Covid surging in Bonaire

[cleomagic]

Sitting in the Bonaire international Airport, preparing to fly home to the US. We brought with us the Abbott home antigen test through eMed.com before we left for Bonaire. This requires a video with a medical person to watch and confirm the test results. This is NOT the test you can buy off the shelf at Walgeens, CVS, etc. We purchased the pack of 6 and brought 4 of them with us - that way we had 2 spares, if there were any issues.

The total process was less than 30minutes for each of us - there are 2 of us. We logged on in the morning 3 days before departure, and while we were preparing breakfast or getting ready for diving, the other was either going through the test process or multi-tasking while waiting for the test results.

From what we know, this test works to get you back into the US. It does NOT work to get into Bonaire.

 

[tursiops]

Sitting in the Bonaire international Airport, preparing to fly home to the US. We brought with us the Abbott home antigen test through eMed.com before we left for Bonaire. This requires a video with a medical person to watch and confirm the test results. This is NOT the test you can buy off the shelf at Walgeens, CVS, etc. We purchased the pack of 6 and brought 4 of them with us - that way we had 2 spares, if there were any issues.

The total process was less than 30minutes for each of us - there are 2 of us. We logged on in the morning 3 days before departure, and while we were preparing breakfast or getting ready for diving, the other was either going through the test process or multi-tasking while waiting for the test results.

From what we know, this test works to get you back into the US. It does NOT work to get into Bonaire.

View attachment 684855

Purchasing from eMed.com, one can only buy a pack of 6 (at $25/test). But from https://store.optum.com/ you can buy a 2-pack ($35/test) or a three-pack ($33/test) and still use eMed for the mandatory proctoring. In both cases, the results arrive on your NAVICA app, which must (I think) be installed while in the US. A couple will each have to hhave the NAVICA app; the results are coded to YOUR app.

 

[cleomagic]

Purchasing from eMed.com, one can only buy a pack of 6 (at $25/test). But from https://store.optum.com/ you can buy a 2-pack ($35/test) or a three-pack ($33/test) and still use eMed for the mandatory proctoring. In both cases, the results arrive on your NAVICA app, which must (I think) be installed while in the US. A couple will each have to hhave the NAVICA app; the results are coded to YOUR app.

That is correct - we downloaded the Navica app to our phones and set up an account before we left the US. And we both had to have our own accounts.

 

[rmorgan]

Just boarded Delta leaving BON. () Test results checked at the counter, of course. After we got into the waiting room, folks (public health?) came through and checked everyone’s tests. A half-hour after, a uniformed police officer checked again and put a stamp on the back of everyone’s documents (ours were only on an iPad, so no stamp). Then they were checked again at the boarding door. Perhaps the spike in positive tests has rattled the powers that be.

 

[tursiops]

Just boarded Delta leaving BON. () Test results checked at the counter, of course. After we got into the waiting room, folks (public health?) came through and checked everyone’s tests. A half-hour after, a uniformed police officer checked again and put a stamp on the back of everyone’s documents (ours were only on an iPad, so no stamp). Then they were checked again at the boarding door. Perhaps the spike in positive tests has rattled the powers that be.

Interesting! The "powers that be" would presumably be in the US, since Bonaire is not the decision-maker for who enters the US, but they could be operating under directives.

 

[Outbound]

Just boarded Delta leaving BON. () Test results checked at the counter, of course. After we got into the waiting room, folks (public health?) came through and checked everyone’s tests. A half-hour after, a uniformed police officer checked again and put a stamp on the back of everyone’s documents (ours were only on an iPad, so no stamp). Then they were checked again at the boarding door. Perhaps the spike in positive tests has rattled the powers that be.

Wow, sure sounds like they've ramped things up. We just returned last weekend, and they only verified our test results at the check-in counter. After that, no one in the waiting room or the gate bothered.

 

[rmorgan]

Wow, sure sounds like they've ramped things up. We just returned last weekend, and they only verified our test results at the check-in counter. After that, no one in the waiting room or the gate bothered.

. . . More to the story. we were told by someone affected by it that one of the testing services fired an employee who proceeded to go to a resort and administer a bunch of tests—and issue documentation. Misspellings led to the finding that the testing company had no record of a number of travelers, who had to be identified and then retested. Flight was delayed only a few minutes. Kudos to Bonaire for handling a nutso situation smoothly and quickly!

 

[tursiops]

. . . More to the story. we were told by someone affected by it that one of the testing services fired an employee who proceeded to go to a resort and administer a bunch of tests—and issue documentation. Misspellings led to the finding that the testing company had no record of a number of travelers, who had to be identified and then retested. Flight was delayed only a few minutes. Kudos to Bonaire for handling a nutso situation smoothly and quickly!

O.M.G.
Thanks for the update!

 

[DustyC]

Yeah, early on in the wait, they kicked some of us out of the seats immediately to the left of our gate and cordoned it off. I found out later it was those that got the "bad" tests and they were waiting there for results of retesting. Also strange, we found out that if you wear a light blue polo, you can't get covid, so no mask needed.

 

[pairadocs]

Sitting in the Bonaire international Airport, preparing to fly home to the US. We brought with us the Abbott home antigen test through eMed.com before we left for Bonaire. This requires a video with a medical person to watch and confirm the test results. This is NOT the test you can buy off the shelf at Walgeens, CVS, etc. We purchased the pack of 6 and brought 4 of them with us - that way we had 2 spares, if there were any issues.

The total process was less than 30minutes for each of us - there are 2 of us. We logged on in the morning 3 days before departure, and while we were preparing breakfast or getting ready for diving, the other was either going through the test process or multi-tasking while waiting for the test results.

From what we know, this test works to get you back into the US. It does NOT work to get into Bonaire.

View attachment 684855

In June 2021, Delta wouldn't let us use the BinaxNOW to return to usa from bonaire. I had brought 4 of them with us. Had to go to testing site in bonaire. Suspect AA would have allowed/not known, but, Delta was on the lookout at that time.

Incidentally, re: Navica app - we downloaded navica app while in turks and caicos in April 2021, and used BinaxNOW to return to usa on AA, no problem. was so easy, thats why i brought 4 to bonaire.

cleomagic - you fly AA back to usa?