For Immediate Release
Source: United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism
Contacts:
Alani Henneman-Todman, U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism +1 340 774-8784
ahenneman@usvitourism.vi
Keisha Nelson, Marketplace Excellence +1 201 861-2056
keisha@marketplaceexcellence.com
Travel Screening Portal Clearance A Must for U.S. Virgin Islands Arrivals
However, CDC COVID-19 testing requirements do not apply for travel from the U.S. Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (January 19, 2021) – The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism is reminding travelers to the Territory to use the Travel Screening Portal at usvitravelportal.com to submit the required Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) test results prior to traveling to the Territory.
Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte confirmed that travelers five years of age or older who do not comply with the requirement and who do not receive clearance from the online portal will be unable to board an aircraft to the Territory.
“With new variants of COVID-19 circulating in recent months, it is essential to adhere to prevention and control measures since we are still in the midst of a pandemic,” he said, adding that travelers five years of age or older who arrive by marine vessel are also required to receive certification from the portal prior to arriving in the Territory.
Commissioner Boschulte clarified that new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel requirements related to COVID-19 for all air passengers arriving in the United States do not apply to persons traveling or returning directly from the U.S. Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland. The requirements, which go into effect on January 26, 2021, do apply, however, to international passengers arriving in the United States, which includes the U.S. Virgin Islands, from a foreign country (i.e., anywhere that is not a state, territory or possession of the United States).
Some states in the U.S. have enacted COVID-19 travel restrictions, such as the need to provide evidence of COVID-19 testing within a specified period of time, for travelers entering (or returning to) that state. Hence, travelers departing from the U.S. Virgin Islands are advised to check with their intended destination to determine what, if any, COVID-19 travel restrictions or testing requirements are in place. A list of labs in the Territory that offer COVID-19 testing is available at https://bit.ly/3g41mWl.
The tourism head reported that the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands has processed close to 135,000 travelers since the Travel Screening Portal was launched in late July. “The technology undergirding the portal has been designed to be not only innovative but also responsive to changing travel protocols and the Territory’s health and safety guidelines,” said Commissioner Boschulte, who confirmed that the prescreening tool has helped to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the Territory.
The Tourism Commissioner and public health officials in the USVI are encouraging residents and travelers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and to continue complying with testing, mask-wearing, and social distancing requirements as the vaccination may limit the severity of COVID-19 illness but does not prevent a person from being infected with the virus or spreading it to others. Travelers should note that vaccination does not supersede the Territory’s COVID-19 testing requirement.
Commissioner Boschulte underscored that travelers who originate in the U.S. Virgin Islands and return to the Territory, including those who return within a five-day period, must take a COVID-19 test before returning or have proof of a positive antibody test result within the previous four months. Virgin Islands residents are encouraged to arrange for testing at their intended destination prior to departing the Territory.
For more information, visit usviupdate.com.
About the U.S. Virgin Islands
For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to VisitUSVI.com, follow us on Instagram (@visitusvi) and Twitter (@usvitourism), and become a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/VisitUSVI). When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel – including on-line check-in – making travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands easier than ever. As a United States Territory, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require a passport from U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens.
ENDS
