TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Draft Motion re Rapid Testing

I just saw this on a Facebook page. I can't share the actual post, but here are images of the Draft Resolution.

just read it 1/2 hour ago, seems like a no brainer in some respects to me

A step in the right direction. Hopefully it is acted on in a positive and expeditious manner.

In lue?

This is good news.

Excellent that option ii potentially possible for those who do not get their results back in time for travel. I hope they consider and implement it.

My testing in Rhode Island was free and got the results in time for my trip when it was still during the 72 hour requirement period. If they want to see a major increase in the visitor count don't start it off with a big fee.

Yup....and that would be the way to go BUT, if there is a delay in getting your results it wouldn't prevent you from travelling. We, like you, were tested at the Convention center. My results took 3 days and my wife got hers on day four.....right on the edge. We may be outliers BUT it is possible ...and now, maybe, there will be a backup plan

100% correct on the big fee.

that would defeat the purpose

No disagreement here but you know how things work at times.

Rapid tests are great, but are they going to be capable of administering the thousand or more needed on a Sat. afternoon in prime season ?

Good point. But it probably wouldn't take much longer than it's taking now to check the paperwork.

And this should certainly be enacted sooner rather than later since too many would-be visitors are changing or cancelling trip plans or just not bothering with Sint Maarten at all and going elsewhere instead.

It should help stimulate more people to consider going. Now, if the airlines just get their acts together we would be going in a very positive direction.

AT the end of the article it says a report is due within a week

i think the paper was dated 21 OCT

The draft motion is posted on the Facebook site for the St. Maarten Parliment.

Facebook page for Saint Maarten Parliment

The indication posted there is that the motion was voted on yesterday (23 October) and approved (for further review) by an 11 to 3 vote.

Fingers crossed for a good outcome.

just wonder how long it would take before it become operational.....IF it is approved

My guess, and it's just a guess, is that it won't go into effect until December 1, at the earliest. Too late to help me, but will help most high season travelers.

me 2, but as u say, December should be attainable and the country should be a bit more desirable to visit with the relaxed requirements. But the sad part is how the positive covid-19 spiking is now in the US and what restrictions may have to reintroduced if the proverbial u know what hits the fan in the next month

...and that would be a reason for the testing of all visitors by some method. If you can reasonably say that everyone that arrives is negative then it shouldn't be an issue for the countries involved.

With that said I wouldn't want to go to SXM untested and rely on being negative when I am in the SXM airport....it WOULD hit the fan if you came back asymptomatically positive, had to quarantine for 14 days or so and couldn't fly back until you were negative

boucharda--for sure, I would still get tested at home.

We're flying four weeks from yesterday. Even though a test is required before we fly, we are somewhat self-isolating for the next month, just to be safe. If we were able to take a test upon arrival, we wouldn't take one at home. Free testing isn't widely available here, and the tests we can get with reasonable timing for results are expensive.

Everyone has to do what they feel is best for them, but the risk to me is too great not to take a test before, even if it is fairly expensive, because of the real possibility of being asymptomatic. Possibly having to quarantine for two weeks on island is a bigger risk than I personally would take.

I would test before I went for same reasons.

I would still test before going as well. But I would probably do the rapid test the day prior. And same upon return.

If I've been fairly isolated for a couple of weeks before I travel, it's pretty unlikely that I'm infected before I fly. Let's be real about this.

The point is "fairly isolated".... Too risky for me, not to get tested..

Your choice. I'm not going to get sick by going to the grocery store. I think the whole thing is very overdone. Am I going to a party with a hundred people I don't know? Of course not. Am I having a birthday party with family I know and trust? Yep...next week. I refuse to live in fear.

I hope you're right, and I don't want to turn this into a covid thread, but your point about the grocery store struck me because my colleague was isolating at home (she lives alone) and the only place she allowed herself to go was to the grocery store. And she got covid (and was pretty sick too). Fingers crossed for everyone with their plans, travel and otherwise!

Angelface--Amen, and going to a birthday party?? Not me...

Maybe it's different depending on where you live (I don't really think so), and I don't want this to become a covid thread either. But if you take the proper precautions to keep yourself safe, then going to the grocery store shouldn't be dangerous. As to the birthday party, it's in our home, in a well-ventilated area, and with close family who we've been in contact with for months. Again, I'm not going to live in fear. We all have to do what works for us.

I'm with you on that can't continue to live in fear but I would still get tested prior to a flight to sxm.

I wouldn't have a problem doing that if I felt it would be a benefit. But would I spend $250 per person, which is what it's costing us now? No.

I too would test at home prior to travelling to SXM. My wife and I have been at home for 6 months and the super market is the only place I go. 2 weeks ago I started with chills, fever and body aches. After several days of feeling miserable, I went to a medical clinic operated by an area hospital. I was examined and the doctor said its either the flu or Covid. They did a nasal swab and 2 hours later phoned me at home to tell me I have Covid. I was shocked that I had contracted Covid and spent hours questioning where did I let the virus in?, I never leave the house without a mask and carry my own sanitizer and paper towels. The county health department called and told me I was to quarantine in our home. The nurse asked me many questions and started contact tracing. I listed 5 people including my wife, adult children and 1 elderly neighbor that I had contact with in our house and also listed the 3 local markets I have visited. All 5 people were contacted and placed in quarantine. Several days later the county sheriff showed up at our homes and delivered orders of quarantine.
Unfortunately my wife did contract the virus and we are both home with symptoms. The neighbor and our adult children have since tested negative and have not had any symptoms.
I still question how this happened to me? When this is over and I have to leave the house, rubber gloves will be part of my defense.

John--I hope you and your wife are OK..

Update.
https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islan...ular-hrs-introduce-rapid-antigen-testing

I wonder how they will work the insurance thing since the article made it sound like a combo fee for testing, insurance and COVID treatment capabilities in SXM

Back to private insurance being OK?

I’m also curious what this means for travelers that prefer to do the testing before they leave. We’re fortunate to have fast and free testing nearby, so I’d much rather do that than pay for something else on arrival.