Negative COVID result required 48 hours before visitors’ arrival
The government has amended the COVID-19 Control and Suppression Regulations for incoming travellers to the territory.
The new amendment means visitors to the Virgin Islands have to present a negative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test or an approved rapid antigen SARS CoV-2 test no later than 48 hours before arriving in the territory.
All fully vaccinated travellers with a negative COVID-19 test will not be required to do another test on arrival in the territory. Additionally, they are exempt from quarantine rules and are free to travel the territory as long as they adhere to the established COVID-19 protocols of the Ministry of Health.
The same regulations apply for fully vaccinated passengers and crew members arriving on cruise ships as long as they present a negative test in accordance with the Cruise Protocols and Operation Plan.
Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated cruise passengers will have to do a rapid antigen test at the port of entry.
Meanwhile, the amended COVID regulations further states that any fully vaccinated person who has taken the COVID-19 test and is unable to present it within 48-hours of arrival to the Virgin Islands because of flight delays or overnight layovers will be required to do a rapid antigen test on the day of arrival.
Previously, visitors to the territory had to present a negative RT-PCR test within five days of arrival in the territory. Fully vaccinated travellers would take a rapid antigen test at the airport and once the test returns negative, they are exempt from quarantine rules.
The protocols remain the same for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travellers. They must present a negative RT-PCR test within 48-hours of arrival and do another PCR test at the airport. Partially vaccinated travellers must quarantine for three days and do another test on the third day while unvaccinated travellers have to quarantine for seven days and do another test on the seventh day.
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It is impossible to do the test in 48 hours. We have to stay overnights in Puerto Rico to catch the flight to the BVI. If you do this for fully vaccinated and boostered visitors you will lose a lot of tourists
Come On!!! Effective immediately.
Thanksgiving is next week. People are already on the move. So when they arrive today, there are new rules, and the tourists get harassed again curtesy of the BVI Government.
This whole deal is being run like a 12th grader is coming up with the ideas.
It’s an additional option. If you are vaccinated but do not have the test within 48hrs then you need to rapid test on arrival. If you are able to get one done 48hrs before then you don’t have to rapid test on arrival.
Does one still need testing before travelling to STT for the day and returning to yet another test?
Tourism industry.
Lol, we’ve heard that many times in the last year and the streets and stores packed with tourists.
We MUST commend the Government for the good work they are doing.
Wow,I visited this summer when it was 5 days and still barely got it in time. Hell, it takes 2 days of travel to reach the BVI.
Good luck.