GPS tracking & multiple COVID-19 tests for VI tourists
The measures were announced tonight, Monday, October 26, 2020, by Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) in a statement broadcasted across radio, television and social media.
COVID-19 PCR test before arrival to territory
The Premier said that to come to the territory, persons would have to agree to the terms and conditions before boarding their flight and will have to obtain a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test at least 5 days ahead of travelling.
“These terms and conditions include periods of quarantine at approved accommodation, 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,” Premier Fahie said.
He said approval for the travel will first have to be done via an online portal called BVI Gateway as entry into the VI will be exclusive to air travel via the Terrence B Lettsome International Airport from December 1, 2020.
GPS software & second COVID-19 test on arrival
“On arrival at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, the traveller will do a PCR test and we will ensure that the visitors have installed the contact tracing software on their mobile phones.”
Following that step, the Premier said tourists would then be directed to approved transportation which will take them to their approved accommodation for isolation.
According to Premier Fahie, in the first four days, travellers 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.
Third COVID-19 test after brief quarantine
Following that initial quarantine, on the fourth day, the traveller would be required to take another PCR test and once the result is negative, they would be allowed isolated movement to designated places. These would be locations that are not high traffic or high risk.”
He said the locations are being coordinated by the Environmental Health Department and other Government agencies and the establishments will be notified.
Fourth COVID-19 test for free movement
A final PCR test would be administered on Day 8 and once this test also returns negative, the traveller would be able to move within the Territory without limitation, the leader of Government Business detailed.
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77 Responses to “GPS tracking & multiple COVID-19 tests for VI tourists”
wearable device, and bearing the costs associated with these measures,” Premier Fahie said.
Can Someone please help me to understand.. are these protocols/measures only for visitors or for returning BVIslanders etc. as well..
Locals can survive without the tourists and are not happy with the presence and the negative contributions to their country from these expats.
Do the locals a big favor.
Believe what you read.
I stay in a house I own but the keys are here in the US so how will they be able to approve the accommodation before I visit? Not sure I trust strangers poking around my home and having my keys.
Leave it at home and use my normal phone.
Stay in your country and vacation there.
Much appreciation !
Watch and see next they'll be coming up. With mandatory vaccinations for a cold virus with a death total less than the annual flu virus even with the numbers fudged.
Now the descendants are yapping at the gates with COVID 19. When will it end.
If the approved venues for quarantine include the hotels they want to stay at and not the hovels in town, again it may not be too bad. Four days of room service in an ONB/Guana/Little Dix room/villa isn’t ideal but could work for some. It is unlikely that 4 days out of a week or ten days will work for charter sailors though. Mega yachts with their chefs on board it may work for though.
It is much less likely to be a problem for the long term visitor such as those with property here. They need to be specifically welcomed back. It is curious we have had heard no real discussion about bringing in special permits for remote workers. Not only could this fill rentals or hotels and replace lost economic activity but we may also find some of them can be tempted to relocate some of their business here, and we display more and more economic substance here. But yet again we see Bermuda, Cayman, Barbados etc marching ahead.
A simple CCTV and drone set up with a capable and honest operator can monitor the keys gathering spots for general good distancing and quarantine breach.
We need to get the better more instant tests here though. Weren’t they already being offered to us?
Amber Group Limited. Ever heard of them? Track record in the space?
Da mek sense ?
Have to be real important for ppl to visit land of the turrle doves
This is not for tourists and the problem is they advertised this for tourists but 90% or more only come for 7 days and to let them only have basically 3 days of doing only what they are told they are allowed to do is like when i visted China without getting tested and paying to be locked upand fed for 4 days .
With the 5 tests needed 1 before 3 here 1 for leaving will cost $675 minimum then 4 days in lockdown which averages between $200-$300 a day so an extra $1500 on to everybody's holiday and then a groupf of 4 thats $6000 for all the hassle....why bother
Aw, I didn’t bring my phone
The (B) VI has zilch except for a self inflicted animus relationship with the UK. We are on our own.
Not a problem now.
It is however unreasonable to expect a tourist to travel to the BVI for a vacation for 1 week, with protocols like these. Its not going to happen.
In reason businesses which are not making any money can't have employees, therefore the employees will have to be let go and since nobody is hiring, we will have one of our most aggressive unemployment periods ever seen in the BVI. And yes, we want to live but BVI how we living?
So in reason, with a reasonable question, who is going to feed all of the people who will require assistance in a short period of time if we can't make this thing work.
Lots of domino effects will come out of this matter.
It is not a question of having no risk but managing the risk and mitigating it as much as possible while at the same time facilitating the needs of the employed population and then some.