TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Quarantine Questions

Apologies in advance as I know this has been covered a lot, but I am a bit unclear on a few points. Specifically...

Is the "remain within 30 feet of the boat" limitation for the entire first 4 days of quarantine? Or just day 0? I ask because it seems that going ashore in limited ways is permitted during days 1-4 and that would be difficult within 30 feet of vessel. Unless I have that wrong?

While in quarantine anchorages on days 1-4, if sailing from one quarantine anchorage to another, is any sort of stop permitted? Like a snorkel stop or a lunch stop or similar?

Again, sorry to ask these questions if they have been covered previously, but I remain foggy.

Thank you,
PK

Limitations apply until you have cleared your Day 4 PCR test. That said, I my experience the 30' rule is not enforced. As long as you stay away from other boats. It is my understanding you can go ashore in the Q anchorages if no one else is around....we certainly did. You can also sail around as you please. I don't believe you are allowed to make stops at non-Q-approved anchorages.

You are definitely not allowed to stop in non-approved anchorages.

My understanding and what we did while doing our Q time...

If you have the bracelet and the box you should keep yourself (bracelet) within 30 feet of the box. So...when I paddleboarded around the boat, I took the box with me. Loved that they already had it in a waterproof bag that made it easy to strap to my board. You may go ashore, even though it is more than 30 feet from your boat but only in the approved places and should not mingle with other people. I honestly don't think anything would happen if you got further away from the box. It is my opinion that the tracker is there to deter people from breaking quarantine and as a tool to do contact tracing if you do end up testing positive.

You may not stop anywhere but at the approved quarantine spots.

Thanks for these replies. Helpful. Still confusing though. I have seen guidance along the lines of..."must be within 30 feet of tracker at all times". But then I see things like it's ok to land ashore in certain locations, and "30 foot rule does not apply to dinghy." What does that mean? Do you need to take the box with you in the dinghy? Carry it with you while on shore? Would I be able to take crew in dinghy, say 100 yards from boat to snorkel along shoreline (without contacting others, etc...). Confusing. Anyway, thanks for replies.

The official guidance is very confusing and contradicts itself several times. If you go ashore at an approved location, you are supposed take your tracker with you.

I'm also told you are allowed to dive now. If you plan to dive, I'd recommend telling the arrival team that so you aren't fitted with a bracelet that could be damaged by the water pressure. Several of our quarantine guests have only had the black tracker box so I guess you just leave that on board if you dive.

I wouldn't stress about it. Enforcement with the tracker bracelets has been somewhere in between "lacking" and "completely nonexistent"...

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I wouldn't stress about it. Enforcement with the tracker bracelets has been somewhere in between "lacking" and "completely nonexistent"...[/quote]

I agree - we did do our best to adhere to the guidelines in detail. But, occasionally I was on a paddle board 100 yards away from boat - without the tracker (bracelet was on, but not the other device) with me etc. If you stay in the assigned areas for the quarantine you will be fine.

Anyone have a thought or prediction on if and when the protocols will be adjusted for visitors who have been vaccinated? (I haven't been yet but there's always hope!)

Same question..travelling down April 20..two days in STT and on to Tortola..both of us vaccinated.

Supposedly your vax status will have no effect on the entry protocols.

The BVI Government came out and said they will relook at the protocols once 70% of the population here is vaccinated. Unfortunately, I'm not sure 70% of the BVI population will ever get vaccinated as there is a lot of misinformation and mistrust towards the vaccine down here.

At any rate, I'm pretty positive nothing will change until next season. My guess is October at the earliest.