Is this test acceptable for SXM? At least it sounds like some progress is being made - I'm hopeful for my January trip

That is not an acceptable test for travel to SXM...right now it has to be the RT-PCR nasal swab test

If this is not the test currently required for SXM, not sure of the relevance to posting the link on the SXM forum.

OK...getting depressed now. My fall back plan for testing is totally not reliable. RI/MA peopleand visitors have the option of getting a RT-PCR test at the RI Convention Center with a reported 24-48 hours window for results....ummm...maybe not. Article in The Providence Journal today about a well know reporter who had cold like symptoms and got tested along with his son.....three weeks ago....and still no results...he actually had his Primary Care person get his negative result "through the back door" in two weeks but his son is still waiting.....three weeks.....

Kinda makes me wonder what the point was in getting tested if it takes that long.....I know....only one example but I can't make travel plans on hope and maybe's....

Looks like January SXM trip is slowly fading from my plans

Depressed....

Reliability of testing is my concern. My neighbors family went to get tested after they signed up on line to take the test. After waiting over 4 hours the left without taking test. 4 days later they all 3 got notice they all texted positive. Huh. They didn't take the test.

This appears to be happening in many areas as I personally know of multiple instances just like this. No test given and a result was recorded. But this has nothing to do with SXM and their entry requirements.

We will soon find out as I am leaving for the RI Convention Center test in about 10 minutes. Am scheduled to go to SXM on Saturday.

Best wishes!! I hope you are able to do your trip. Please keep us updated when you can.

Yup...definitely keep us informed. I have a Sunday arrival which won't work anyway but if testing can be resolved I would not hesitate to add a few days to make it a Thursday or Friday arrival

...and...good luck

Thanks Bob and hoping to see you .
Kind regards. Lesley .

I have a question that I will assume is dumb BUT....say you book your flight and lodging....get tested on Thursday for a Saturday flight.....and.....you don't get the result before your flight to SXM (connecting).....can you fly?

I have no issue with being tested on arrival but is a neg test mandatory to get on the plane?

Just read on SMN news the government is considering extending the Covid test out from 3 days to 5 days. Hope this happens.

THAT would work......maybe. Definitely more potential for success

I wouldn't necessarily believe anything on SMN news, but 5 days would be a huge difference.

Minister of TEATT said today in the press briefing they are looking to go to the French model. 5 days with a second test on day 8 if you are still here

Thanks. Not excited about a second test, but five days before is a big improvement!

Five days would be good. We are scheduled to arrive in SXM on Sunday, October 4. Rhode Island seems to be on top of their testing game, but I’m still anxious about getting results in time. It will be an adventure, for sure!

Changing from a 72-hour requirement to a 120-hour requirement will make it easier for more people to visit SXM, but it isn't going to help get the border to the French side opened.

Thoughts:

...the five day requirement is a biggie but the retesting in a week sounds like a money maker....sorry....an extra $250 per couple. Visitors from FL that fly to Maine need a neg test before arrival....and that's the end of it. ...and Maine is pretty strict

..."RI on top of the game"...did you read the article in the ProJo that I mentioned? On top in getting tested....occasionally very weak on getting results

...I will worry about going to the French side after I can actually get to the Island. I love the French side but it's step two and really has nothing to do with step one since the requirements on the Dutch side are presently more restrictive. It's not about testing days...it's about cases.

...no responses to my inquiry which I thought kinda pertinent:

As far as the re-testing in a week, IF that were to happen, I think it would have the effect of making people shorten their stay. And if there is a re-test, do you have to quarantine yourself until the results are known? I assume so. Let's say that takes overnight. If it were ME and I was scheduled to stay for 10-11 days, I might well reduce my stay to 7 or 8 days, the longest I could go without re-testing, so I don't have to pay for the re-test and the hotel, etc., only to be cooped up in the room for day that I paid for and basically couldn't use.. And let's just say you were supposed to re-test and you don't? What happens? Do they send the Gestapo to round you up to take you to be tested? I get the impression this re-test thing is what they are talking about, to try to get the border re-opened?

As far as your question, boucharda, official policy is that you have to have a negative test to get on the plane, yes. Official policy is also that it has to be a PCR test, taken AND results received, within 72 hours. We know that they are not strictly enforcing the latter. As to strict enforcement of the former, who knows??????????

The "re-test in 7 days" requirement is one of the things which the French used to justify opening St Barth's borders. The absence of that requirement in St Maarten was specifically stated as one of the reasons for closing the French side/Dutch side border.

As to what happens if it becomes a requirement and you don't do it, what happens now if you don't do the daily check-in every morning for the first 14 days of your stay?

Thank you....

I'm thinking along the same lines as Carol. If my stay is 10-11 days, which it usually is (of two weeks)...I will shorten it...or not come at all. The airfare makes it crazy to try and only stay for a short period of time. Adding $$ on top of it for THEIR testing isn't something that I want to do.

This just gets worse for making it easy and safe.

Leona--I haven't booked my airfare for June next year yet, as I was hoping for airfares to go down. But with this crap, I may just end up doing a week, which certainly is not my first choice. I will definitely go, but if I have to do this other crap, will probably just stay for a week.

Whoa! The 72 hour requirement for testing is already one major pita but......

“"................ what happens now if you don't do the daily check-in every morning for the first 14 days of your stay?“

My bad, but I was totally unaware of this - Is this required of every visitor and if so, to whom and how does one report in daily? And, if known, what is the penalty if one doesn’t check in?

What is this daily check in you speak of??

It apparently has been the case since the beginning, although I didn't know about it until maybe about a week ago. You are supposed to check your temperature and send an email to someone every day with your temperature. Of course, it seems totally window dressing to me, as who is going to say you even took your temp? Just send in a fake reading every day. And as to what happens if you don't do it, who knows??????

The 14-day self-monitoring/daily check-in requirement is listed as #14 on the Travel Requirements section of the StMaartenEHAS webpage at https://stmaartenehas.com/travel-requirements/

The only other mention that I've seen is in GaryB's report of the experience on his visit, which is posted at http://www.traveltalkonline.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/231638/3.html

Thank you, Bahston. Just one more thing to think about.

And what happens if you only stay on the French side?

What does one do with the test results? Where do we show them? JetBlue told someone they must send them into SXM. Sounds pretty bazar to me!

If I remember correctly you download/add it the result report to the health info form (and I would bring a hard copy with me). It's in the guidelines

On an unrelated but maybe related note...USVI just downgraded their restrictions. Hotels will open on the 13th....no testing required for states with less than TEN percent positive rate and others need a test within 5 days of travel. I would LOVE for SXM to go to this model.....six positive cases over the last 3 days

Harry--You can't get there to the French side..

Well, they better get to reality by Christmas. People arriving on island will bring what they bring test or no test. What they bring will meet the locals. The local Dutch will meet the local French. Spread will occur.

If we arrive late December with whatever test passes, we will be sad if the French side is unaccessible by negative arrivals. Not aure how we will take being relegated to Dutch side.

Get real leaders, one island with alot of commerce and living between sides.

One island solutions

After a scare things seem to be moving forward with my test requirement. Lab web site was down this morning so I could not check for test results, After sweating it out for a couple hours it was up again. Found my results (Negative) and was able to go to Dutch side web site and submit required data. Am waiting for them to send me an email. Have made copies just in case.

Using Providence test site produced results in 43 hours. Saw several Massachusetts plates when I was in line.

Great! Sounds good so far!

Thanks - was wondering if RI as going to help out us "Massholes"

Good work and thanks for the info....and...have a great trip

Our good friend Bob made it today and all set.
Thanks.

Great! Good to hear!

Thank you Lesley and Carol; for the kind words. I must take my temperature every morning before breakfast and sent it to the government. My oral thermometer has always read my temp at 95.5. So far, so good.

OK, enjoy your trip, Bob!

Thanks Bob and please enjoy your stay.

Only Bob.

Bob, thank you for documenting the 14-day self-testing requirement. It is a mystery to most here, so anything which you should care to add will be helpful.

Enjoy your visit!

Glad to hear it is going well. As November gets closer we are monitoring these posts closely.
One question: will it be required to quarantine upon return to the states?

Depends on what state you're returning to. Also what is going on with the national level. Lot can change daily.

OK...here's a twist on testing. We are getting close (Oct.9th) to a trip to ST. Thomas and they have been shut down to tourists for the last month or so BUT have opened up to tourists as of 9/19.

Proof of a negative test required for everyone over 15 years of age and it has to be RECEIVED within five days prior to travel.....not taken...received. So for travel on a Friday you could be tested Friday before and HOPE it doesn't come back on Saturday (slim chance) ...or just go on Monday

Big difference from having it taken 72 hours before travel and assuming it will be back in time.

Note: they also eliminated the no testing needed for low percentage positive sates and now require testing for all.....

Bob and Dot - welcome back! Are you at The Boon? Hope we bump into you!

Hi guys;

Yes, I am back at the Boon and finally let our group know that Dot is no longer with us. So far I've been to Fat Tony's for a foot long and Topper's (a very good friend) a couple times.

Hi Elaine , I had sent you message on this since the 12 th lol.

Just an FYI for those near RI....testing at the Convention center (for travel ) is 7 days a week which helps with test timing ....website is a bit quirky but keep at it and DON'T enter a primary MD name or it will boot you to CVS

Were you (as a MA resident) tested in RI or do you know of any MA residents that were? Did they accept insurance?

I believe that the testting at this site is free. It was for me.

Thanks Bob for sharing this valuable info for potential travelers.

Tim:

I set up an account for future testing the first week in October (travelling on the 9th). Application requires your insurance info to be added and, on a prior phone call, the phone rep stated that insurance would be billed and there would be no charge to me. Rep also stated not a problem for out of state residents and same process applies. I only posted again because I assumed no testing on the weekends but I found appointments available 7 days a week.

I should add that billing my insurance does not confirm that they will pay for the test but it's a start

Thanks for getting back to me and for the great information. I just booked my flights for January. Can almost feel the warm sand between my toes!

Boucharda....is it the right test, that SXM requires?

I was tested in MD Thursday and received the results Monday. But it isn't the one SXM wants.

Hey, gato de playa,

Have you considered a Patient First center near you? The test is the correct test, they are testing seven days a week and in Maryland and Virginia they are returning results in less than 48 hours on average. I have included the link below for you to check out.

Patient First link

The COVID-19 test should be free, as it is covered by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. However, if you get a bill, you should reach out to your insurance or Medicaid, or Medicare.

Awesome info!!!!!!

Hubby is military and uses Walter Reed...maybe he could pay cash at Patient First.

I’ll start exploring.

It's an RT-PCR test. Same one Bob got there prior to travel to SXM....

Test at RI's convention center is the nasal one. Had it am am writing this from SXM.

So very happy for you being in SXM. This had to be a tough trip but glad it has all seemingly worked out well for you.

We received our test results in just a little over 24 hours. Great job by the State of Rhode Island! Waiting on the OK from St. Maarten. We’re so looking forward to our trip!

Excellent job by the State of RI. I wish MA was more on the ball with these required asymptomatic tests. We are having ours done at the Convention Center Sunday at 10a for STT. Good drill for SXM later