US tourists will be tested at their hotels

[Dolores]

President Luis Abinader announced on 18 January 2021 that US tourists staying at resorts in the Dominican Republic will be able to get tested at their hotels before departure. The US government is now requiring antigen (IgG/IgM test results within 72 hours of departure.

The Dominican government recently received 54,400 of the antigen tests from the Pan American Health Organization.

The Dominican government has also purchased 300,000 GenBody Covid-19 Ag antigen rapid tests manufactured in South Korea. Results are ready 15 minutes after the sample is taken from the nose or throat.

The local supplier is Abastesa, SAS. The company says it has been supplying Dominican airports since September 2020 with more than 200 Confiscope G20 at Dominican airports in coordination with the Ministry of Defense, the C5i intelligence unit and the Airport Security Corps...

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[CristoRey]

This will be a huge relief for tourist. I've heard many people have recently their travel plans cancelled over this new requirement because of the logistics and uncertainties.

 

[cavok]

I knew they'd have to do this.

 

[lifeisgreat]

so you take your pee stick to airport? looks like a pregnancy test? would not the US want something in writing how do you prove its your pee stick?

 

[TropicalPaul]

Fine for big hotels, how will this work for people staying in AirBnB's and smaller hotels?

 

[windeguy]

Fine for big hotels, how will this work for people staying in AirBnB's and smaller hotels?

Go to one of these clinics and pay:

Covid-19 testing in the Dominican Republic

Effective January 26, all airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three

do.usembassy.gov

 

[Big]

how will they present the results? I have a stack of the Abbott labs BinaxNOW tests with the reagent. After you swab the inside of your nose and place the swab in a card with the reagent a positive or negative line will appear in 15 minutes. What will they have you do, get on a plane with a bio hazard card as proof, disgusting!

 

[Mcinbrass]

Fine for big hotels, how will this work for people staying in AirBnB's and smaller hotels?

I guess they are on their own.

 

[Fulano2]

500 Pesos and you are ok.

 

[Cdn_Gringo]

I guess they are on their own.

Probably will have to make their own arrangements. Maybe at a large hotel, maybe at a local clinic. Will definitely cost more than 500 pesos though.

 

[playacaribe2]

Kudos to the government for instituting a system to test tourists at their hotels in lieu of them having to go outside the resort to find a testing site. That will likely alleviate some of the anxiety tourists might have regarding international travel to the DR.

However, yesterday the President of the US signed an executive order mandating a 10 day quarantine period for all travelers entering the US. This is in addition to the testing requirement.

More bad news for DR tourism as this will likely further slow tourism from its most important market.

Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

 

[Cdn_Gringo]

However, yesterday the President of the US signed an executive order mandating a 10 day quarantine period for all travelers entering the US. This is in addition to the testing requirement.

I wonder how this quarantine might affect passengers who need to enter the US just to change airport in NYC to catch connecting flights for elsewhere? Technically if you are leaving the airport you are clearly considered to be entering the US even if it's just to transit from JFK to EWR. There is no process in place that I know of to ensure that connecting passengers actually catch their connecting flight.

 

[windeguy]

Probably will have to make their own arrangements. Maybe at a large hotel, maybe at a local clinic. Will definitely cost more than 500 pesos though.

Covid-19 testing in the Dominican Republic

Effective January 26, all airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three

do.usembassy.gov

Pay for an Antigen test for those not at the proper resorts.

 

[windeguy]

Kudos to the government for instituting a system to test tourists at their hotels in lieu of them having to go outside the resort to find a testing site. That will likely alleviate some of the anxiety tourists might have regarding international travel to the DR.

However, yesterday the President of the US signed an executive order mandating a 10 day quarantine period for all travelers entering the US. This is in addition to the testing requirement.

More bad news for DR tourism as this will likely further slow tourism from its most important market.

Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

The POTUS of the US cannot require people to quarantine upon arrival in the US. That will be up to each state. The "extent feasible" will be to the extent each governor agrees to go along with a quarantine. Governor Douche of NY might go along as well as Governnor Numb-Nuts in CA. It will not be feasible at all.

Biden's order says "to the extent feasible" air travelers must comply with applicable U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines concerning international travel "including recommended periods of self-quarantine." It does not explain how it will be enforced.

 

[windeguy]

I wonder how this quarantine might affect passengers who need to enter the US just to change airport in NYC to catch connecting flights for elsewhere? Technically if you are leaving the airport you are clearly considered to be entering the US even if it's just to transit from JFK to EWR. There is no process in place that I know of to ensure that connecting passengers actually catch their connecting flight.

Could be a problem if the Governor of the state where the plane is arriving goes along with Biden. Biden cannot force the states to make people quarantine.

 

[Africaida]

There is an 14 day quarantine in NY state right now, unless you show a negative test upon arrival and take another test 5 days after arrival.
I believe they were talking about reducing it to 10 days.

 

[windeguy]

Biden may seek international travelers to quarantine, but that is not up to him:

Biden seeks to require international air passengers to quarantine upon arrival

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Joe Biden issued an executive order on Thursday that would require international air travelers to quarantine upon U.S. arrival, and directed U.S. agencies to implement a federal mask mandate in interstate transportation.

news.abs-cbn.com

 

[windeguy]

There is an 14 day quarantine in NY state right now, unless you show a negative test upon arrival and take another test 5 days after arrival.
I believe they were talking about reducing it to 10 days.

Perhaps Cuomo will change it to a quarantine for 10 days regardless of test results, just to go along with Biden. That would have a greater impact on travel.

 

[Africaida]

Perhaps Cuomo will change it to a quarantine for 10 days regardless of test results, just to go along with Biden.

Hope so because it now goes with international recommendations. Plus, it was in the talk already.

 

[playacaribe2]

The POTUS of the US cannot require people to quarantine upon arrival in the US. That will be up to each state. The "extent feasible" will be to the extent each governor agrees to go along with a quarantine. Governor Douche of NY might go along as well as Governnor Numb-Nuts in CA. It will not be feasible at all.

While I agree the use of the words to "the extent feasible"...................................the Order is clear on its face;

Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel | The White House

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1.

www.whitehouse.gov

International travelers are now or will be required to a) produce a negative Covid-19 test within the established time parameters AND b) to comply with CDC guidelines...................................which indicate a quarantine period.

To the extent it is not legal, Congress can block the order (not likely) or a challenge to the Supreme Court could be made.

My earlier point is that the regulations will be a net negative for tourism while in force. Case in point, my travel to the DR would not be interrupted by a required negative Covid test before returning to the US, but I will not travel if a 10 day quarantine period remains in place along with a negative Covid test.

The sights dedicated to travel are abuzz about this, with many comments from people indicating they will seek to further postpone individual international travel.


Respectfully,
Playacaribe2