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Re: COVID regulations
[Re: boucharda]
#237165
10/16/2020 01:40 PM
10/16/2020 01:40 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,976 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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boucharda--I would be interested in the answer to your question also. It does appear that either the Dutch side does not have specific rules about mask wearing in restaurants by servers, etc., or they are not followed, as so many other rules are not. On the other hand it seems that the French side is requiring social distancing and masks, etc., or at least they were, as of a Daily Herald story I saw maybe a week ago, about gendarmes doing enforcement actions.
Carol Hill
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Re: COVID regulations
[Re: boucharda]
#237172
10/16/2020 02:24 PM
10/16/2020 02:24 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,089 Massachusetts
boucharda
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Ok...found it....here what the SXM Government requires....at least they put it in writing. Enforcement is another issue.. Wearing a mask is mandatory in all public places, airport, public transportation, supermarkets and in all areas, buildings and stores where social distancing is not possible.Keep a safe distance of 5-6 ft (1.5 – 2 m) at all times, including beach visits. https://stmaartenehas.com/general-information/It would be nice to know what the actual practice is though.......
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Re: COVID regulations
[Re: boucharda]
#237180
10/16/2020 04:06 PM
10/16/2020 04:06 PM
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,313 RI
jomarc
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I really cannot answer your question, but since your quotes were from my reports, here's my two cents.
Most of the Dutch side establishments had Covid-19 signs regarding masks and hand washing. Almost all of the places we went to had hand sanitizing stations when you walked in. I brought Clorox wipes with me and would wipe down the table and chairs before we sat down. I was a germaphobe before the coronavirus and I'm even more so now.
Masks are being worn in the supermarkets and in the airport. Mask compliance by workers in the restaurants and bars was dependent on the place you went to. No consistency at all. If we weren't comfortable with the compliance situation, we left. We do the same here at home.
Someone told us that if you are outdoors, a mask does not need to be worn. In some restaurants, if we walked in with masks, the employees would scurry to put masks on also. Not sure if they were afraid of catching something from us, or not. Most people walking into outdoor restaurants did not wear masks. I really didn't care, as long as they were six feet away from us.
As for the beach, Club Orient chairs are at least six feet apart. Chairs on the northern part of Orient were not six feet apart. Mullet Beach on a Sunday was busy, with no social distancing. There's hardly anyone on the beaches now, so it wasn't an issue for us.
Social distancing in the three airports we went through is non-existent, unfortunately, but mask wearing is probably 100%.
So, in a nutshell, it's up to you to decide what you're comfortable with. We have no regrets.
Jo-
A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.
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Re: COVID regulations
[Re: boucharda]
#237181
10/16/2020 04:15 PM
10/16/2020 04:15 PM
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,144 Washington, DC/SXM
Angelface
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When I was there at the beginning of September, I felt like on the street there were too many people NOT wearing masks for my liking (this is on the French side and before they put in the rule that you had to wear a mask outside). But INSIDE? Everywhere I went inside, people were masked. Now granted, I only went to - the hospital, the pharmacy, l'express (both locations), and Super U. And all those locations had clear signs saying no entry without a mask. When Michael from unity picked me up from the airport, he and his team all were wearing masks. I ate at two restaurants that had outdoor seating and all the servers were wearing masks. (so you understand my comfort level, I won't eat out at home yet - I get take out to support our restaurants)
Just my experience, but thought I'd share. I never ventured to the Dutch side (this was when the border was closed so I wasn't allowed to go back and forth), so can't speak to what's happening there.
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Re: COVID regulations
[Re: GaKaye]
#237227
10/17/2020 11:47 AM
10/17/2020 11:47 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,559 Ohio
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Georgia, not sure if you have seen this yet but it goes into effect today on the French side. Masks are mentioned but I read it as they are required inside. DAILY HERALD LINKAnother article from August pretty much makes it sound like mask wearing outdoors in many areas of France, Paris in particular, is mandatory. I am not sure if this applies to French St. Martin or not. BBC NEWS
J.D.
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Re: COVID regulations
[Re: GaKaye]
#237237
10/17/2020 12:42 PM
10/17/2020 12:42 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,559 Ohio
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Ohio
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I am with you on that. Pretty much the same here in OH, although some cities/towns/events set their own rules/guidelines.
J.D.
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Re: COVID regulations
[Re: boucharda]
#237248
10/17/2020 01:35 PM
10/17/2020 01:35 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,089 Massachusetts
boucharda
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Our rules here in NC say masks are required outdoors only if social distancing isn't possible. That makes perfect sense....and is the new normal for sensible areas trying to slow the spread of the virus. Kind of weird that the DH article said distancing of 4 meters is mandated when I believe it previously was one meter for France
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Re: COVID regulations
[Re: boucharda]
#237319
10/18/2020 09:03 AM
10/18/2020 09:03 AM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 342
freedomfighter
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Posts: 342
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We just got back home last Sunday, after spending 9 nights on the French side. These are our just our observations, limited by the places we frequented. We live in Florida, and found the French side to be just about the same as at home. People only wear masks where they must. That would be in the airport, on the plane, and in most grocery stores. We are not big fans of masks, but always had one handy in case it was needed. We asked the girl that met us at our villa if she would like us to wear a mask. She said no, and promptly took hers off. We asked at a couple of restaurants, if they would like us to "mask-up" while being seated. They laughed, and said they only wear theirs out of fear of being shut down. All servers had masks, but ofter they were often pulled down below their nose or below both their nose and mouth. Things are pretty lax along the beach establishments and in Orient Village. We went to the bakery in the village 7 mornings during our trip. Nobody, not even the employees, ever had a mask on. We felt right at home! Nobody seemed to be concerned, even after we would confess that we were from FlorDuh. I'm not judging anyone, nor am I giving anyone the right to judge me. I'm just reporting our observations. If you are uncomfortable with lax mask use, I would suggest staying home for now. As for us, we are off to Aruba next week!!!
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Re: COVID regulations
[Re: boucharda]
#237329
10/18/2020 10:28 AM
10/18/2020 10:28 AM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,089 Massachusetts
boucharda
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Massachusetts
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a distance of 4 metres between persons must be adhered to in crowded areas. I don't see the square concept thing...looks like, as stated, 4 meters between people which is a bit aggressive and not what they meant.... saying one meter would mean distance from another person...direction not a factor No issue with no masks in indoor establishments....we just won't go to them. No biggie...outdoor eating not an issue at all....I just hope the non-compliance doesn't end up with another shutdown before January Edit: We were considering a trip to Aruba in November but checked the requirements yesterday and the testing timeline is down to 72 hours before departure. Not worth the worry again....
Last edited by boucharda; 10/18/2020 10:35 AM.
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Re: COVID regulations
[Re: freedomfighter]
#237333
10/18/2020 11:21 AM
10/18/2020 11:21 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,559 Ohio
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Thanks for the update. A lot of the mask requirements make little sense to me.
J.D.
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