How Widespread is Covid? We're visiting soon.

We're visiting SXM for a week beginning June 23 and think we understand the EHAS process. We're not terribly worried and are vaxxed, boosted and careful.

Judging from what I've seen on the WHO website, SXM has a fairly low infection rate compared to the US.
Maybe that's affected by reporting accuracy or other factors. We're planning on taking few risks and will be outside much of the time.

For those who have visited recently, are the local citizens covid-conscious? Is there a sense that covid is a big deal or not?

Been here for 4 weeks. I would saw it's treated rather lax. Especially on French side.

Last weeks Covid numbers on the Dutch side from the Ministry of Health.

was there for three weeks in march. first two weeks, masks were required in most places...but then around march 20 or so, the requirements changed, and hardly saw a mask after that. Even the casino, one day you needed to get scanned and wear masks while in casino, at midnight, everything disappeared like magic. LOL As for the restaurants, most are outdoors, but even masked, the risk of covid exists. We came home on a friday, after being tested on thursday, and negative. By Sunday morning, my wife wasn't feeling good, and tested, and showed positive. And she is the careful one, that wore her mask quite often, and whenever in a crowd. I was very much more laxed, and didn't even catch it from her. So.........who knows where one can get it.

Ed--Wow, you're the second person who has posted about a 'near miss' like that, potentially could have gotten stuck on island. Hopefully she recovered fine.

No travel is risk free as you don't know from where you might get it. One has to keep their precautions while outside. The risk is lower comparing to other countries but I would still advice you to keep sanitizers in hand if not wearing mask all the time.

Good Advice

I have been here for two weeks and will be here for three more and currently have Covid. I would say things are pretty lax on island, but I think I caught it in the CLT airport, not on island. I think you will be fine on island but would be extremely cautious while getting here. I know of two others who recently contracted Covid, one a tourist and another a local. I think both caught the virus while traveling, not while on island. My sense is this current strain is very easily transmissible.

Are you still testing positive as you said "have" and not had?

As of yesterday morning, yes. I will test again this weekend.

Linda--are you still isolating??

Linda--we had breakfast at Reveil Matin yesterday morning and it was the first place on island where we have seen any masks, other than us. The staff were all wearing masks. We have tried to be very diligent with wearing masks when we were inside here, and we did wear masks at Miami airport, which was a total zoo. I think that is wise advice, be VERY careful on the way here.

Sorry to hear that.

Not isolating as I've been to a couple of beaches. But I'm not getting together with people until I test negative, whenever that will be. It's getting old.

And I also ate at Reveil Matin a couple of days ago, staying outside.

Linda--for sure. I feel for you. We ate outside also.

So you are still testing positive and going out to restaurants? If you are sick stay home or if on vacation don’t go out to restaurant and expose the wait staff to glasses and other utensils you are putting in your mouth.
Sorry but I feel this is inconsiderate and until you test negative you should not be out and about.

Martini--you did NOT read what she posted.

You might want to study the CDC guidelines, which I am following, before you issue a blanket judgment on my behavior.

I did not count your days. CDC is five days isolation and five days with a mask. I am sorry! Enjoy the rest of your vacation.

I was searching for relaxing covid restrictions on the island and found this post and saw Linda's comment on how it was transmitted (in CLT airport). I just got back on May 26 from a 12 day Alaskan cruise (Holland America) and land tour. I have been vaccinated and boosted. I know I caught covid omicron two days before either in a transportation bus to Anchorage or the hotel also in Anchorage. I started sneezing and had drainage. It lasted about 4 or 5 days and was nothing more than a bad cold but I lost my smell and ability to taste. That lasted about 10 days and I am still not tasting some foods as it can take up to two months for full recovery. Another comment was about how people have dogged the 'bullet', and I did four times but this time not so lucky. So I agree with the comment that this strain is very easy to transmit. I really miss the island but have decided to wait until maybe December to visit if the air fares are not to high.

So far we have been lucky, but I am concerned because the woman in the seat immediately behind Eric on the plane coughed continuously for the first 20 minutes. At that point, I really wished that people had had to test before coming home.

Just because someone s coughing and sneezing doesn't mean they have Covid. I came down with a wingding wild cold last week. Been testing regularly and always negative. Lots of crap out there. As far as testing goes. I wouldn't mind SXM requiring a negative test going to SXM even if vaxed like before.

A "cod", were you fishing or did you mean a "cold"?

That’s what I thought also ruralcarrier, “cod”, given that he’s from WA state. Thought he was fishing. I like cod, but not all the time, just occasionally.

Yes. Was supposed to be COLD which I just corrected. Thanks you two.

Always looking out for you.

Change it back to cod, it sounds better that way, leaves people guessing. Hey I wonder if we can start a cooking tread inside of this post, or even a discussion on fish or what is your best fish and how to prepare it. Ok just rambling, leave it with cold, but I still like cod better.

I can always count on you. 👍

Certainly it doesn't mean that she had Covid, but it royally p*ssed me off that she coughed and coughed and coughed and didn't even bother to cover her mouth. I certainly hope she didn't have Covid as Eric didn't have his mask on.

Seriously? I wore my mask the entire trip -- airport and planes -- except when I was eating. I still caught it. I plan to mask all the way home. Different strokes . . . .

I wore mine. Eric was asleep or I would have told him to put his on. Planes are allegedly supposed to be safer, but who knows?

I really hope you test negative soon, Linda. Your situation seriously stinks.