Covid surging in Bonaire

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I think you are right on the 2020.....We have had a mess rescheduling with a daughter in school.

@Martijn EXACTLY what I just told my wife and daughter!
 
Apologies if this has already been covered here. I need to put my questions in context. For this discussion, assume the traveler is fully vaccination (with or without booster).

Omicron Context: We read of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, a report it multiplies much faster in the airways but much slower in the lungs (I presume compared to Delta) and might (too soon to tell) be associated with milder (how much milder?) disease on average (so it can still get you). And antibodies from the first 2 doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine are drastically less effective against it (like in the roughly 40-50 fold less range) and their induced antibody levels drop off heavily after a few months anyway (but cellular based immunity persists, albeit it works slower). A booster raises effective antibody levels against Omicron way up, but I haven't read how long that effect will last, and many people haven't been boosted. An Omicron surge is expected over much of the world real soon, in the U.S. possibly as early as January, and I think it's been gaining ground in the Netherlands.

TLDR: I think we're at higher risk to contract Omicron and test positive than we were with prior variants, including while at the airport and in transit. So it's very possible to catch it en route to our destination, then test positive after getting there.

Quick Googling indicates PCR tests are more sensitive than antigen tests, which sounds good till I read they can keep testing positive for weeks or months after you recover; one source mentioned 3 months.

Imagine if you contract Omicron in the security line at the airport, remain asymptomatic (or mildly enough you don't realize you've got it), then on Day 5 in Bonaire a PCR test comes back positive.

Now what? You have to quarantine. But here are my questions:

1.) How long must you quarantine per Bonaire (I can find it for the U.S.)?

2.) What are the requirements to get out of quarantine? Just time, or a negative test (antigen or PCR)? I can hardly imagine they hold you prisoner in a hotel room for 3 months.

3.) We need a negative antigen test to head back to the U.S. How long till that turns negative? (Much faster than PCR, IIRC, but would be good to know).

4.) Will it be needful (or advisable) upon quarantine release to get a Bonaire physician to provide a letter one is COVID-19 recovered and good to travel? Wonder how easy it is to arrange that? Will the airline to the U.S. accept that? Per the CDC:
  • If you recently recovered from COVID-19, you may instead travel with documentation of recovery from COVID-19 (i.e., your positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before the flight’s departure from a foreign country and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you were cleared to travel).
5.) Anyone heard how accommodating the airlines are on rescheduling flights due to COVID-19 positive test disruptions? Some of us fly Economy and many don't buy trip insurance. I'd think the airlines would want to encourage reporting by accommodating, but do they?
Well, this was the post that was like a light bulb moment for my wife and I. We have a 2 week trip to Bonaire starting Jan 5th from the states. I was so stressed and anxious about getting INTO Bonaire I really never thought about what would happen if either of us tested positive and we could not get back into the States and OUT of Bonaire. With 3 tests now during the stay, 1 antigen when we arrive, 1 pcr on day 5, and 1 antigen to get back the day before we leave, means 3 chances to accidently pick up COVID and test positive.

We never gave too much thought on what would happen if we tested positive in Bonaire. For us it would be disastrous to not be able to get back into the States for an indefinite long period of time. I can't think of anything worse than to be stuck in a room for weeks under quarantine. It would be horrible financially as well as just a horrible experience to be in solitary for us.

I have not read of anyone being unable to travel back to their home country from Bonaire yet. But it really just has to be a matter of time till Omicron gets a foothold in Bonaire and some tourists will contract it and be stranded from home.

Anyway, once we thought about the risk we were taking in not being able to get home, we just had to make the hard decision that the risk of staying in Bonaire was too great for us and we are cancelling our reservations. We will lose money on deposits and plane tickets but we have been too careful for the last two years to take such a huge risk now. When we booked this trip it seemed very likely that the world would be returning to normal but its amazing how quickly everything can turn and change. Hopefully we can rebook later in the year and try again if things calm down a bit.
 
Well, this was the post that was like a light bulb moment for my wife and I. We have a 2 week trip to Bonaire starting Jan 5th from the states. I was so stressed and anxious about getting INTO Bonaire I really never thought about what would happen if either of us tested positive and we could not get back into the States and OUT of Bonaire. With 3 tests now during the stay, 1 antigen when we arrive, 1 pcr on day 5, and 1 antigen to get back the day before we leave, means 3 chances to accidently pick up COVID and test positive.

We never gave too much thought on what would happen if we tested positive in Bonaire. For us it would be disastrous to not be able to get back into the States for an indefinite long period of time. I can't think of anything worse than to be stuck in a room for weeks under quarantine. It would be horrible financially as well as just a horrible experience to be in solitary for us.

I have not read of anyone being unable to travel back to their home country from Bonaire yet. But it really just has to be a matter of time till Omicron gets a foothold in Bonaire and some tourists will contract it and be stranded from home.

Anyway, once we thought about the risk we were taking in not being able to get home, we just had to make the hard decision that the risk of staying in Bonaire was too great for us and we are cancelling our reservations. We will lose money on deposits and plane tickets but we have been too careful for the last two years to take such a huge risk now. When we booked this trip it seemed very likely that the world would be returning to normal but its amazing how quickly everything can turn and change. Hopefully we can rebook later in the year and try again if things calm down a bit.
Suggestion: don't cancel, just reschedule/postpone. (1) you need something to look forward to. (2) you are much less likely to lose any money.
 
Suggestion: don't cancel, just reschedule/postpone. (1) you need something to look forward to. (2) you are much less likely to lose any money.
Thanks. Those are both great reasons to not rush to cancel. We are actually trying to discuss with the resort about rescheduling but will have to wait during the week. Sunday not the best time to reach the right people. No matter what, we are going to lose money on airline stuff though. But again, it would be financially disastrous for us to be stuck in Bonaire. We are just not gamblers I guess.
 
I already committed to my daughter if she is negative and I am not she can leave me ha....not sure if they even let you do that.

Wildh2o I feel you, I am actually going to take my work computer... if something goes sideways I can do 85% of my work remotely.

High level - I dont have an issue if I test positive and have to quarantine. Thats what responsible folks do.

Homerdoc.

Side question - has there been a change on how they do dive boats at buddy dive with the new variant?
 
Thanks. Those are both great reasons to not rush to cancel. We are actually trying to discuss with the resort about rescheduling but will have to wait during the week. Sunday not the best time to reach the right people. No matter what, we are going to lose money on airline stuff though. But again, it would be financially disastrous for us to be stuck in Bonaire. We are just not gamblers I guess.
Travel insurance? For my last Bonaire trip (August 2021) I bought insurance that would cover quarantine expenses. But I suppose you or others may need to return on time for work, and insurance isn’t going to cover lost wages.

On a more general note, I don’t mind the entry requirements at all. I felt safe on Bonaire and was able to relax and forget about covid for a week. The tighter requirements are fine, and if I can meet them I’ll have another relaxing vacation. I’ve got a Mexico trip coming up, and the thought of traveling to a country that will let anyone in is giving me some anxiety.
 
So is it for certain that unvaccinated people have to Quarantine for 5 days? We are vaccinated but our Neighbors are not. Have a trip Jan 8th.
 
So is it for certain that unvaccinated people have to Quarantine for 5 days? We are vaccinated but our Neighbors are not. Have a trip Jan 8th.
yes, as of dec 22
 
So is it for certain that unvaccinated people have to Quarantine for 5 days? We are vaccinated but our Neighbors are not. Have a trip Jan 8th.

The requirements that take effect on Wednesday, December 22, are posted here PCR test and self-test for all travelers from the Netherlands and the US - Crisiswebsite van het Openbaar Lichaam Bonaire

It appears that if Aruba is classified as high or very high risk, quarantine for unvaccinated individuals apply. I would contact Bonaire Public Health with questions.

yes, as of dec 22
Passengers from Aruba are classified as Low Risk; see the listings on BonaireCrisis.com. None of this new testing requirement for High and Very High Risk countries applies.Take 3 deep breaths and relax.
 
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