corona virus alerts - Latest cruising Information for vessels/locations/rules

[BVI Yacht Sales Ltd.]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Incoming visitors would be required to do a covid-19 test 5-days prior to arrival, and submit results electronically via an app that the Government is developing with IATA ( International Air Transport Association).

• Upon arrival, visitors will be mandated to test again and then subjected to a 4-day quarantine before being administered a final test to be cleared.
• In addition to the proposed measures, visitors will also be required to wear a wristband that will alert officials of their whereabouts while in the BVI. Premier Fahie said this will ensure that visitors remain stationed while in quarantine but added that wristbands must be worn until their vacation concludes.

>>>

1) Who pays for the tests, and, if me, how much is this (3 x Covid-19 tests)?


2) What about people like me who do not have a smartphone?


I am considering coming.


barnakiel

This is all the information currently available, and it's not been approved by cabinet yet, it's just what's being discussed by the government. Hopefully it ends up being a negative PCR test on arrival like most other Caribbean countries!

[GreenWave]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Incoming visitors would be required to do a covid-19 test 5-days prior to arrival, and submit results electronically via an app that the Government is developing with IATA ( International Air Transport Association).

• Upon arrival, visitors will be mandated to test again and then subjected to a 4-day quarantine before being administered a final test to be cleared.
• In addition to the proposed measures, visitors will also be required to wear a wristband that will alert officials of their whereabouts while in the BVI. Premier Fahie said this will ensure that visitors remain stationed while in quarantine but added that wristbands must be worn until their vacation concludes.

>>>


1) Who pays for the tests, and, if me, how much is this (3 x Covid-19 tests)?


2) What about people like me who do not have a smartphone?


I am considering coming.


barnakiel

I would budget roughly $100 per test. Not sure a smartphone is needed for anything related to this. The test within 5 days of entry could be challenging for most depending on where you are coming from.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by BVI Yacht Sales Ltd.

This is all the information currently available, and it's not been approved by cabinet yet, it's just what's being discussed by the government. Hopefully it ends up being a negative PCR test on arrival like most other Caribbean countries!

Roger roger. Thank you very much for replying!


barnakiel

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by GreenWave

I would budget roughly $100 per test. Not sure a smartphone is needed for anything related to this. The test within 5 days of entry could be challenging for most depending on where you are coming from.

I said 'smartphone' as an App has been mentioned. So a smartphone or a tablet. But not everybody has them.


b.

[El Pinguino]

Australia - or at least NSW and NT - allow 'quarantine free' travel from NZ..with conditions.

Lookee here..
https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/...iwi-travellers

[Montanan]

Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Bill Blair, announced Monday the non-essential travel restrictions between the Canada-U.S. border will remain until at least Nov. 21.

“Our decisions will continue to be based on the best public health advice available to keep Canadians safe,” Blair’s tweet reads.

[GordMay]

EU removes Canadians from list of approved travellers because of COVID-19
In July, the EU set up a so-called white list of countries whose citizens would be allowed access for non-essential travel. Canada had been on the approved ‘white’ list from Day 1, along with 14 other countries. According to Reuters, Bloomberg and other reports, they have decided to remove three countries — Canada, Tunisia and Georgia — while adding Singapore to the approved travel list.
After the changes, the white list consists of nine countries: Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Uruguay.
More ➥ https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/eu-...nada-1.5770782

[GordMay]

Gilead’s “Veklury” (remdesivir) first to win US approval to treat COVID-19
Remdesivir was previously authorised for emergency use, in the treatment of hospitalised COVID-19 patients, now approved for general in-hospital use.
➥ https://www.gilead.com/news-and-pres...ent-of-covid19

[Montanan]

Cruise line stocks are falling sharply today as the number of Covid-19 cases climbs worldwide and as Europe clamps down on travel restrictions. Stock are also under pressure because many cruise lines experts expect the United States' Center for Disease Control’s No Sail Order, set to expire next week, could be extended too far into next year.

Early this month Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), announced in a new report that cruise ship travel exacerbates the global spread of COVID19 and has extended the CDC No Sail Order through the end of October. This puts into law the self-imposed suspension most cruise lines operating in the US signed early last month.

“Absent a vaccine,” says Barrons financial news. “the (cruise lines) are reminders of how far from normal the world still is.” The many tens of thousands of professional mariners working in the industry have taken their worry a step further by asking”Which major cruise line will go bankrupt first?“ Keeping things in perspective, for the professionals Covid impacts jobs and livelihoods, whereas for recreational mariners the issue is comparatively just an inconvenience.

When big ship no sail orders are imposed, the likelihood of small vessel and port of call land based travel restrictions are not far behind.

[Belezar]

Has anyone discussed going to USVI or PR and then get a test so 5 days isn’t a problem? Obviously for US citizens only.

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Incoming visitors would be required to do a covid-19 test 5-days prior to arrival, and submit results electronically via an app that the Government is developing with IATA ( International Air Transport Association).

• Upon arrival, visitors will be mandated to test again and then subjected to a 4-day quarantine before being administered a final test to be cleared.
• In addition to the proposed measures, visitors will also be required to wear a wristband that will alert officials of their whereabouts while in the BVI. Premier Fahie said this will ensure that visitors remain stationed while in quarantine but added that wristbands must be worn until their vacation concludes.

>>>


1) Who pays for the tests, and, if me, how much is this (3 x Covid-19 tests)?


2) What about people like me who do not have a smartphone?


I am considering coming.


barnakiel

FYI:
Press Release
Premier's Office
Ministry of Health & Social Development
Topics: Novel Coronavirus, Tourism
Release Date:
Tuesday, 27 October 2020 - 5:17pm
As the Territory continues to prepare to welcome visitors on December 1, Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie has shared the measures that will be implemented to ensure a smooth process.

Premier Fahie in an address to the Territory outlined that there are a number of important requirements that persons are to fulfil to keep themselves and the Territory safe.

The terms and conditions include periods of quarantine at approved accommodations, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing, medical travel insurance that includes COVID-19 coverage, subscription to a contact tracing system through their mobile phone, and in some cases using a wearable device, and bearing the costs associated with these measures.

The Premier added that travelers will need a BVI Gateway Traveller Authorisation Certificate which will be obtained via an online portal, called BVI Gateway. The portal will be at bvigateway.bviaa.com and is projected to be live on Monday, November 2.

Prospective travelers will be required to register on the BVI Gateway portal, and upload their relevant documents. The application must be completed at least 48 hours prior to the intended flight.

Approved travelers must present their BVI Gateway Traveller Authorisation Certificate along with their negative PCR test result at the check-in counter prior to boarding the flight into the Territory.

The Premier stated that the negative PCR test result should be obtained at least five days prior to travel. He said that it is important to note that if the PCR testing is positive, persons will be denied approval to travel to the BVI.

Premier Fahie further explained that on arrival, travellers will enter the welcoming centre at the Terrance B. Lettsome Airport for screening before they are allowed to proceed through Immigration.

The Premier said, “The traveler will do a PCR test at the screening centre, and we will ensure that the visitors have installed the contact tracing software on their mobile phones. After this, they would be directed to approved transportation which will take them to their approved accommodation.”

Honourable Fahie said as it relates to quarantine for the first four days, travelers would be required to remain within the compound of their accommodation and to avoid or minimise contact with others outside of their party, as well as to keep their movement to a minimum.

He added, “On the fourth day, the traveler would be required to take another PCR test. Once the result is negative, they would be allowed restricted movement to designated places. These would be locations that are not high-traffic or high-risk. These locations are being coordinated by Environmental Health and other Government agencies and the establishments will be notified.”

A final PCR test would be administered on Day 8 and once this test also returns negative, the traveler would be able to move within the Territory, without limitation.

The traveler would be required to have their mobile device at all times, with the tracing software active.

The entry of tourists into the Territory is the third phase of the British Virgin Islands controlled reentry process.

Be assured that the visitor will have to pay for all costs of tests and quarantine. Not specified is whether one has to buy the bracelet or if that is issued by the government with return upon departure. Such devices are expensive but since it is only a locater and not a metabolic sensor as in the case of an alcohol monitoring device customarily worn on the ankle it likely is considerably less expensive. But seemingly must be linked to a wifi for continuous GPS tracking transmission to the authorities, so one likely needs to stay in close range of the wifi. It is possible that the device is cellular tower linked but that requires a subscription to the island's cellular network. Basically an electronic dog tag and whistle.

[Auspicious]

RE: USVI

I'm taking a boat from Annapolis MD to St Thomas USVI leaving 1 Nov. Current rules are a PCR test within five days of departure. We're doing that. We've also been quarantining at this end for two weeks (curbside pickup for provisions). Temperatures twice daily during quarantine. Only the PCR test is required. With negative tests in hand no quarantine or additional test in STT.

STT now requires C&I clearance inbound even for US citizens coming directly from the US. CBP ROAM is accepted.

Everyone (five crew including me) will be flying back to BWI. I will report back on reality.

[Montanan]

Auspicious, your lengthy self imposed isolation before departure is an admirable precaution as to mitigating the risk of someone on board becoming ill [of Covid or otherwise] during your transit.

Looks like the remnants of Zeta will be long past Maryland by November 1, been a crazy year for named storms. Not sure if we have seen the last of them this year. The only disturbance being watched is projected to head west into the central Caribbean, so no nearterm worry towards the VIs.

Bon Voyage and God Speed.

All the best, from the Last Best Place.

Dan

[Montanan]

New York Update:

With coronavirus cases surging throughout the United States, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday that most travelers must now get Covid-19 tests before and after arrival in the state.

The new policy replaces a previous advisory list of states with rising case counts from which travelers were required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in New York, the governor said during a call with the media.
Most travelers to New York State will be required to obtain a negative Covid-19 test three days prior to setting out on their trip to the state.

The policy does not apply to travel between New York and the neighboring states of Connecticut, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania.

Once in New York, travelers will be required to quarantine for three days before getting another test. If the second test is negative, the traveler will no longer be required to quarantine.
The new policy also says any New York resident traveling outside the state for more than 24 hours must follow the same procedure.
A New York resident leaving the state for less than 24 hours will only be required to take the second test.
New York's overall coronavirus positivity rate Saturday was 1.49%, down from 1.53% the previous day.
"As with everything, context is key: Cases are surging around the country and around the globe," Cuomo said in a statement. "In a sea of division and a sea of COVID chaos, our ship of state is sailing well. The world, however, is in trouble. So New Yorkers should be very proud of where we are, but we also need to stay vigilant."

[JPA Cate]

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