Tourists to be tested on arrival?
From the Observer:
"Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton has announced that all tourists and Jamaicans arriving in the island after June 15 will be tested for COVID-19.
This is a reversal of the initial decision that was taken by the Government for tourists to only submit to voluntary testing.
Dr Tufton said testing will be done to understand and manage the risk profile of visitors."
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lates..._minister_says
The Gleaner desktop version is not commenting on the story yet, but a nearly identical story is on their mobile version.
Watching the press conference this evening, their seemed to be some confusion about the details and the logistics of the testing.
On page 112 of the 119 page Phase 1 manual, Appendix 1 is the Travel Declaration by Visitors. This is to measure a visitor's COVID risks. If the agent decides, the visitor would be given a test. It seems the press conference was meant to clarify this but may have just muddied the waters.
Let's wait for some time for the story to get described correctly - update tomorrow!
Re: Tourists to be tested on arrival?
the reversal on such short notice will view Jamaica’s policy arrangements as confusing and potentially threatening airline confidence
500 - 1,000+ people a day entering Jamaica to test successfully and smoothly would be monumental task for Jamaica....
just the number of thousands of test kits required and the expense of providing workers would overtax Jamaica....
should be very interesting to say the least how this all turns out...….
Cool Runnings, Marko
Re: Tourists to be tested on arrival?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Marko
the reversal on such short notice will view Jamaica’s policy arrangements as confusing and potentially threatening airline confidence
500 - 1,000+ people a day entering Jamaica to test successfully and smoothly would be monumental task for Jamaica....
just the number of thousands of test kits required and the expense of providing workers would overtax Jamaica....
should be very interesting to say the least how this all turns out...….
Cool Runnings, Marko
From the Observer:
"But at least one tour operator shocked by the news said the move would cause people to view Jamaica’s policy arrangements as confusing, potentially threatening airline confidence."
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/l...abbed-covid-19
Re: Tourists to be tested on arrival?
More from the Observer:
"On Monday, seven flights are expected with approximately 1,000 passengers, and of major concern is the Ministry of Health’s capacity to manage traveller volumes. It took more than three hours for the ministry to fully test and clear close to 150 arriving passengers on the most recent UK flight into Kingston.
It is believed that the Montego Bay Convention Centre may be used to facilitate the testing of passengers.
“Moving persons from the Montego Bay airport to the Convention Centre for testing will be disastrous,” said one stakeholder, who asked to remain anonymous."
As mentioned, this is a logistical problem. Jamaica up to this point can process about 300 to 400 tests in a 24 hour period. On Wednesday they handled 325. It took 3 hours to just swab 150 Jamaicans returning from the UK at the airport. 1000 visitors are expected on the 15th. The math doesn't look good. And for those who don't know, the convention centre is a few miles past the airport heading east, away from Negril.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/l...abbed-covid-19
In another Observer article Dr. Tufton stated:
"He said there may be some ambiguity or lack of understanding surrounding the protocol for testing and results, pointing out that results are generally returned in 24 to 36 hours. However, he said a number of factors can cause a hold-up.
“This period may be lengthened on occasion for a number of reasons, including a delay in the transportation of samples, samples held as more processing is required, or retesting is required because samples may be compromised or an invalid report was generated by the machine… this process, even though efficient, does have downtime, and contributes to delays… it's not something that we are happy about; we don't want to inconvenience persons who are waiting for results, and we regret where persons have to wait, but it's not a precise science because of the mechanical and the limited staff that we have,” Dr Tufton said."
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...ng-home_196149
It looks like we will be hearing more about this before the 15th - keep checking back for the latest!
Re: Tourists to be tested on arrival?
I am not sure how practical the Convention Centre idea is, with the maximum social distancing load of 40 passengers on the largest buses, June 15th alone would take 25 trips. Each bus would of course need to be sterilized afterwards. Logistics, logistics, logistics....
Re: Tourists to be tested on arrival?
What are the tourist doing while waiting for their test results? Do we get quarantined? Do we go to our hotel? Who is paying for this mandatory test? If the government truly want to open the country to tourists this is not the way to do it.
I agree safety is of upmost important but trying to test up to 1000 people a day arriving at the airport is not practical. Let’s hope the policy can be clarified so that tourism can return.
Re: Tourists to be tested on arrival?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
flhrbill
What are the tourist doing while waiting for their test results? Do we get quarantined? Do we go to our hotel? Who is paying for this mandatory test? If the government truly want to open the country to tourists this is not the way to do it.
I agree safety is of upmost important but trying to test up to 1000 people a day arriving at the airport is not practical. Let’s hope the policy can be clarified so that tourism can return.
Those are all questions that were left somewhat ambiguous after the press conference last night. It was stated that visitors would be sent off to their hotel to await the results. If the test turns out positive, this seems a bit counter productive. And then of course there are the carriers who would test negative but develop COVID days later or simply spread it unknowingly. This is an mean virus.
No mention of who is paying for the test or that suggested trip to the Convention Centre.
The government truly wants to open the country to tourism, but they equally want the country to avoid a surge in COVID cases.
Many tourism workers are severely hurt economically, completely broke, can't pay any rent or bills or put food on the table. You have to weigh the economic problems in this equation, which includes starvation that will kill you vs. the chance of catching a virus the might kill you. It is an ugly reality, but a reality nevertheless.
There are no easy solutions - everyday will be measured and taken into account for Phase 2 starting July 1st.
Expect more of these nearly daily changes to procedures. Although there is an 119 page guide, there is no "MANUAL" on how to deal with COVID. The repeated contradictions at the WHO and CDC prove that. Everyday we learn something new.
Re: Tourists to be tested on arrival?
Rob do you know what these tests cost? I don’t . My husband had had 2 of these so he could do medical procedures. We pull used up in our car , rolled the window down they swabbed . The swan is 10 seconds. If people want to travel , would and could visitors pay for their test? It still doesn’t solve the 24 hour wait for the results. Just a thought .
Re: Tourists to be tested on arrival?
Re: Tourists to be tested on arrival?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Miss Honey
Rob do you know what these tests cost? I don’t . My husband had had 2 of these so he could do medical procedures. We pull used up in our car , rolled the window down they swabbed . The swan is 10 seconds. If people want to travel , would and could visitors pay for their test? It still doesn’t solve the 24 hour wait for the results. Just a thought .
The pre-flight "COVID Passport" as it was called was nixed by the airlines as unreliable and unmanageable. No mention here on who is funding the testing.
Re: Tourists to be tested on arrival?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Miss Honey
The swab is 10 seconds.
The swab part may take seconds, but to move and collect data as well as swab for 150 people through socially distanced lines safely at the airport in Kingston took 3 hours...
Re: Tourists to be tested on arrival?
Few questions and comments -
Any knowledge on what company manufactured these tests, and in what country? What is the acting agent? How invasive is the test? People commenting on having nose-bleeds following the swab - yikes!
Where I reside you can even get tested unless you have symptoms, so a COVID-19 passport not an option for me.
Too much confusion and uncertainty regarding who, what, when, and how someone will be or will not be tested. Logistical nightmare!
June 26 is around the corner. Hoping the Ja Gov makes a decision and sticks with it so I can make an educated decision regarding travel or no travel.
Re: Tourists to be tested on arrival?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sandytoes
Few questions and comments -
Any knowledge on what company manufactured these tests, and in what country? What is the acting agent? How invasive is the test? People commenting on having nose-bleeds following the swab - yikes!
Where I reside you can even get tested unless you have symptoms, so a COVID-19 passport not an option for me.
Too much confusion and uncertainty regarding who, what, when, and how someone will be or will not be tested. Logistical nightmare!
June 26 is around the corner. Hoping the Ja Gov makes a decision and sticks with it so I can make an educated decision regarding travel or no travel.
The Roche Cobas 6800 is the testing unit made in Rotkreuz, Switzerland.
https://diagnostics.roche.com/global...00-system.html
I have not heard of any cases of nosebleeds here.
Re: Tourists to be tested on arrival?
Hearing all of this makes me being patient to travel back to Negril a lot easier...
Re: Tourists to be tested on arrival?
The nasal swab is not a big deal - I've had it done 3 times in the last 6 weeks (all negative, long story) with only a moment's discomfort. Mine were all analyzed on a rapid screen where the samples had to be in the analyzer with 15 minutes. Each time I got the results within the hour, once it took 15 minutes.
I would think that everyone tested would be happy to know their status. I would guess that Jamaica would body temperature screen all incoming people and then viral test only those that are high (body temperature high!). This is indeed a nasty virus but masking, hand cleaning and social isolation seems to help limit the spread.
Appleton hand sanitizer available yet? Just need 70% ethanol and 30% aloe.
Re: Tourists to be tested on arrival?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rob
From the Observer:
"Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton has announced that all tourists and Jamaicans arriving in the island after June 15 will be tested for COVID-19.
This is a reversal of the initial decision that was taken by the Government for tourists to only submit to voluntary testing.
Dr Tufton said testing will be done to understand and manage the risk profile of visitors."
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lates..._minister_says
The Gleaner desktop version is not commenting on the story yet, but a nearly identical story is on their mobile version.
Watching the press conference this evening, their seemed to be some confusion about the details and the logistics of the testing.
On page 112 of the 119 page Phase 1 manual, Appendix 1 is the Travel Declaration by Visitors. This is to measure a visitor's COVID risks. If the agent decides, the visitor would be given a test. It seems the press conference was meant to clarify this but may have just muddied the waters.
Let's wait for some time for the story to get described correctly - update tomorrow!
Well one thing for sure. This is probably going to slow down the amount of vacationers in July and August . This should slow the spread . I also heard the test is only good for 3 days . I’m not sure on that. My hubs tests were 2 weeks apart here in Ohio. He said very uncomfortable burn for 10 seconds. No nose bleed. As of today anyone in Ohio can have a test.
