This is a developing story. For the latest information on traveling during the coronavirus outbreak, visit the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.
The U.S. Virgin Islands—comprising St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas—started to welcome back leisure travelers on June 1, but closed its borders once again on August 19 and reinstated stay-at-home orders for locals after a surge in coronavirus cases. After cases dipped, leisure travel officially resumed once again on September 19, with entry testing requirements expanded to include all travelers five years and older.
As of October 2, there have been 1,326 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 20 resulting deaths across the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University. Here’s what we know about traveling to the U.S. territory right now.
Test and health screening requirements
After closing for a month, the USVI is requiring all travelers five years and older to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 antigen (molecular/PCR/rapid) test taken within five days prior to arrival. The government is also accepting positive antibody tests taken within four months prior to travel. All test results must be uploaded to the USVI Travel Screening Portal before departure.
Upon arrival, travelers must produce their original test results and the travel certification received from the portal. Travelers who can’t produce negative test results will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days at their own expense.
How to get to the USVI
American Airlines currently has three daily flights between Miami and St. Thomas. In the first half of November, American plans to increase its service to St. Thomas with two flights a day from Charlotte, North Carolina, daily flights from Philadelphia, and Saturday service from both Chicago and Dallas-Fort Worth, followed by daily flights from both cities in time for Thanksgiving. American will also add service to St. Croix in November with two flights a day from Miami as well as daily Charlotte flights in the second half of November.
For more information on the current airlift to the USVI from the continental United States, the tourism board is updating a Google document with relevant flight details.
What is open now
The tourism board is also updating a different Google document with information on hotels and resorts that are open now.
Restaurants can resume indoor dining as long as they limit capacity to 50 percent or 50 customers—whichever is less—and require employees to wear face masks all the time. Customers need to wear face masks whenever they are not seated at their tables. Nightclubs and bars remain entirely closed, and beaches are closed between 4 p.m. until 6 a.m. Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
For more information, visit usviupdate.com.
>> Next: The Caribbean Islands Reopening for Tourism This Year
