Hello Hello! If you are traveling into the territory soon, I have some good news for you! You know that pesky 72 hour window for COVID testing? Well, as of today, February 2, 2022, we can say goodbye to that stressful process as the territory eases back to the five day window for testing as you prepare for travel to Love City 🙂
On January 3, 2022, Governor Bryan rolled out a tight window for COVID testing for travel into the USVI. Previously, visitors would have a five day window to test and provide negative results in order to gain that glorious green QR code and safely fly into the territory. With the rise of Omicron, that COVID testing window was tightened to a 72 hour window for testing and procuring results. When Governor Bryan announced this change, he said that in thirty days they would be reviewing this policy.
Well, we are just about at that thirty day window. And, yesterday, Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach announced at the weekly press conference that we would be returning to the previous testing requirements as of today. Woo hoo!!!!
So, starting today, here are the two ways that you can successfully get your green QR code for travel into the territory:
- Domestic travelers must submit a negative result from an antigen (rapid) OR nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) (e.g., RT- PCR) COVID test taken within 5 days of travel.
- Travelers vaccinated in the U.S. Virgin Islands may be able to use their vaccine status, in lieu of a COVID test result for travel from the U.S. mainland and/or from another U.S. Territory.
Please note, the only vaccinations that are able to be used to get into the territory are those vaccinations that were issued in the territory. Those questions are already rolling in. If you were vaccinated anywhere other than the USVI, you still need to test before arrival. But, now you have five days to do it!
You still DO NOT have to test in order to return from the USVI to the US mainland unless your arrival state requires it.
That’s great news! I’m over on the north shore of Vieques, staring at STJ through binoculars right now. I haven’t been to Love City since 2016. It’s calling my name! I can hear It in the wind! … When the chickens shut up.
A step in the right direction. Now the Governor needs to take the next step and allow all vaccinated people into the USVI without taking Covid tests. Is he saying the US vaccine is not good enough! I believe Puerto Rico just changed their entry requirements.
Vaccinated people still get and transmit Covid. So why would you want to discriminate against people who have had Covid and have natural immunity? The approach being used is most fair way of dealing with the virus without opening everything up
Exactly!!!!!
I read your emails daily and love all of your updates! But this one was especially helpful as i am coming to the island later this month with my wife and 1yr old 🙂 You spelled out the revised guidelines super clear and i was watching the press conference yesterday but left with questions! So thank you!
First time back since honeymoon and our son arrived! We are beyond excited!
Keep the updates and good news coming from our favorite place in the world!
Not trying to start a debate, and you may not know the answer – but why is Puerto Rico different? As of 2/2, vaccinated travelers are no longer required to present a negative test.
And even that is silly. If that is the case, you should be able to still provide proof of prior exposure through an antibodies test, thus having natural immunity (natural vaccination), before entering. The vaccine isn’t stopping anything and all research coming out now shows natural immunity is superior. Oh, and lockdowns only changed things by .2%.
Yay!! A little less stress!
I just want to understand this.
I live on the US Mainland. I have two vaccines PLUS the Booster. Do I still need a COVID test to enter St. Johns? Or will my vaccine card be enough for entrance?
I have no independent knowledge, but this is what is written above, which clearly states you still need a test:
“Travelers vaccinated in the U.S. Virgin Islands may be able to use their vaccine status, in lieu of a COVID test result for travel from the U.S. mainland and/or from another U.S. Territory.
Please note, the only vaccinations that are able to be used to get into the territory are those vaccinations that were issued in the territory. Those questions are already rolling in. If you were vaccinated anywhere other than the USVI, you still need to test before arrival. But, now you have five days to do it!”
What a shame that people are cheering a return to the 5 day testing. They should be mad as hell that there is a testing requirement. This is an endemic disease. It isn’t going anywhere. Does the government of the VI have any sort of exit strategy for all these ridiculous rules? Maybe Virgin Islanders are ok with mask mandates and beach curfews forever? The majority of flyover country has been living normally for about 18 months with no worse outcomes than anywhere else. Virgin Islanders should demand the same.
Thank you. You answered my previous question.
Frankly I don’t understand the difference between vaccinated and unvaccinated. Everyone I know right with Covid is vaccinated and my family was infected by someone with all the vaccines. Seems a bit discriminatory and not based in rational evaluation of the data.
But I will wait to visit the island I love and respect the rules.
Very helpful and lets hope the other restrictions go by the wayside within the next 30 days for those fully vaccinated persons/travelers
Once in St John, are there any requirements for traveling to St Croix?
Well that is just great Steven, now let’s do something about those 900,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S.. Wait I know – how about unrestricted access to a small island with limited resources? try some facts and not anti-mask, anti-vax rhetoric. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/900-000-dead-covid-deaths-are-surging-low-vaccination-states-n1288586 https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/04/health/covid-deaths-jhu/index.html https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/04/us/us-covid-deaths.html https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2022/02/04/1078100069/covid19-deaths-us https://nypost.com/2022/02/05/covid-19-death-toll-in-us-surpasses-900000-now-leads-the-world/
Anthony how about citing some scientific research vs. Leftist talking points from mainstream media? Sheep.
Have one member/guest in party due end of Febuary who has a positive test and has traveled with her CDC acceptable documentation of recovery. Will USVI portal accept a positive with recovery documentation? Any one else experienced this issue? And outcome?
Are they accepting the proctored home tests now? They portal sends me to the CDC website which is fine but just want to be sure. Also, 1 of our travelers is not a US citizen. She will be in the US for 5 days before heading to St. John. I did email the portal and they sent me back their standard email…..again…not very conclusive. It looks like she will still need to test 24 hours ahead. Thank you!
I had a call from airline today, I have to stay overnight in Miami to get to St John. Do I test 5 days before I leave my home airport which is March 8 but have to spend night in Miam, then arrive in St Thomas to visit St John March 9. When do I test?
There is now only one state in the mainland US with mask mandates in place – Hawaii.