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Thoughts as to what will be required when the BVI reopens
#235899
10/01/2020 09:14 AM
10/01/2020 09:14 AM
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Posts: 83,552 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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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. HEREis 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.
Carol Hill
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Re: Thoughts as to what will be required when the BVI reopens
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#235902
10/01/2020 09:26 AM
10/01/2020 09:26 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359 Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht
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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?
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Re: Thoughts as to what will be required when the BVI reopens
[Re: JasonHelmbrecht]
#235904
10/01/2020 09:36 AM
10/01/2020 09:36 AM
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Carol_Hill
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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.
Carol Hill
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Re: Thoughts as to what will be required when the BVI reopens
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#235916
10/01/2020 10:17 AM
10/01/2020 10:17 AM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,148 road town
sleepychef
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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.
Last edited by sleepychef; 10/01/2020 10:18 AM.
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Re: Thoughts as to what will be required when the BVI reopens
[Re: sleepychef]
#235920
10/01/2020 10:31 AM
10/01/2020 10:31 AM
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Carol_Hill
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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.
Carol Hill
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Re: Thoughts as to what will be required when the BVI reopens
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#235942
10/01/2020 01:57 PM
10/01/2020 01:57 PM
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maytrix
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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.
Matt
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Re: Thoughts as to what will be required when the BVI reopens
[Re: maytrix]
#235945
10/01/2020 02:30 PM
10/01/2020 02:30 PM
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Carol_Hill
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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.
Carol Hill
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Re: Thoughts as to what will be required when the BVI reopens
[Re: ecm56]
#235950
10/01/2020 03:37 PM
10/01/2020 03:37 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
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JasonHelmbrecht
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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. Currently at Road Town and Sea Cow's Bay. I think those are the only options but there may be a location on VG.
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Re: Thoughts as to what will be required when the BVI reopens
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#235956
10/01/2020 04:43 PM
10/01/2020 04:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
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Brent
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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
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Re: Thoughts as to what will be required when the BVI reopens
[Re: MIDiver]
#235963
10/01/2020 05:23 PM
10/01/2020 05:23 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
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ecm56
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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
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Re: Thoughts as to what will be required when the BVI reopens
[Re: MIDiver]
#235972
10/01/2020 07:16 PM
10/01/2020 07:16 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
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Carol_Hill
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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.
Last edited by Carol_Hill; 10/01/2020 07:28 PM.
Carol Hill
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Re: Thoughts as to what will be required when the BVI reopens
[Re: MIDiver]
#235979
10/01/2020 07:29 PM
10/01/2020 07:29 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
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Carol_Hill
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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 Hill
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Re: Thoughts as to what will be required when the BVI reopens
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#235998
10/02/2020 08:09 AM
10/02/2020 08:09 AM
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Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
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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. 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?
Matt
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Re: Thoughts as to what will be required when the BVI reopens
[Re: Breeze]
#236000
10/02/2020 09:12 AM
10/02/2020 09:12 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
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Carol_Hill
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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.
Carol Hill
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Re: Thoughts as to what will be required when the BVI reopens
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#236004
10/02/2020 09:59 AM
10/02/2020 09:59 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
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Carol_Hill
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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.
Carol Hill
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Re: Thoughts as to what will be required when the BVI reopens
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#236807
10/12/2020 02:38 PM
10/12/2020 02:38 PM
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knitsoftwear
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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)
Last edited by knitsoftwear; 10/12/2020 02:42 PM. Reason: added 411
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