Covid testing in Cozumel

[Grateful head]

St Croix, as well as most of the Caribbean islands have the same kind of requirements for testing. It is the U.S. that is putting everyone into a tailspin. I live in Cozumel and feel very, very safe, but to be honest. I do try and stay my distance from people visiting the island from the U.S. given the lack of control for wearing masks and social distancing in many cities and states and high numbers of infection. I for one, would not even think about going to vacation in Florida right now with the numbers the way they are. I have family there and they told me to stay in Mexico. lol . It is a tough call.

Do keep in mind that the tests run about $50 -$60usd here in Coumel. So, it's doable.
I think Cozumel has been overly generous in allowing people to visit without proof of a negative covid test. That was a bummer for those of us that live here. Yes, the shutdown hurt us enormously and yes, it is a double-edged sword. These working folks on the dive boats, in restaurants and bars, and tour guides go back to their families every day. They need to work but it has been stressful for them. Especially when daily, they had to deal with people that felt no need to comply with some simple safety rules here.
Sure hope you decide to come. I know many of the hotels have plans in place if you do test positive. For most, just keep doing what you are doing. Wear your mask, social distance and do the same when you get here to Cozumel.

BTW, Here's what the St Croix tourism board posts for requirements to enter. -
Visiting St. Croix Soon?
Every traveler (visitors AND residents) age five and older who enters the U.S. Virgin Islands is required to use the USVI Travel Screening Portal AND to submit a COVID-19 test result prior to travel to avoid being denied boarding of their flight, enhanced health screenings and/or mandatory self-quarantine. The secure portal can be found at: www.usviupdate.com/travelportal.

Thanks for that insight, I haven’t canceled in lieu of St.croix....yet. I don’t know, may just end up staying stateside again. Crappy situation. Really really want to go back to Coz again but the reality of quarantine in a hotel for two weeks sounds horrendous.

 

[drrich2]

Anyone care to speculate whether - or when - having had the vaccine (for a long enough time it is considered 'full immunity') will be good enough to allow us to travel from one country to another - or even to Hawaii? Do you think it will be a matter of percentage of population vaccinated?

I think late this year. The problem with relying on travelers being immunized is we don't even have the option to vaccinate kids under 16 years old yet, and vacationing families with children are a big part of the tourist market. Getting the 'natives' vaccinated makes more sense. In the U.S., IIRC, maybe over around June, July or somewhere around there the general public should've had their chance by then. Of course, many still won't have gotten it.

I'm guessing travel options near normal in terms of range of destinations might come on line around October? I wish it were faster. The cruise industry lost an estimated 20 billion dollars in 2020. As much as some dog the cruiselines on the forum, some of us like cruising.

 

[ReefHound]

In one of these threads, the idea was presented of going to St Croix and the question arose as to whether the re-entry test requirement would apply to US territories. CDC seems to have updated their page and the answer seems to be it does not.

Are territories or possessions of the US considered foreign countries for the purposes of this Order?

No, the Order to present a documentation of a negative COVID-19 test or recovery from COVID-19 does not apply to air passengers flying from a US territory or possession to a US state.


US territories and possessions of the US include American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
COVID-19 and Your Health

 

[The Chairman]

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

This is not the Pub!
​

This thread is only about travel requirements and restrictions and is centered on Cozumel.

Posts about the scope of the pandemic, its politics and the efficacy of masks/vaccines/whatever are not acceptable here and will get you banned from this thread. There are plenty of threads in the Pub should you want to duke it out there.

PLEASE STAY ON TOPIC​

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[Kimela]

We were scheduled to stay at a condo at Palmar in March, but canceled due to the new testing requirements. Yesterday I got the following email - good info to keep in mind. Btw, I had no idea you weren't supposed to brush your teeth, gargle or eat for 3 hours prior to PCR testing.

"As a heads up the island has been pretty good at setting up testing facilities for folks traveling for your reference here is some additional info. Let us know when you're ready to come back down!

To get your test in Cozumel our management company recommends:

CostaMed/CMC: 987-872-9400

PCR: 2499 pesos

Result in 24-48 hours

No brushing teeth or gargling and no eating for 3 hours before.

Make appointment 10 days in advance.

https://www.laclicsa.com.mx/covid-testing-for-air-travel/

Or if you needed it done in Playa Del Carmen here:

COVID Testing for Air Travel – Laclicsa Laboratorios"

 

[ChuckP]

We were scheduled to stay at a condo at Palmar in March, but canceled due to the new testing requirements

Ugghhh, unfortunately, you are one of many. The hopes for a reasonably decent high season are fading fast.....

 

[Dan]

We were scheduled to stay at a condo at Palmar in March, but canceled due to the new testing requirements.

Why? You don’t need PCR test to go home. Antigen is good enough and some resorts / liveaboard would provide it for free and it only takes 2 hours to get the result.

Latest CDC Travel Requirements

COVID-19 Testing Now Available Onboard Nautilus - Nautilus Liveaboards

 

[gopbroek]

One thing that has not been brought up is the availability of testing supplies. With this mandate for testing being imposed will there be enough testing supplies in Cancun and Cozumel? I have been sick over the weekend and need a test prior to returning to work. I found that in North Texas they are running very low on the rapid test and the PCR test takes 2-5 days. Up here unless you show symptoms, no rapid test. While the air passenger numbers for Cozumel are not that high Cancun had 800K international passengers in December. Does the Mexico health care system have the infrastructure and supplies to handle this many additional tests and if not will the US suspend the requirement for QR?

 

[Saxonjd]

How far out is Costamed taking reservations? We're booked for early April and don't want to miss setting up an appointment. I also don't want to overwhelm them as people are lining up tests for travel prior to that.

 

[ChuckP]

One thing that has not been brought up is the availability of testing supplies. With this mandate for testing being imposed will there be enough testing supplies in Cancun and Cozumel? I have been sick over the weekend and need a test prior to returning to work. I found that in North Texas they are running very low on the rapid test and the PCR test takes 2-5 days. Up here unless you show symptoms, no rapid test. While the air passenger numbers for Cozumel are not that high Cancun had 800K international passengers in December. Does the Mexico health care system have the infrastructure and supplies to handle this many additional tests and if not will the US suspend the requirement for QR?

That my friend, is a very good question and just might be the blow that knocks us out. Please hold my hand while I jump off the bridge - poor decisions to the North are going to kill us here, no matter how hard we have worked.........