Traveltalkonline.com Forums


SXM Cruise Schedule TTOL Sponsors SXM Travel Calendar
Forum Statistics
Forums39
Topics38,428
Posts310,024
Members26,538
Most Online2,218
Jan 21st, 2020
Top Posters(30 Days)
RonDon 114
pat 43
jazzgal 41
Todd 40
Member Spotlight
BVIslander
BVIslander
Road Town
Posts: 39
Joined: October 2004
Show All Member Profiles 
Today's Birthdays
ecco, OceanDrop, vincent
Who's Online Now
8 registered members (BillR, Wingman, Mikel, michaelj, SANFILIP, sxmpete, 2 invisible), 844 guests, and 72 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Vaccinate, test or lock down #261940
08/05/2021 10:22 PM
08/05/2021 10:22 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline OP
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA

SXM Sponsors
Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: SXMScubaman] #261947
08/06/2021 09:02 AM
08/06/2021 09:02 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Council of Ministers to meet today to decide whether to lock down. Link

If they do decide to lock down, what would that mean?


Carol Hill
Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: Carol_Hill] #261949
08/06/2021 09:27 AM
08/06/2021 09:27 AM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,288
P
PelicanPirate Offline
Traveler
PelicanPirate  Offline
Traveler
P
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,288
Other than groceries (esp Garden Market with hand washing rqmt) and pharmacies, we didn't really see/feel any measures in effect on either side of island.

Basic Things that might help……

1) more handwashing at more businesses
2) disposable ketchup/mustard/mayo packets
Kind of surprised it was business as usual at LOLOs and other places
3) restaurants using same old menus amongst patrons
SMYC had a chalkboard menu
4) bartenders opening beers and cokes with barehands now patron cant wipe it off as easy with disinfectant wipe.
5) same old dense seating in busy restaurants/bars
6) disinfecting tables between parties ( saw none)

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: PelicanPirate] #261951
08/06/2021 09:59 AM
08/06/2021 09:59 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,560
St Maarten
BillandElaine Offline
Traveler
BillandElaine  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,560
St Maarten
Not sure where you were, but every place we go there are sanitizing stations, most have mayo etc packets, beers opened with opener, and tables wiped down. Places that don't do it, find another place. French side is off the radar for us because they don't.


Elaine
*********************************
God Bless the broken road....
Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: SXMScubaman] #261954
08/06/2021 10:18 AM
08/06/2021 10:18 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline OP
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
I don't see how they can avoid a lockdown.

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: SXMScubaman] #261955
08/06/2021 10:19 AM
08/06/2021 10:19 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Sorry, which means WHAT, exactly??


Carol Hill
Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: Carol_Hill] #261956
08/06/2021 10:29 AM
08/06/2021 10:29 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,080
Massachusetts
boucharda Offline
Traveler
boucharda  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,080
Massachusetts
Correct....what EXACTLY does "Lockdown" mean?

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: boucharda] #261959
08/06/2021 11:00 AM
08/06/2021 11:00 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline OP
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
Closing nonessential businesses till this gets under better control and vaccine rate goes up.

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: SXMScubaman] #261961
08/06/2021 11:11 AM
08/06/2021 11:11 AM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 419
Beverly MA (Boston's North Sho...
timnboston Offline
Traveler
timnboston  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 419
Beverly MA (Boston's North Sho...
Interesting article in this morning's Boston Glob -

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/05/business/here-come-vaccine-passports/

If the federal government is too intimidated by the anti-vaxers to provide a "vaccine passport" perhaps private industry will step up

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: SXMScubaman] #261962
08/06/2021 11:17 AM
08/06/2021 11:17 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 71
New Haven, CT.
mchirgwin Offline
Traveler
mchirgwin  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 71
New Haven, CT.
We are supposed to leave for the island on Wednesday, fingers crossed!

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: timnboston] #261967
08/06/2021 01:22 PM
08/06/2021 01:22 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,461
Vermont
sxmmartini Offline
Traveler
sxmmartini  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,461
Vermont
What does that have to do with St. Maarten?

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: BillandElaine] #261968
08/06/2021 01:27 PM
08/06/2021 01:27 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,461
Vermont
sxmmartini Offline
Traveler
sxmmartini  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,461
Vermont
Remember the good old when you could eat ribs off a dirty steel drum barbecue under a tree at a table that is wiped down once a week? Times have changed. I remember at calmos cafe years ago the bathroom had a dirty hand towel to wipe your hands after using bar soap to wash up. The Lockdowns are coming but at least the experience from the last one has given them a better strategy to handle it.

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: SXMScubaman] #261970
08/06/2021 03:08 PM
08/06/2021 03:08 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,296
Colorado and Sailing the World
Maria_and_Steve Offline
Traveler
Maria_and_Steve  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,296
Colorado and Sailing the World
If the Dutch Side PM initiates a lockdown, things will not go well. Last lockdown in March 2020, no one was able to leave their residence for 2 weeks. No food, no nothing: "They can eat sardines and crackers", the PM said.

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: Maria_and_Steve] #261973
08/06/2021 03:55 PM
08/06/2021 03:55 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Maria--At that time, there were ZERO tourists on island, so that kind of lockdown was theoretically possible. Not now. And I don't think that would even be proposed at this point.

But seriously, you REALLY dislike St Maarten/St. Martin, for whatever reason....


Carol Hill
Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: Carol_Hill] #261974
08/06/2021 04:17 PM
08/06/2021 04:17 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,296
Colorado and Sailing the World
Maria_and_Steve Offline
Traveler
Maria_and_Steve  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,296
Colorado and Sailing the World
Carol - We were on the island when it was locked down. There were PLENTY of tourists that we know were on the island at the same time we were locked down. We love SXM but do not like the way the PM handled the situation at all then or even now.

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: Maria_and_Steve] #261976
08/06/2021 05:17 PM
08/06/2021 05:17 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Yes, I know that there were a lot of tourists that had a problem getting off island.


Carol Hill
Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: SXMScubaman] #261979
08/06/2021 08:33 PM
08/06/2021 08:33 PM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,056
PA
biglar Offline
Traveler
biglar  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,056
PA
We are supposed to leave in early October. This would be the fourth time since this all started that we would have to cancel if it gets any worst. Just about ready to call it quits and head to the Jersey Shore instead.

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: SXMScubaman] #261980
08/06/2021 08:38 PM
08/06/2021 08:38 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 107
Tennessee, USA
dustinbh Offline
Traveler
dustinbh  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 107
Tennessee, USA


[Linked Image]
Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: biglar] #261981
08/06/2021 08:43 PM
08/06/2021 08:43 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
We are scheduled to go around the first of October. Unless there is a lockdown that doesn't allow going out to eat, etc., I do not think we would cancel.


Carol Hill
Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: SXMScubaman] #261984
08/06/2021 09:04 PM
08/06/2021 09:04 PM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 916
B
badbenni Offline
Traveler
badbenni  Offline
Traveler
B
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 916
Tourism is the #1 source of revenue for the Island and if St Maarten and St Martin residents refuse to get Vaccinated ; the economy will fall into a depression and all will be the losers.
I don't understand the fear factor by many who refuse to get vaccinated as not getting vaccinated not only exposes them to the virus but also their livelihood as the economy fails.
Seems like and easy decision to make.

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: badbenni] #261989
08/07/2021 05:56 AM
08/07/2021 05:56 AM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 291
South Carolina
D
dvesc Offline
Traveler
dvesc  Offline
Traveler
D
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 291
South Carolina
The impact on tourism was the reason I thought there might be vaccine requirements by certain employers dependent on tourists.

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: SXMScubaman] #261990
08/07/2021 06:16 AM
08/07/2021 06:16 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,560
St Maarten
BillandElaine Offline
Traveler
BillandElaine  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,560
St Maarten
Government of Sint Maarten
9h ·
** Minister Ottley: Night life set to scale back to 11pm. **
The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Omar Ottley held a meeting with club night life business owners, beach bar owners, directors and managers from Dutch Sint Maarten.
The purpose of the meeting was to ensure a safe environment for patrons and to avoid COVID clusters within the respective establishment. Minister Ottley wanted the parties to understand the seriousness of COVID-19 and to give them time to establish the protocols moving forward. “ I will continue to say, we must work together to get through this pandemic” Minister Ottley stated.
All parties acknowledged and underlined the need for the measures to regulate business operations in a safe and responsible manner, in order to maintain public health safety.
It was agreed upon, that an 11pm curfew will go into effect as of Sunday August 8th for a period of two (2) weeks. During this time, arrangements can be made to put health management systems in place, via an app and QR codes.
Minister Ottley urges the public to remain cautious and be patient, as he puts the health of the community first by scaling back on the night life hours. If you have not been vaccinated, please consider doing so for the safety of yourself and your loved ones.


Elaine
*********************************
God Bless the broken road....
Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: SXMScubaman] #261994
08/07/2021 06:45 AM
08/07/2021 06:45 AM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,989
Westchester /NYC
Colour1 Offline
Traveler
Colour1  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,989
Westchester /NYC
Johnson and Johnson sponsored a fleet of mobile vans to go out into the communities in NYC. The numbers at the time went down by big margins!! IMHO!!! This is what has to be done, these people in those areas where they need education, they are not going to come out for that or get a shot! I just read some poster say" how can they shut down"? EASY!! The government said we are shut down, that's it! Life as we remembered it is on HOLD! It happened twice in my area of Westchester county NY! TWICE! EFFEN ghost town!!!


Sand Gravity, got to love it!
Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: Carol_Hill] #261995
08/07/2021 06:49 AM
08/07/2021 06:49 AM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 467
B
bizzottom Offline
Traveler
bizzottom  Offline
Traveler
B
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 467
Carol

i am with you, we are scheduled to visit early November for 13 days and i am fairly confident, barring a lockdown, that we will be there

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: badbenni] #261997
08/07/2021 06:50 AM
08/07/2021 06:50 AM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 467
B
bizzottom Offline
Traveler
bizzottom  Offline
Traveler
B
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 467
Badbenni
Well said

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: badbenni] #261998
08/07/2021 07:01 AM
08/07/2021 07:01 AM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,989
Westchester /NYC
Colour1 Offline
Traveler
Colour1  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,989
Westchester /NYC
This should wake some people up!! Bodies of Covid-19 victims are still stored in refrigerated trucks in NYC !!!

Attached Files Dead bodies in NYC trucks 2020-06.jpg

Sand Gravity, got to love it!
Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: Colour1] #262000
08/07/2021 08:41 AM
08/07/2021 08:41 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,080
Massachusetts
boucharda Offline
Traveler
boucharda  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,080
Massachusetts
If it didn't wake them up when that was also reported many MONTHS ago it isn't gonna do it now because "It won't happen to me".....just read that a 16yr old male in the Jacksonville area with zero pre-existing conditions died from Covid ....so it's not just the oldies....160 deaths in FL ages 16-29 this year...7 under 16yrs old. (FOX 30 Jacksonville video)

The only way to convince them is AFTER they get seriously sick from the virus and then it's "I (or he/she) should have got the shot".....

It's up to the ones who the SXM residents respect to say that they should get immunized...and that is probably not the Gov't

Last edited by boucharda; 08/07/2021 08:43 AM.
Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: SXMScubaman] #262001
08/07/2021 08:48 AM
08/07/2021 08:48 AM
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,093
CaribLee Offline
Traveler
CaribLee  Offline
Traveler
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,093
We leave Monday for a three week trip. We are fully vaccinated. As long as restrictions do not worsen, we are good. We are generally in by or before 11:00 p.m. so doesn't really affect us.

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: BillandElaine] #262002
08/07/2021 09:12 AM
08/07/2021 09:12 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Elaine--I have no idea how any of that is going to work. Sounds way to complicated to me. And frankly, if that's all they do, I think it will make zero difference.


Carol Hill
Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: SXMScubaman] #262003
08/07/2021 09:13 AM
08/07/2021 09:13 AM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 80
Maine
G
garymoe Offline
Traveler
garymoe  Offline
Traveler
G
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 80
Maine
As much as we love SXM, until the government AND the residents get their act together to fight Covid, we will stay away. We are vaccinated and have travelled out of the country. So, we are not afraid to travel. But knowingly going to a country where the government has no control or direction (especially re: Covid)., is too risky for me. Contrary to some posters belief, we were some of the tourists stuck during the March 2020 lockdown. It took me three days driving back and forth to the airport to get flights. At one time I had three flights. All were cancelled. We finally got a rescue flight home. I do not want to do that again. It is beyond my comprehension, how a country that survives on tourism, has lost its forcus.I do feel sorry for the wonderful business/restaurant owners we have met.

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: garymoe] #262006
08/07/2021 09:16 AM
08/07/2021 09:16 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
gary--the lockdown, where the grocery stores were closed etc., was a totally DIFFERENT issue than the airlines refusing to bring planes down to evacuate the tourists who were still on the island. Totally DIFFERENT issue. I know several people who were caught in that situation, which had to be one of the most scary situations ever.


Carol Hill
Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: SXMScubaman] #262019
08/07/2021 10:37 AM
08/07/2021 10:37 AM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,461
Vermont
sxmmartini Offline
Traveler
sxmmartini  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,461
Vermont
https://youtube.com/watch?v=lNm31rnJauU

This is still on YouTube: PM telling the people there will be no food for at least two weeks...

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: SXMScubaman] #262022
08/07/2021 11:34 AM
08/07/2021 11:34 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,080
Massachusetts
boucharda Offline
Traveler
boucharda  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,080
Massachusetts
I hope in 16 months they might have learned what DOES now work

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: SXMScubaman] #262023
08/07/2021 11:38 AM
08/07/2021 11:38 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,560
St Maarten
BillandElaine Offline
Traveler
BillandElaine  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,560
St Maarten
Perhaps the US can provide the key to their winning strategies?


Elaine
*********************************
God Bless the broken road....
Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: BillandElaine] #262024
08/07/2021 12:13 PM
08/07/2021 12:13 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,461
Vermont
sxmmartini Offline
Traveler
sxmmartini  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,461
Vermont
Is that sarcasm? The ills of social distance...

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: BillandElaine] #262025
08/07/2021 12:15 PM
08/07/2021 12:15 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,288
P
PelicanPirate Offline
Traveler
PelicanPirate  Offline
Traveler
P
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,288
Mostly dutch but both. I didnt see any super measures and in many cases no measures.

The lack thereof didnt/doesnt bother me much on a great bacation as we didnt see any sick people and didnt get sick. But since we left they are talking like there is an emergency.

I think the island is running as well as possible.it looks like they are pragmatic about the risks. Which are low if healthy and young. Get the shot if you want/need it.

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: SXMScubaman] #262026
08/07/2021 02:11 PM
08/07/2021 02:11 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 192
Columbia, SC, USA
DandM29212 Offline
Traveler
DandM29212  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 192
Columbia, SC, USA
FWIW, there was a lot of talk when we were there in June and July about low vaxx rates, largely driven by how the island churches were against the vaccines and how much the local ministers were preaching against the vaccine.


[Linked Image]
Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: SXMScubaman] #262028
08/07/2021 02:31 PM
08/07/2021 02:31 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,461
Vermont
sxmmartini Offline
Traveler
sxmmartini  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,461
Vermont
It would be good if at least 80% are vaccinated. I hope the propaganda works to get everyone to roll up their sleeve and take the jab.

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: SXMScubaman] #262031
08/07/2021 06:54 PM
08/07/2021 06:54 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline OP
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
What propaganda?

Re: Vaccinate, test or lock down [Re: boucharda] #262044
08/08/2021 07:14 AM
08/08/2021 07:14 AM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,989
Westchester /NYC
Colour1 Offline
Traveler
Colour1  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,989
Westchester /NYC
The city of NY still has nowhere to store the victims of this deadly diseases . That photo is currant. In NYC and the five boroughs The pharmaceutical companies put together mobile units to go out into the communities. The numbers started to drop fast. Education and getting out into the field, not waiting for people to come out. "Oh if I stay home, I won't get the virus". That's not working and waiting for "walk-ins" that is not working either!


Sand Gravity, got to love it!
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.6.1