Covid testing

I think I read earlier that St Martin was accepting the rapid PCR NAAT test for entry. My wife doesn't believe me. Can anyone verify that since I can't seem to locate the previous thread? Sorry to bring it up again. Thanks.

I don't know about ST. MARTIN, which is the French side, but if you are flying into the Dutch side, they accept the Binax Now test administered by Walgreen's, which is a NAAT test. There have been conflicting reports as to whether SXM accepts a self-administered test. (I assume you know this, but you don't need a test at all if you are vaccinated.. )

That's what I thought. Thank you. We are vaccinated but second dose was February 2021 and have no booster...we're just getting a little nervous since the wording on EHAS is somewhat vague.

You don't need a booster any more, as of March 1. So, you are good to go!

Thank you, Carol. From what I've seen on here you are the expert.

Well, don't know about that, but the current entry requirements are pretty clear to me.

Now, if they would only change having to get tested to return to the states!!

Terry,

Don't forget to check with BSV about their arrangement for US return testing. Certainly more convenient than the other options, as good as they are.

I do like having it arranged before we get there.
Is that an option?

That I don’t know but you could try emailing Tracy. I liked having it scheduled ahead too but having to go elsewhere - not so much. And they do the printed snd email results, too, or that is my understanding.

Thank-you, I may look into it.

I don't mind going elsewhere, because we head to breakfast and it is done before we get our food.
Last year it was Ravel Matin , the year before Zee Best---- not too hard to take.....

Yes, we did ours the past two times at Medwork and then went to Reveil Matin, and then went back there for results. This year we return home on Monday and if rules are the same as now, will not be able to do it at Medwork, as they are not open on Sunday. Would appreciate info on your experience testing at BSV, if either one of you do it there.

Will certainly be glad to let you know if they still do it, Carol. We've used Medworks each trip since the inception of the requirement to test coming back to the US but if I can get it done on site, that's even better. Lots of TTOL members there before we go again and hopefully, someone will chime in and let us know.

Also, would appreciate info on being able to confirm it in advance, as we will have to take down an e-med test if that won't work, due to returning home on a Monday. (Oh, but maybe there won't be a testing requirement by June? Probably too much to hope for.)

Carol, we used BSV arrangement for testing this past November. It was very simple and convenient. You tell Viki (the manager) when you need test done, he calls nurse and ask if she is available, arranges time and day. She comes to your villa, takes about 10 minutes from start to finish, gives you paper with results, $60 cash or credit card. You will receive email with results later in a day also. She came to our unit 3 times as we had people in our party coming and going different times and everything went smoothly. Would use her again.

Thank you for that info, Luda. Looking forward to doing this method soon and wishing we’d known about it in November but I think it may have been a fairly new program at that time.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - BSV thinks of everything to make your trip a true vacation. Kudos to all - both owners and staff. 😊😊

snuba--thanks for the info. As I said, since we return to the US on a Monday, we need to be able to confirm that they in fact will be able to do this on that Sunday before, before we leave home. Is this something that we can get confirmed with Tracey ahead of time??

Hello Carol , Where could I find out about the Binax NAAT test ? Is there something on an official SXM website . And is it allowed for unvaccinated people ?
Thank you Jeff

Jeff--the Binax Now test is administered by Walgreen's. And no, it's not specifically on the SXM website, but it is accepted. Again, the only one that I know that is for sure accepted, is the test administered by Walgreen's.

Carol, I got an impression that this was more Viki’s gig rather than Beachside Villas but coul be wrong. I would see if you could ask him, may be call him directly.

Medworks first Monday Morning Testing is at 8.00am, should be able to test and still have plenty of time for a flight

IdNow is the NAAT test we had done for travel a couple of times at Walgreens before the vaxed-no-test-needed thing started. Binax was not one of the available tests in my area Walgreens but same deal....quick results and accepted

UKsimon--No, I really don't care to do that. I have enough to worry about the last day without piling a test on top.

snuba--you could well be right, that it is something that Tracy is not involved in at all. That was kind of what I was afraid of. I guess what I could do is to wait till I get there and ask right away about testing on that Sunday and if necessary, try to scare something else up after I am on island, but that makes me nervous.

St. Maarten Labs in Belair(across from the medical center) is open every day. They do both rapid and pcr.

https://sls.sx/

OK, that's a switch I think, anyone doing testing on Sunday. Although it kind of p*sses me off that they charge more for Sunday testing.. Those folks do not make appointments, correct?

Carol, right no appointments, just walk in. We are going there this morning, as we leave tomorrow.

I loathe waiting in line on vacation. That's why I pay more for Medwork.

We tested this morning in Hope estates. In and out in five minutes. results in under an hour. flying tomorrow.

I Called SXM to verify that the I D Now NAAT test is allowed. They said yes since it is a rapid PCR test. But I forgot to ask if it was a 48 hour test . Could someone answer that for me . Thank you .

It would be subject to the same timeframe as a PCR test....since it is one

We got there at 8:00am, out in 5 minutes for the 3 of us. People were there, but they did not pre-register, as we did, so we by-passed them.

Had results in an hour and a half. Uploaded results to United, good to go.

Be sure to pre-register if you do use them.

So, in essence, it's sort of like an appointment? Or no? Got to say though, no way in h*ll that I'm getting there at 8 AM on vacation..

Carol, not really, you can just go right in if pre-registered. I would think it’s busier in the morning than later on in the day.

Since it’s right around the corner from Divi, 8:00am is no issue, as we are up early.

OK

Hey Carol and Jeff, there is some confusion over whether the Walgreens rapid NAAT tests are accepted by EHAS.
A guy over in the Trip Advisor forum says he just emailed EHAS and asked about them and they said NAAT tests are not accepted.

WW--I have personally used Walgreens ID Now test twice to enter SXM, and it previously has been confirmed in writing by EHAS, several times, to other people. Fortunately, I currently do not have to test prior to entry into SXM, but I feel confident that this test IS acceptable.

Perhaps the rule has changed now that the only people who need to be tested are the unvaccinated?

Thanks for the quick reply, my trip isn't for another few months, so i expect there to be more rule changes by then.

I don't actually think so. I think it's a matter of confusion with EHAS. They have often given contradictory answers to questions. WW--do you need to be tested? If you're vaxxed, you don't need a booster, and it doesn't matter how long it has been since you were vaxxed.

I will be traveling with my teenage sons who are unvaccinated.

Still time for them to get Vaxed. Well worth it for a variety of reasons.

Thanks scuba, but thats a different conversation, and not for TTOL.

Same here....twice tested at Walgreen's...twice approved...RT-PCR which is on their list of accepted tests is the Walgreen's IdNow test...ignore "the guy over at tripadvisor"...and the response on Tripadvisor after "the guy" said that the test was accepted.

It's accepted

We used that same one last May with no problems.

Thanks for all the helpful replies.