Well, kinda nailed the new protocols....

CORRECTIONS

Everyone will be screened and accessed at the airport. Pre-testing PCR tests are required from 4 places currently high risk, New York, Florida, Arizona and Texas. Arrivals from these States will need to have their negative pre-flight test uploaded before they get here on the VisitJamaica.com site. The infection surge does have it's consequences folks.... (Wear a mask, please?)


The stretching of local medical resources was just too much, and this now allows some of that human medical resources to go back into the communities where it is needed instead of being at the airport.


For those concerned about the layovers, this was taken into account. The initial estimate was for about 2.5% of visitors to test positive. The actual number after recording them since June 1 is .75% - far less than estimated. This reduced figure was a heavy inducement to stop the expensive and time consuming protocols at the airport.


For those staying outside of the "corridor" (which didn't seem to be expanded to the South Coast yet) will be quarantined and then sent to test at the nearest facility. Because you are outside of the corridor, please try to remember who you had extended contact with to help with contact tracing.


As far as uploading your pre-flight results, those from high risk States are required to submit them. A layover does not require pre-testing.


While the PM was trying to paint the best picture possible, Jamaica is essentially flying by the seat of their pants - BUT - they are flying! Which isn't an easy thing to do these days.

While the beaches remain open, last weekend the Ministry said there was a 91% NON COMPLIANCE with the rules. As a visitor, try to keep that number much much lower...

Curfew is from 11pm to 5am until July 31.

All the above is subject to change....


Just FYI, the talk around town was that the entire USA would be banned like the EU did, that had everyone very nervous.... wash your hands and wear your masks! We all want to see you!

Thanks for posting, but now I am more confused. Your post makes it sound like ALL tourists must take pretest but only High risk state travelers must upload. Other state travelers may be asked to? How would that work if you don’t register until 72 hours before. Am I reading this wrong?
As far as passengers in transit, you said that is taken into account...so required or not?

We live in Rhode Island one or two states that are seeing a decrease in numbers. We will be flying from here with a one hour layover in Orlando. I still don’t understand the requirement for a layover. We certainly don’t mind the pretesting as long as it is 10 to 7 days prior to our trip. The test results can take up to a week to get back.

We are from upstate New York and our covid cases have been low. Our New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo put restrictions in place early on and our state has been opening up in phases (currently in the final phase). New York has successfully controlled the outbreak and is not a hot spot so I am unsure why our state is grouped with the hot spot states. In any event, our group of 8 is unable to meet the pre-testing protocol and doesn't feel welcome in Jamaica so we will need to cancel.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bonster

We are from upstate New York and our covid cases have been low. Our New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo put restrictions in place early on and our state has been opening up in phases (currently in the final phase). New York has successfully controlled the outbreak and is not a hot spot so I am unsure why our state is grouped with the hot spot states. In any event, our group of 8 is unable to meet the pre-testing protocol and doesn't feel welcome in Jamaica so we will need to cancel.

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From the June data collected, many of the positive cases tested came from passengers from New York. Upstate New York is worlds away from NYC but Jamaica determined the hot spots by State, not each county or city in that State. Sorry you cannot get pre-tested. That was always a worry which is why not everyone is being required to be pre-tested. Just as resources are limited here, Jamaica knows the pre-testing resources are limited in other countries.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Barb111

Thanks for posting, but now I am more confused. Your post makes it sound like ALL tourists must take pretest but only High risk state travelers must upload. Other state travelers may be asked to? How would that work if you don’t register until 72 hours before. Am I reading this wrong?
As far as passengers in transit, you said that is taken into account...so required or not?

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Please re-read it. I made some corrections to clarify it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by flhrbill

We live in Rhode Island one or two states that are seeing a decrease in numbers. We will be flying from here with a one hour layover in Orlando. I still don’t understand the requirement for a layover. We certainly don’t mind the pretesting as long as it is 10 to 7 days prior to our trip. The test results can take up to a week to get back.

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There is no requirement for a layover. Only if your originating State is New York, Florida, Arizona or Texas is there a pre-testing requirement.

So you go thru all the planning and expense for your vacation. You follow all the rules if you can ever figure them out. And then at the last minute somebody somewhere decides no you can't come.
Have I got that right?

Thanks, Rob.

I am still unclear, ...some may still be asked to upload them...You may not have time at that point to be tested.

Flhrbill, Also from RI!

“In any event, our group of 8 is unable to meet the pre-testing protocol and doesn't feel welcome in Jamaica so we will need to cancel.“

What an arrogant, selfish, privileged attitude. Maybe Jamaica isn’t really for you.
As a third world country “flying by the seat of their pants”. They have been more successful at controlling this nonsense than most 1st world countries.
It’s really not all about you.

I'm sorry if my comments sounded that way. I really do understand the threat to JA from hot spot communities. It's just that our group has been very careful and planned to continue to protect anyone we came in contact with in JA, of course. Upstate New York and New York in general has been successful in controlling the virus, so it is disappointing that our state is still considered a threat. Very sorry if my comments were offensive to anyone. I believe my disappointment was worded incorrectly and please accept my sincere apologies.

I also apologize for snapping. Strange daze indeed.
Peace

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bonster

I'm sorry if my comments sounded that way. I really do understand the threat to JA from hot spot communities. It's just that our group has been very careful and planned to continue to protect anyone we came in contact with in JA, of course. Upstate New York and New York in general has been successful in controlling the virus, so it is disappointing that our state is still considered a threat. Very sorry if my comments were offensive to anyone. I believe my disappointment was worded incorrectly and please accept my sincere apologies.

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I can sympathize with how you feel. I am in the current "hot spot" state; Florida. And, although I am doing all I can to keep from getting infected, the stigma of "Florida" will follow me until it gets under control..If ever.

I can only say I booked for early October so I hope it will be different by then.

Thank you, Rob. Be safe. Be well

Quote:

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Originally Posted by airswift

So you go thru all the planning and expense for your vacation. You follow all the rules if you can ever figure them out. And then at the last minute somebody somewhere decides no you can't come.
Have I got that right?

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No. I corrected that portion. It was left in by accident.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Barb111

I am still unclear, ...some may still be asked to upload them...You may not have time at that point to be tested.

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That has been edited. It was left in by accident.

My local driver sent this to me. I am booked for the last 2 weeks in July. Looks like I will be needing a pre-test, but may not need to upload it.

Attachment 55124

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Accompong

I can sympathize with how you feel. I am in the current "hot spot" state; Florida. And, although I am doing all I can to keep from getting infected, the stigma of "Florida" will follow me until it gets under control..If ever.

I can only say I booked for early October so I hope it will be different by then.

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I'm booking for early Oct to mid Oct. also from Florida! Hoping for the state govt. get their s__t together.
B

Thanks for the update!

While I'm not sure how effective the pretest requirement will be, I completely understand and applaud Jamaica's desire to have as good a picture as possible of those coming into the country but, logistically the pretesting mandate might act as a short term stop on tourists from some of those states (perhaps that's the intent). I can't blame the Jamaican government for that. I live in Bexar County Texas where my city has had a 600% increase in hospitalizations this month and is experiencing near exponential growth in new cases. If I wanted to get a test today without symptoms, that would be a real challenge. Almost every testing center requires a physician referral and then you are screened at the testing locations (have to meet criteria to get tested). Testing is still limited here with slow turnaround times. It would be near impossible for me to obtain testing and get results as required by the policy. Again, I don't disagree with what JA is doing. The Jamaican government has done a hell of a lot better than most of the U.S. but, from where I live this is effectively a ban. I hope that Texas and the rest of the US can get their stuff together sooner rather than later.

Airswift and Barb111 - please read:

https://negril.com/forum/showthread....more-confusion

Apparently I understood it right before reading the "corrections"..... this may change again.....