| How the January 26, 2021 Mandate Impacts You |
| Effective January 26, 2021 all passengers on US bound international flights need to have results from a negative Covid19 PCR or antigen test, uploaded to their booking on the airline’s site, 3 days/72 hours before the flight, according to a new CDC Mandate. What does this mean to you? If you’re flying home from anywhere outside the US you need to get tested in order to board your flight. The day this information was announced I worked late into the night emailing hotels, tourism boards and tour operators to be sure my clients would have access to testing. In every case the answer was yes. To be very clear, because this is confusing for some: Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana islands are US states or territories and they are not impacted by this rule. Most resorts, who already suffered from low occupancy in 2020, are working to offer free or low cost testing to guests to avoid cancellations. What is even more impressive is that several of my favorite all inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean are offering guests who test positive free 14 day stays. In some cases you would be quarantined at the resort in a special section, in other cases you would be moved to a nearby hotel. Keep in mind if you don’t feel sick and have no idea you are asymptomatic until you get your test results you likely will not need a hospital stay – and of course you would not be going back to work while you have Covid – so why not spend 2 weeks on your balcony or room with wifi in paradise? While you will not be able to go to the pool, beach, gym, restaurants and bars, you will have room service. I can think of worse ways to be quarantined then having room service, a bubblebath in the jacuzzi on my balcony, while reading books or working with great wifi for a couple of weeks. I’m not sure if the butler at Le Blanc will still bring the nightly chocolate selection, but one can hope. When you book travel with me, I will keep you abreast of these rules as they change, but it is your responsibility to arrange the testing and upload your results to the airlines’ sites. Your hotel concierge can assist you if you are not able to do this yourself. Please email or call me if you have any questions about this for a trip we either have booked together, or that you plan to book with me. Photo courtesy of Pixabay |
New CDC Regulation for US Bound International Flights