BVI Announces reopening protocols for Dec 1

[IAmGroot]

If I am reading this right https://www.bvitraveller.com/officia...protocols-bvi/ it looks like BVI will allow incoming folks from the ferry on Dec 8 (possibly enabling charterers flying in to STT). Anyone heard anything new about quarantine-on-boat and where folks are allow to go during the Day 4-8 limbo (which is really likely a Day 5-9 limbo, given the need to get test results back.)

[contrail]

Here is the latest, per an interview with Hon. Carvin Malone, Minister of Health, yesterday afternoon. (Press conferences are either on some of the local media, in this case on live on 284 new, or on the Government of the Virgin Islands Facebook page. They can usually be replayed. Note that the BVI is officially the Virgin Islands. The official name of the USVI is the USVI.) In any case, guests will be able to arrive by ferry, from December 8, and also the airport. t
The first four days in the BVI can be spent aboard. Not only that, but the boats can move around, but people have to stay in their bubble. If they are booked for a hotel, they can move about the grounds but not mingle with other groups. They can use the beach or swim. The test that will be administered after four days will be administered in many different locations. In fact, some resorts will have staff members trained to administer them. The period from four days to eight days will have unlimited movement, and the test administered after eight days will simply be used for tracking and tracing purposes, should that become necessary. There will still be the tests required per the previous announcement, and the final test will probably be required by wherever the guests are returning to, anyway. The App and the tracking devices are what will make all of this possible, and it is a hugely better and more workable policy than what had been suggested last week. To be sure, there are some wrinkles to be worked out on the providers' end, but from the guests' point of view, this is the policy that was announced, and discussed, at length.



Hope this helps, and hope this inspires people to still come, and not cancel. It was the result of almost the entire hospitality sector vehemently asking for a modification to the original policy.

[ohdrinkboy]

I'm on multiple forums for islands that I enjoy going to. Seems most people just aren't planning on returning in 2021. I don't know that the governments down island realize that many people aren't coming back in the near future. We could see some significant social unrest as people get into year 2 with no jobs, and no prospect in sight.

[So It Goes]

Contrail... Could you please provide a link for us? I cannot find anything about a press conference addressing opening the BVI to yacht charters. Thanks!

[GordMay]

The Hon. Carvin Malone Minister for Health and Social Development Statement on Covid-19 Update 30th March 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwMp...vlC0Q&index=89

[Zanshin]

GordMay - why did you post a link to a video from March 30th of this year? The information contained therein is not only outdated but also not relevant to this thread.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Zanshin

GordMay - why did you post a link to a video from March 30th of this year? The information contained therein is not only outdated but also not relevant to this thread.

Because I’m dumb.
I miss-read March as October.

[contrail]

Most of the announcements are available on either 284media.com or on Facebook, either on the Government of the Virgin Islands page, or sometimes copied either to the BVI Abroad or the BVI Community Board pages. They are also usually on the online news services, which are BVInews.com, BVIplatinum.com and Virginislandsnewsonline. Lots of choices for all to choose from, without relying on second hand info. The announcement from Carvin Malone is probably on both the first two...the interview was conducted by 284media, which is where I watched it, live. We should have another one soon. Government is meeting with the bareboat sector (for the first time), today and it seems like the immense pressure from all the business sectors is finally making a difference.

[zboss]

Originally Posted by Stewie12

The BVI government has had it too good for too long. Unfortunately they do not seem to understand that things have changed, but with their new rules in place, they are about to find out.

They don't care. They say they do but the truth of it is that BVIslanders don't own the Moorings but they might after the operation is bankrupted. Probably the Prime Minister or one of his relatives.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by ohdrinkboy

I'm on multiple forums for islands that I enjoy going to. Seems most people just aren't planning on returning in 2021. I don't know that the governments down island realize that many people aren't coming back in the near future. We could see some significant social unrest as people get into year 2 with no jobs, and no prospect in sight.

We just arrived by American in Antigua 31 October. We are in a suit by the water near Jolly Harbor. The protocols at the air port were well run by kindly and helpful Antiguans and the formalities were easily and quickly done. Health officials were dressed in scrubs and masks. You must have a negative C test up to 70 hours prior To the flight, written results. Temperature taken. Next, go to an approved quarantine facility. Can be your boat. In our case, we are allowed to work alone in the yard on the boat, launch and complete the 14 days. Temperatures taken twice daily. Pretty friendly. Hope nobody screws it up. The Salty Dawgs will be allowed to check in to English Harbor. They will get C tests prior to departure. Sea time counts. Other arriving people and boats from other CARICOM bubble countries also get easy treatment. This may vary by country. Even now, we are not sure how easy it may be to move in the bubble.

As I noted above, BVI publications linked on this thread are not for entering yachts. Our experience is that BVI does not value or want visiting yachts so don’t hold your breath. We and a number of fellow cruisers have had difficult or very uncomfortable experiences with BVI officialdom. Not going back even if there was no Covid. BVI is a CARICOM country but so far it
looks like they have wandered off into a make believe of their own.

I suggest that folks interested in BVI chartering speak with their feet and find places serious about handling visitors.

[edlepera]

I will pass.

[bvimatelot]

....."
BVI is insane. They are supposed to be a member of CARICOM but it appears their latest rules ignore the fact. It was clear after our last visit that their overlords did not care a tiny bit about their economy or people. Nearly all hurricane relief magically disappeared with almost no positive action. After two years there was no grocery in Jost Van Dyke. Prices for basics out of range for all but the wealthy. Costs and hurdles for customs and immigration, diving, snorkeling and fishing totally random.

Not clear from the OP if CARICOM bubble extends to BVI cruiser traffic or they must also quarantine with multiple tests.[/QUOTE]

Not true. 1. BVI is NOT a member of CARICOM, it is an ASSOCIATE member.

2. Our "overlords" actually care very much about the people first, then the economy.

Where is your proof for the rather sweeping statement that nearly all the hurricane relief "magically" disappeared?

Tony

[billcrowley]

A pity that the BVI government is not following the example of their neighbors in Yucatan, where they have reopened to tourism with open arms - and strict adherence to social distancing, temperature checks, masks worn in public places, and cleanliness practices far more extreme than any we've seen stateside.
Things seem to be going quite well with these protocols, which are being strictly adhered to everywhere we visited in the Mexican Caribbean during October, 2020.

[edlepera]

Guess I will stay in Florida waters

[sail4evr]

Originally Posted by SeeMonstrEd

Many of the charter boats have moved to other places like here in the USVI where we welcome visitors and don't charge unreasonable fees or anything to travel here. Oh and our booze is cheap.

How many cases, how many hospitalizations, how many dead?