Current COVID/masking in Cozumel

[Kimela]

Here is the Spanish version text that was sent to me - I assure you I don't have the time or interest to make this stuff up - just sharing what was shared with me and seems to go along with other reports I am getting from friends who still live on the island. And I personally know of twelve residents that have tested positive and have presented with mild to severe symptoms in 2021. Dr. Julio (one of the island's beloved veterinarians) has been hospitalized and on a ventilator for a couple of weeks now. He has improved, but still in fragile condition.

Having just been on the island, and spoken with some people who have been directly affected, I know you're being 100% honest and candid about what's going on. The person I want to share this info with has always dismissed anything about Cozumel I share from Scubaboard because he doesn't think it's trustworthy. I've explained that the info I've gotten is from people who live on the island - but like I said, he just dismisses it, saying "what would they know?". (I did find a link with the announcement - in Spanish - and he speaks passable Spanish.)

This will really impact people's visit. There will be logistical questions like 'do I need my actual vaccination card or will a picture of it be ok?'. If I'm not vaccinated, how do I prove I've had my test within the past 72 hours, and will there be a +/- number of hours leeway? Will this mean a negative test upon arrival at a resort will suffice for the entire visit, or will they want one every 72 hours while you're staying there? I guess if you leave the resort for any excursion you'll need an updated test?

This would not have been a big deal for us, but for anyone who is not vaccinated, this could be complicated. And of course, it adds to what the people in Cozumel will have to figure out while dealing with such incredible challenges already.

 

[cvchief]

I am not downplaying anything at all; there is a ton of covid. However, I can't find any of those 'new' restrictions on the Governor's or the State Health Department's pages.

I think there is probably great hesitation to kick the economy in the face again. Carlos Joaquin has been posted repeated different things to 'stop from going to red.'

I can't see it going from not really going after tourists without masks to making tourist carry vaccination cards. We were there last month after the went around and said 50% capacity in the restaurants or else. Like we are serious this time. Didn't seem serious to me.

Our onsite manager just got his first AZ shot in the 30-39 years old. Apparently it worked REALLY well as he was sick as dog for a day.

 

[ColoDale]

I am not downplaying anything at all; there is a ton of covid. However, I can't find any of those 'new' restrictions on the Governor's or the State Health Department's pages.

I also have yet to find a gov't site with an official announcment but there are many media reports and they all have the same information. The governor uses social meida quite a bit but I wish his office would follow up with official announcements more.
I am not sure how staff at business will deal with it.

 

[Diverlady13]

Man, I had no idea it was this bad, thanks Christi. My niece was supposed to leave on her honeymoon there on Monday, but she realized last week her pp expired and of course it's weeks to get a new one, so they had to cancel. Sounds like a blessing in disguise

Has your niece already sent her passport in for renewal? A friend of mine had to do so late last year....took 6 months to get the new passport in the mail! That was with the "fast" renewal (which is just a surcharge to "rush").

Flying out of Cozumel we were asked to show our Verifly app result at the American Airlines counter. We were never asked for the printed Covid test results but had to state we had it in our possession to complete the Verifly app process. Then we had to fill out the paper form stating we’re not sick - and that form was collected by TSA. Might be different in CUN - we flew out of CZM yesterday (July 20).

Thanks. Yeah....twice now nobody has collected that paper form at CUN. Additionally, looked at nor collected the CDC forms. Verifly wasn't fully operational in February, but in June I used it and told the woman at the check in that I had it, but she didn't want to see it. That said, our driver arrived more than 30 minutes late to pick us up from the resort and then, due to a huge traffic jam, we arrived very late to the airport. We had planned to arrive 3 hours before our flight, but got there less than an hour in advance. Someone had to escort us to the front of the line and then again thru security just so we would make the flight. So, it could be because it was just easier to look at paper forms when everything was so rushed. I guess I'll just do Verifly again and lie about having the paper forms if I can't get them printed. It's a ridiculous to require printed materials when people are traveling since we get the data digitally to start with.

 

[ReefHound]

There has been a lot of COVID for months. I know one business where almost 90 percent of the employees have had Covid at this point (2/3rds last summer and then a few more last month ).

Now almost all of them have natural immunity.

 

[ReefHound]

Let’s see if they actually enforce this on the ferries like they say they will. The ferries are likely the worst offenders. I think tried to reduce infection risk during the first few months of the pandemic , but they have done pretty much whatever they wanted for the past year

Step right up and place your bets, folks!

 

[mcohen1021]

so, those of you that have been, noone had any issues with the 10 ft swabbing test to come back? It was so bad i dont want to go back

 

[ReefHound]

so, those of you that have been, noone had any issues with the 10 ft swabbing test to come back? It was so bad i dont want to go back

Seriously? You must have had a bad technician. We've returned twice in last few months. Tested once at Amerimed and once at Marko's. A 5 second swab in one nostril that was not deep or painful.

 

[ggunn]

so, those of you that have been, noone had any issues with the 10 ft swabbing test to come back? It was so bad i dont want to go back

I did and it wasn't that bad. It was uncomfortable for the 1 or 2 seconds it took, and my nasal passage (the one she probed) was mildly irritated for a half hour or so, but it wasn't nearly so bad that it would keep me from going to Cozumel if everything else was a go.

 

[DandyDon]

The appt was $65 and the meds were about the same. (I found my own meds after I went back to the house).

Same meds as you take at home? I cannot function much less dive without original Sudafed, Pseudoephedrine (PSE), WalactD, but it's illegal there so I smuggle in every trip and keep it hidden. I may get busted someday.

so, those of you that have been, noone had any issues with the 10 ft swabbing test to come back? It was so bad i dont want to go back

What a baby. I did my own swab at CVS before leaving the US earlier this month, then allowed a technician to do it before returning. It tickled when he did it. Maybe you had a careless tech.

A 5 second swab in one nostril that was not deep or painful.

Hmm, both of my tests involved both nostrils.