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Minister Malone announces new protocols
#257806
06/10/2021 04:21 PM
06/10/2021 04:21 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 986 Northern Virginia
ecm56
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 986
Northern Virginia
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Honourable Malone is speaking now. After June 15th he is saying fully vaccinated travelers will not have any quarantine and no test upon arrival. They will have to provide a PCR OR Rapid Antigen test within 5 days of arrival and evidence of vaccination. Gateway charges for fully vaccinated travelers will be reduced to $35. He said cabinet has approved this change. I will look for a printed press release and post it as soon as possible. If you use Facebook, here is a link to his announcement (video): https://www.facebook.com/BVIGovernment/videos/595061768136015This video and a transcript should be available soon - I will update with those when I see them.
Last edited by ecm56; 06/10/2021 05:16 PM. Reason: Added link to video of announcement
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Re: Minister Malone announces new protocols
[Re: RatmansWife]
#257809
06/10/2021 04:48 PM
06/10/2021 04:48 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359 Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
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Thanks for that. Wonder if that means no Good Seal transport? they didn't specify but upon arrival a vaccinated guest won't be in quarantine so I see no reason there would be a need for them to use Gold Seal transport.
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Re: Minister Malone announces new protocols
[Re: ecm56]
#257812
06/10/2021 05:34 PM
06/10/2021 05:34 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 833 Houston, Texas
louismcc
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 833
Houston, Texas
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I wonder what this will do for the stress inducing BVI protocol everyone is going through to get permission to arrive?
Louis from Houston
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Re: Minister Malone announces new protocols
[Re: louismcc]
#257813
06/10/2021 05:37 PM
06/10/2021 05:37 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359 Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
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I wonder what this will do for the stress inducing BVI protocol everyone is going through to get permission to arrive? Unfortunately, not much is changing in the permission to arrive steps. Will be much easier once people are here though. No more entry test, approved transport, quarantine for 1-2 days, turning trackers, etc... Hopefully soon the US will change protocols and not require entry tests for vaccinated travelers so the last test will be eliminated too.
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Re: Minister Malone announces new protocols
[Re: ecm56]
#257814
06/10/2021 05:45 PM
06/10/2021 05:45 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 833 Houston, Texas
louismcc
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 833
Houston, Texas
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In many ways the requirement for the outbound test is more obtrusive on vacation plans that the pre-arrival protocol, so I agree that it would be great if the USVI eliminated the test requirement for fully vaccinated.
Also on my wish list is seeing the reduction in arrival testing leading to opening up to inbound water taxis.
Louis from Houston
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Re: Minister Malone announces new protocols
[Re: ecm56]
#257816
06/10/2021 05:56 PM
06/10/2021 05:56 PM
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Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,368 Washington DC
bailau
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,368
Washington DC
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I literally just completed the portal for 8 people and that is a beast. We arrive on the 14th so very happy for those of you that will start later and still have portal but not the Day 0 airport brain scan PCR-RT test and quarantine
Last edited by bailau; 06/10/2021 06:00 PM.
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Re: Minister Malone announces new protocols
[Re: ecm56]
#257858
06/10/2021 11:34 PM
06/10/2021 11:34 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 833 Houston, Texas
louismcc
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 833
Houston, Texas
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I saw that and may go ahead and get the test. I just wonder if everyone who has been vaccinated (we all have) will get a positive antibody result.
It appears that the USVI accepts the rapid test but I don't know if that is a test currently being administered in the BVI to people heading out to the USVI.
Louis from Houston
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Re: Minister Malone announces new protocols
[Re: ecm56]
#257868
06/11/2021 05:47 AM
06/11/2021 05:47 AM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,666 Memphis, BVI, CT
RatmansWife
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,666
Memphis, BVI, CT
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Land taxi rates appear to be the same. Real issue has been water taxis. At first the government paid, but then travelers had to pay, in cash. They were supposed to put out a rate sheet, but didn’t. I got a written quote for $100. He forgot, and when we got to the dock he tried to charge us $160 - for a five minute, one mile ride.
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Re: Minister Malone announces new protocols
[Re: ecm56]
#257926
06/11/2021 12:02 PM
06/11/2021 12:02 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 833 Houston, Texas
louismcc
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 833
Houston, Texas
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I'm thinking of hunting down a place that does the antibody test (aren't that many compared to the PCR testing places) because it would make it easier to do transits to and from the USVI. I had read somewhere that older folks (I'm 66) weren't generating as strong an antibody response to the vaccination (I had Pfizer) so thought that might result in a negative antibody test.
Still for the obvious travel benefits it's worth pursuing.
Louis from Houston
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Re: Minister Malone announces new protocols
[Re: ecm56]
#257962
06/11/2021 04:07 PM
06/11/2021 04:07 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 833 Houston, Texas
louismcc
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 833
Houston, Texas
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I'll check again but the CVS in our area don't show that as an option.
Update: Found a CVS not too far away that does them while you wait for $38. Eliminated any further testing for the trip is well worth $38!.
Last edited by louismcc; 06/11/2021 04:15 PM.
Louis from Houston
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Re: Minister Malone announces new protocols
[Re: Eric_Hill]
#257972
06/11/2021 04:56 PM
06/11/2021 04:56 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 833 Houston, Texas
louismcc
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 833
Houston, Texas
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Make sure that it is acceptable..... we found several that were not.
$150 later did work. $38??? are you sure? According to the CVS website, $38, no insurance accepted. I'm not sure how to evaluate whether or not it will be accepted but they call it "COVID-19 antibody testing". What I'm not clear about is whether or not being vaccinated will generate the antibodies. There have been some articles that indicate older people's immune system may not generate the antibodies but yet we are still protected against COVID. Since the BVI still requires a test and now accepts the rapid test, we'll still do a rapid test. What gets saved is a trip to a clinic in the BVI for another test 5 days before heading back to the USVI.
Louis from Houston
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Re: Minister Malone announces new protocols
[Re: ecm56]
#257973
06/11/2021 04:59 PM
06/11/2021 04:59 PM
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 736 Panama City Beach, Florida
xrayman67
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 736
Panama City Beach, Florida
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We got ours at CVS. Used for USVI via ferry. They specify igg vs. igm antibodies which is what is needed when I called USVI for information.
Last edited by xrayman67; 06/11/2021 05:09 PM.
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