments for testing for Monday morning. Baltimore County has free testing and it is not a problem to get an appointment. Current wait time for results is 1 -2 days (but no guarantees). We have other pay options available if there are any issues.
Scott

Hope you can rebook and still go.

Thanks but not going to happen. It may change multiple times between now and then as well. They (SXM government) have been very inconsistent, and it has been nothing short of a $hitshow for the most part.

I understanding. Lots of hoops and unpredictable changes.

Remember, our group was there last year when things started to unravel. We were left with cancelled flights and scrambled to either get home or make arrangements if that didn't happen. I have very little faith things would go smoothly and the constant changes, turmoil and related stress is not worth it.

Got it.👍

Is this new change for real? When you go to site where you apply for entry, the exemption is not there. Is that link to an actual government site? Yet more conflicting information.

We scheduled to fly on February 28. I booked a test for the 25th. I don't think I'll cancel that one yet but book another for the 23rd. Arrrgh

It is official.

Jimandbeth--Sorry if my response seemed to be blaming you. This is totally a problem created by the SXM government.

This is a change for the better, for sure, for those of us coming from the States and Canada, but I have to say, the constant changes coupled with the added requirements and additional costs involved in many cases, are making a St. Maarten vacation almost more trouble than it’s worth. Note, please, I said almost........

Happy about this latest revision because the three day window is almost impossible to do in our area. Come to think of it, in our case back in November the five day window was tough but we persevered and we’re finally victorious.

No worries. Thank you.

Hi Scott W, I have some friends in Baltimore County, can you give some details about the testing there?
Thanks!

Hasn’t Canada cancelled flights into and returning from the Caribbean (and Mexico)?

Trudeau cancels Caribbean travel
Trudeau said Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing, and Air Transat will suspend service to all Caribbean destinations and Mexico starting Sunday until April 30

Yes, so this change by SXM is a moot point as far as Canadian residents are concerned. At least for now.

There haven’t been direct flights from Canada for quite some time, we flew YYZ to CLT then SXM. That is still an option with a negative test for SXM. Biggest issue now is getting back to Canada, negative test in SXM before getting on plane then another test in Canada and then check into quarantine hotel until test comes back.(at your expense)

It is simply not worth it, until you are on island, then it is. In November I swore "going to" I wouldn't do that again, but the reward was worth it. Dread the process again but again it will be worth it.

Note, from the "left" coast it is a lot more difficult.

Soon, but not soon enough we will be on island again! Whoop whoooop!

T

Definitely not as easy from Washington to get there. Its a long day and night but worth the effort.

I was the one that emailed the EHAS folks about their paragraphs 5 and 8 contradicting -- they got back to me today and said if I was coming from the US, it is 120 hours. Great news, but like other say, it can change again in another two or three weeks. The delivery of freezers arrived and the vaccines should soon be arriving for the folks there. Like everywhere else, probably not nearly enough, but the more people vaccinated, the numbers continue to drop. The variants out there, hopefully they are figured out soon.

Thanks for the update. I am actually surprised they did get back to you.

Here is the link to the Baltimore County site. Each location does it on different days, so we have to go to a location that is not nearest our home, but it is not far away. https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/covid-19/testing

We leave same time frame and we can't even book a date to test yet. Our state is booking through 2/10

Every day, any time, you would want to book will be available..unless there is a snowstorm..trust me on this one.

There is still no mention on the EHAS page of the exemption for travel form the US and Canada being 120 hours. I have emailed them but no response. Anyone have any more information?

They have been TERRIBLE with updating information and having conflicting information. The update APPEARS to be the same EHAS page but it would be nice to see it in a more "official" fashion. I just went to the EHAS site and under FAQ, it does state 120 hours. Not sure if this is the NEW requirement or just not changed back to the 72 hours and then back to 120?? Who knows for sure? On the main page though it indicates Travel Requirements as of January 26, which was 10 days ago.

They appear to be totally clueless as to how this is impacting people wanting to come and support the island and how it is causing many to cancel due to the confusion and ineptness in which the site is managed. It is very sad and also frustrating.

Below is what is under FAQ.

How far in advance do I need to take my rt-PCR COVID-19 or antigen test?

The rt-PCR test sample should be taken within 120 hours and the antigen test sample within 48 hours prior to departure to St. Maarten (last leg in case of connecting flights).

Scubaman---I saw that you said it's official. Can I ask what made it "offiicial"? I know you typically have great info and great sources so I am hoping someone "official" confirmed this.

I too, have emailed them several times since my trip is supposed to start a little over a week from now (which means my test needs to be Monday (120 hours) or Wednesday (72 hours)..... but no response here either. My timing is getting critical so I guess I will wait and see if I get a response or see an update on the EHAS site.

Thanks

From the EHAS website: "A rt-PCR test for the SARS-COV-2 virus obtained from a naso-pharyngeal swab performed within 120 hours prior to departure to Sint Maarten (last leg in case of connecting flights) is required for all travelers originating from a country that is categorized as high risk. Antibody tests and tests performed outside of the 120 hours period will not be accepted. Results from home covid-19 collection test kits will also not be accepted. Airlines might require you to show a negative lab test result."

However, item 5 on that page still states that the 72 hour test period is required. It's very confusing.

Here's a link to the official government page: https://stmaartenehas.com/travel-requirements/

Elaine, the EHAS page hasn't been updated with that information, states 72 hours in one place and 120 in another. No wonder people are confused!

Elaine, Your link is to the tourism bureau. Is that an official government entity? We too are scheduled to fly tot eh island soon. At the moment we have two tests scheduled one w/i 120 hours. and one 72 hours. I hope we can cancel one soon!

I was gonna knee jerk and re-post the link I had posted an hour after the change was announced BUT the comments above are correct and the sites are VERY contradictory. The Feb 3rd change back to 120 hours IS the Tourism site (edited 2/3) and the official (last edited 1/26) sit still says 72 hours as of Feb 12th....

Sooooo maybe they are waiting until the 11th to change the official site....kinda lame but can't say I am shocked.....

Yes. It's the government web site for tourist info.

On their picture chart there is an asterisk behind the 72 hour window that clarifies it for 120 hours for US and Canada.

If you open this official site and click third update down it takes you to the new 120 hour exception for US and Canadian travelers.
Government Link

Yup...that's the tourism site that was posted and quoted on Feb 3rd...but...this makes it clear that it is a Government site

Except that it clearly states that the last update was in December! The EHAS site is the one that needs to be accurate, since that's where every traveler has to go to get their approval to fly.

One would think the "powers that be" MIGHT just get this at some point.

The update links are there. Just have to open them. Easy-to-use.

On the EHAS site? Sorry, I do not see any update link there. Perhaps I am missing it or you are referring to another site?

The update on the mentioned line three, on the Government tourism site, is February 3rd.

THe EHAS page was last updated on January 26th making it obvious that they just haven't got around to changing the INFO page for the EHAS to exempt Canada and the USA..the 72 hour change will take effect as indicated for all other places of departure

The EHAS form still says 120 hours (I did a test application) but the 72 hours is not in effect yet