Travelore News: Dangerous Storm Threatens Havoc Across Hawaiian Archipelago

HONOLULU (AP) — From the empty shores of Oahu’s Waikiki Beach to the snowy summit of the Big Island’s highest peak, an unusually strong winter storm is clobbering the Hawaiian Islands and raising the threat of dangerous flash floods, landslides and crashing tree limbs.

The strong storm over the nation’s only island state left eloping couples without weddings and tourists stuck indoors. It also threatened the state’s infrastructure with a deluge of rain and wind.

Five boys between the ages of 9 and 10 were rescued from a raging creek by Honolulu Fire Department workers, a statement from the agency said.

Weather officials warned that slow-moving thunderstorms, high winds and heavy rains could persist through Wednesday and Gov. David Ige issued a state of emergency for all of the state’s islands Monday night.

Veterans and survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor 80 years ago planned to meet for the anniversary celebration Tuesday morning at Pearl Harbor. Navy spokesperson Brenda Way told The Associated Press in an email Monday that she has heard of no discussion of canceling the event because of the storms.

The National Weather Service said the storm brings the threat of “catastrophic flooding” in the coming days as a low pressure system slowly moves from east to west and lingered on the edge of the archipelago. The storm knocked out power in communities across Hawaii and the worst of the rain was just arriving in the state’s most populous island of Oahu Monday evening.

“Now is the time to make sure you have an emergency plan in place and supplies ready should you need to move away from rising water,” Ige said in a statement.

On Oahu, where four shelters had been opened, most of the beaches in Waikiki were empty Monday as only a few people walked with umbrellas during passing heavy showers. Roadways were flooding in the area and cars crept through downtown as water gushed out of manhole covers.

On Maui, power outages and flooding already have been reported, with more than a foot (30 centimeters) of rain falling in some areas.

The relentless rain forced three couples from the U.S. mainland to postpone their Maui elopements, said Nicole Bonanno, owner of Bella Bloom Floral, a wedding florist and boutique in Wailea.

The weather also led to delayed flower deliveries, a lei company with no power and employees braving flooded roads littered with debris, Bonanno said.

“The roads, everything are a mess,” she said. “There are lots of trees down.”

resident Jimmy Gomes was waiting for the lights to come back at his home on Monday after losing power at 6 p.m. Sunday. His rain gauge measured 7 inches (17.78 centimeters): “I haven’t seen this kind of rain in a long time,” he said.

“Last night the wind was howling,” he said. “But this morning, it came in really foggy and it rained, then it stopped.”

Big Island Mayor Mitch Roth declared a state of emergency Sunday for potentially heavy rainfall and strong winds.

Some areas south of Hilo were hit hard with extremely heavy rain over the weekend, weather officials said.

All islands still face the threat of flash flooding, lightning strikes, landslides and strong winds over the next two days, according to the National Weather Service.

Oahu and Kauai could see the brunt of the storm Monday and Tuesday. But for Maui and the Big Island, which have already been soaked, “it’s not going to take a lot of additional rain to really lead to big problems,” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration meteorologist Robert Ballard said.

The winter weather system known as a “Kona low” prompted emergency alerts throughout the weekend while delivering wind, rain and even blizzard conditions at some of Hawaii’s highest elevations.

A weekend blizzard warning was issued for the state’s highest peak, on the Big Island.

Snow is not rare at the summit of Mauna Kea, which is nearly 14,000 feet (4,270 meters) high. The last time there was a blizzard warning for the summit was in 2018. No residents live at the summit, but there are telescope observatories and other offices where officials work.

The weather service said there were reports of 8 inches (20 centimeters) of snow on the road below the top of Mauna Kea, and officials were working to get to the summit to get more measurements. The forecast was for a foot of snow at the mountain’s peak.

There were also strong winds, with gusts of nearly 90 mph (138 kph) recorded atop Mauna Kea.

Other areas at lower elevations also saw strong winds, with gusts above 50 mph (80 kph) recorded at several locations across the state, according to weather officials.

Kona low is a type of low pressure system that forms near Hawaii during the winter season, and it has some unique meteorological characteristics, said Ballard, the National Weather Service’s science and operation officer in Hawaii.

“What we tend to see are a tremendous amount of tropical moisture gets drawn up from equatorial regions. Kona lows tend to move slowly and so they can keep heavy rain and thunder showers focused over one area for a prolonged amount of time, and they can also cause pretty strong to damaging winds,” Ballard said.

Hawaii has aging dams across the state that have been problematic during previous storms. In 2006, an earthen wall of Kauai’s Kaloko Reservoir collapsed during heavy rain and sent a wave of water and mud rushing down a hillside. Seven people, including a pregnant woman, were killed.

Rainfall in March caused fears that a dam had breached on Maui when floodwaters destroyed homes and inundated roadways. The same storm system brought damaging floods to Oahu and a landslide on Kauai.

Ballard said other state and federal agencies monitor dams, but that these are the conditions that people need to be cautious of.

“It’s just a situation that we need to continue to monitor and be aware of and make sure that folks understand that this is the type of situation where we can get flash flooding that happens very, very suddenly,” Ballard said.

Rio de Janeiro Cancels NYE Party Due To Omicron Fears

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Rio de Janeiro has canceled its New Year’s Eve party due to renewed COVID-19 fears.

Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes announced the decision on social media.

Paes had previously promised the biggest New Year’s Eve party ever, with multiple firework displays and artists performing on a dozen stages across the city. He said there is no decision about Carnival taking place in March.

The yearly celebration on Copacabana beach has in the past gathered more than one million locals and tourists.

Other Brazilian cities, including Sao Paulo and Salvador, have also canceled New Year’s Eve celebrations due to fears of the omicron variant,. So far, the Ministry of Health has confirmed five omicron cases in Brazil.

UK Tightens Travel Testing Rules Amid Omicron Concerns

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s government tightened travel restrictions Saturday amid concerns about the spread of the omicron coronavirus variant, saying all travelers arriving in England will need to take a COVID-19 test before they board their flight.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the new rules will apply from 4 a.m. London time Tuesday.

“In light of the most recent data, we are taking further action to slow the incursion of the omicron variant,” he said in a tweet.

Javid also added Nigeria to the U.K.’s travel “red list,” which means that arrivals from there will be banned except for U.K. and Irish residents, and those travellers must isolate in designated quarantine facilities. He said there was a “significant number” of omicron cases linked to travel with Nigeria, with 27 cases recorded in England.

Karen Dee, the chief executive of the Airport Operators Association, said the new measures will be a “major deterrent” to travel, just as airports and the travel industry were hoping for a small uplift over the festive season.

“This is a devastating blow for aviation and tourism,” she said

Authorities recorded another 42,848 confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.K. as of Saturday, with 127 more deaths. With over 145,000 COVID-19 deaths in the pandemic, Britain has the second-highest virus death toll in Europe after Russia.

Laos Opens Railway To China As Debt To Beijing Rises

BEIJING (AP) — After a blessing by Buddhist monks, Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh on Friday rode the first run of a $5.9 billion Chinese-built railway that links isolated, mountainous Laos with southern China in an effort to increase trade.

Both governments tout the 1,035-kilometer (642-mile) line from the Lao capital, Vientiane to Kunming in China’s poor southwest as a boost to economic growth. But it leaves a debt that foreign experts warn Laos, a country of 7 million people wedged between China, Vietnam and Thailand, might struggle to repay.

The railway is one of hundreds of projects under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative to build ports, railways and other facilities across Asia, Africa and the Pacific. Poor countries welcome the initiative, but some complain they are left owing too much to Chinese banks.
The first train pulled out of Vientiane following an inauguration ceremony conducted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Lao counterpart, Thongloun Sisoulith, over a video link from their capitals, the Lao news agency reported.

On Thursday, saffron-robed Lao monks conducted a ceremony for the railway, according to the Lao news agency.

The railway is to carry only cargo across the border for now due to curbs on passenger travel imposed to contain the coronavirus.

The Kunming-Vientiane railway is a link in a possible future network connecting China with Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia and Singapore. That would give southern China more access to ports and export markets.

contractors are building a high-speed rail line from the Thai capital, Bangkok, to the Lao border. That won’t be completed until 2028 and will leave a gap between the border and the line to China.

Borrowed money makes up 60% of the railway’s investment. Foreign experts say that is unusually high for an infrastructure project and increases the risk that the railway might fail to generate enough revenue to repay its debt.

Laos has been one of the world’s fastest-growing economies over the past decade but still is among the poorest. Its average economic output per person more than doubled since 2010 but stands at $2,600.

Headed To The Caribbean This winter? The COVID-19 Restrictions Are As Varied As The Islands Themselves

If you want to play in the warm sand, you’ll need to do your homework first.

By Christopher Muther

Entry guidelines for many Caribbean islands are constantly changing. Please check restrictions carefully before making plans.

Anguilla: Open to US travelers. All visitors, 18 years and older, must be fully vaccinated to enter. Pregnant women are exempt. Travelers must apply at www.ivisitanguilla.com no later than noon on the day before the day of arrival. The application for entry includes an arrival testing fee of $50 per person. All travelers must present proof of vaccination plus a negative COVID-19 test result (rapid or PCR) taken between two to five days prior to arrival. The laboratory that processes the pre-arrival test must be accredited. More information: www.ivisitanguilla.com.

Antigua and Barbuda: Open to US travelers. Restrictions to enter Antigua and Barbuda have been imposed on people who have traveled to South Africa, Botswana, Belgium, and Hong Kong within 14 days of arrival. Beginning Dec. 15, all arriving passengers will be required to present documentation of full vaccination. Children below the age of 18 are exempt from this requirement. Fully vaccinated arriving passengers can present a negative PCR test 4 days or fewer from the date of testing, or a negative rapid test three days or fewer from the date of testing. All arriving passengers must complete a Health Declaration Form, which will be distributed on the plane and will be subjected to screening and temperature checks upon arrival. If a test is required, the cost is $100 and the passenger must quarantine at an approved government health facility. More information at visitantiguabarbuda.com.

Aruba: Open to US travelers. All travelers are required to fill out an embarkation/disembarkation card between 72 and 4 hours prior to travel. All visitors age 15 and older must upload a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours prior to departure. Children 14 and under are exempt from the test. Those not producing a negative test result prior to arrival must take a PCR test upon arrival and quarantine until test results are received, but those 14 and under are exempt from the test. All visitors must purchase and pay for the Aruba travel insurance within 72 hours prior to departure. They can use their existing medical insurance to supplement the Aruba policy, but it cannot replace the Aruba travel insurance, which is $15 for travelers age 15 and older and no charge for children 14 and younger. More information at aruba.com.

Bahamas: Open to US visitors. Fully vaccinated travelers to the Bahamas are required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test (either a rapid or PCR test), taken no more than 5 days prior to the date of arrival. Unvaccinated travelers, ages 12 and older, must obtain a negative PCR test taken no more than 5 days prior to the date of arrival. All travelers are required to apply for a Bahamas Travel Health Visa at travel.gov.bs. Fully vaccinated travelers are required to upload negative test results in addition to valid proof of vaccination confirming they have passed the 2-week immunity period (such as CDC or government issued vaccine record card). As part of the Bahamas Travel Health Visa application, travelers will be required to opt-in to COVID-19 health insurance that covers them for the duration of their stay. The cost of insurance is included in the Bahamas Travel Health Visa application fee. More information at bahamas.com.

Barbados: Open to US visitors. Barbados is open to vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers, however testing and quarantine guidelines for unvaccinated tourists are more stringent. All visitors must complete the Immigration and Customs form 24 hours prior to arrival and must include the negative PCR test result taken no more than 3 days before arrival. Fully vaccinated travelers with a valid negative PCR do not need to take a second PCR test or quarantine. Health officials at the Grantley Adams airport may select fully vaccinated travelers at random for a rapid antigen arrival test on entry (free of charge). Unvaccinated travelers must quarantine for 5 days at a pre-approved accommodation, take a PCR test on day 5 at one of the approved labs or testing hotels across the island and continue to quarantine until test results are received. Unvaccinated travelers under the age of 18 are allowed to enter if accompanied by vaccinated parents/guardians; travelers under 5 are not subject to testing requirements. More information at visitbarbados.org.

Bermuda: Open to US visitors. All travelers must complete the online Bermuda travel authorization process within 1 to 3 days of arrival (cost is $75 and covers all on-island tests) and present proof of a negative PCR test taken within 4 days of arrival (this also applies to children 2 years and older). Vaccinated travelers must present proof of vaccination, be tested upon arrival and on days 4 and 10 of their stay. Unvaccinated children traveling with parents are subject to the same rules. Unvaccinated travelers must be tested upon arrival, must quarantine at their own expense for 14 days at one of seven approved hotels, and be retested at the end of their quarantine. More information: gotobermuda.com.

Bonaire: Open to US travelers. Fully vaccinated visitors must produce proof of a negative PCR test done within 72 hours of arrival. Unvaccinated visitors also must produce result of a negative antigen test taken within 24 hours of arrival as well as the negative PCR test. Bonaire has added the availability of rapid antigen testing at its Flamingo Airport to help travelers adhere to the current testing protocol. All travelers must complete a health questionnaire.

British Virgin Islands: Open to US travelers: Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travelers must begin their application on the BVI Gateway Portal no later than 48 hours before travel portal (bvigateway.bviaa.com). It must be 24 hours before travel. Failure to follow the guidelines could result in denied entry. Fully vaccinated travelers must produce proof of vaccination and a negative PCR or rapid antigen test taken no later than 48 hours prior to arrival, but they do not have to register on the entry portal or test for COVID-19 upon arrival. (If the test result is older than 48 hours, whether because of delays or overnight layovers, fully vaccinated travelers are required to register on the portal and take a rapid antigen test on the day of arrival). More information at bvitourism.com.

Cayman Islands: Open to US travelers. Unvaccinated travelers are not allowed. The Cayman Islands now restricts entry to people who have traveled to southern Africa. People who travel to, from, or through these countries within the 21 days preceding their arrival in the Cayman Islands must undergo PCR testing within 24 hours of arrival and must also complete a quarantine period of not less than 14 days. Those who meet guidelines for entry to the island must apply to the Travel Cayman portal for an official Certificate to travel by requesting a Travel Declaration. Travelers must also take a PCR test 72 hours prior to departure with a negative result. No quarantine is required for verified vaccinated travelers, but they are required to take three tests during their stay, on days 2, 5, and 10. The Cayman Islands will administer these tests. Each test is approximately $30. More information at visitcaymanislands.com.

Curacao: Open to US travelers. All visitors from very high-risk countries (which includes the United States) must complete the digital immigration card online prior to departure, fill out the passenger locator card within 48 hours of departure, show proof and upload a negative PCR test result taken within 48 hours of departure, and take an antigen test at a local laboratory on the third day of the stay. The appointment must be made and paid for in advance. Children 12 and under who don’t show COVID-19 symptoms and whose parents/caretakers can show proof of a negative PCR test are not required to undergo a PCR test prior to arrival or the antigen test on day 3. Travelers must also be insured. More information at curacao.com.

Dominica: Open to US travelers. All travelers must submit a health questionnaire at least 24 hours prior to travel and upload a negative PCR test taken between 24 and 72 hours prior to arrival. Vaccinated visitors must upload a vaccination certificate, pay online for a rapid antigen test ($100 at the airport), and present notification of health clearance to travel to Dominica and receipt for antigen test.

If the antigen result is negative, there is no mandatory quarantine for fully vaccinated travelers who have been medically cleared. They must record temperature daily and report any symptoms, and must stay in Safe in Nature certified properties. Unvaccinated travelers will be transported to a mandatory quarantine at a government-operated facility or a Safe in Nature-certified property for five days, take a PCR test on day 5 and await results for up to 48 hours. Unvaccinated children under 18 traveling with a fully vaccinated family must follow same protocols as their vaccinated family members. Children age 5 and older will be tested on day 2; those 5 and younger do not need a PCR test. More information: godominica.com.

Dominican Republic: Open to US travelers. Visitors from the United States do not need to present a negative COVID-19 test. Airports and other ports of entry will perform a quick breath test to a random selection of visitors. Passengers under the age of 5 and crew members are exempt from this procedure. All travelers are required to fill out a Traveler’s Health Affidavit and international embarkation/disembarkation form 72 hours before departure from the United States, print or take a screenshot of a QR code, which is scanned upon arrival and departure. More information: godominicanrepublic.com.

Grenada: Open to US visitors. No longer open to unvaccinated travelers. Travelers are not be required to quarantine on arrival, they are not required to test on arrival unless deemed necessary by health officials during health screening, and may use personal or other types of transportation. More information at www.puregrenada.com.

Guadeloupe: Open to US visitors. There have been violent protests and riots against the island’s COVID-19 restrictions, which currently includes a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. lockdown. Less than half of the residents of Guadeloupe have been vaccinated. Vaccinated travelers must present a negative PCR test result taken 72 hours prior to arrival or an antigen test result taken 48 hours before arrival. Travelers under 12 are exempt from this requirement. Unvaccinated tourists must present the results of a negative PCR or antigen test upon departing and arriving in Guadeloupe. All non-vaccinated travelers will also need to present a compelling reason as to why they are traveling to the Guadeloupe and be subject to a mandatory 7-day quarantine. All travelers must present a completed health declaration form upon arrival. More information at www.guadeloupe-islands.com/reopening.

Jamaica: Open to US travelers. Jamaica has imposed restrictions on travelers from a number of African countries. All travelers must submit the travel authorization form within 7 days of arrival and must show the approval during the airline check-in process. All travelers over the age of 12 must submit proof of a negative PCR test or antigen test taken within 3 days of travel. Travelers staying in the Resilient Corridors along the north and south coasts of the island are free to move about the corridors and visit attractions that have been certified by the Tourist Board to be a COVID-19 Resilient Licensed tourist attraction. Fully vaccinated travelers staying outside the Resilient Corridors who meet the pre-arrival testing requirements are no longer required to quarantine on arrival. Unvaccinated travelers staying outside the Resilient Corridors still need to quarantine for 14 days. More information at visitjamaica.com.

Martinique: Much like Guadeloupe, the French island of Martinique has seen unrest and protests, primarily around mandatory vaccination mandates for health care workers. Open to US visitors. All visitors must be fully vaccinated and must present a negative PCR test result taken 72 hours prior to arrival or an antigen test result taken 48 hours before arrival. Travelers under 12 are exempt from this requirement. All travelers must present a completed health declaration form upon arrival. There is no quarantine requirement. More information: meetmartinique.com.

Montserrat: Open to US visitors. All visitors must be fully vaccinated, show proof of a negative PCR test taken within 5 days prior to entry, complete and submit the online Access Declaration Form no later than 3 days prior to arrival, quarantine for 5 days and take a PCR or rapid antigen test on day 3 or 4. Children age 5 and older must also submit a negative PCR result. Children over 2 years of age must be tested on day 3 or 4 of quarantine. Visitors can stay up to 90 days or apply for the Remote Workers Stamp (fees required) for up to a year. More information at gov.ms/COVID-19

Puerto Rico: Open to US travelers. Fully vaccinated visitors are required to upload an official Vaccination Card through the Travel Declaration Form portal. Unvaccinated travelers are required to provide evidence of either a PCR test or rapid test taken within 72 hours of arrival. Those unvaccinated travelers arriving without a test must upload either a PCR or rapid test taken in Puerto Rico within 48 hours of arrival or receive a $300 fine. They must quarantine until results are received. More information at www.discoverpuertorico.com

Saba and St. Eustatius (Statia): Open to US travelers. Regulations for both islands require vaccinated visitors to fill out a health application form, provide results of a PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival or a rapid antigen test done 48 hours before travel and show proof of vaccination. Unvaccinated travelers must fill out the health form, show PCR test result done 72 hours before travel, quarantine for 5 days and take a PCR test on day 5. Day-trippers from St. Maarten have to apply for entry into Saba or Statia and fill out the health form prior to arrival in those islands. For details, visit the tourism websites of Saba and Statia.

St. Barts: Open to US visitors. All visitors over the age of 18 arriving from the United States must show proof of vaccination and present a negative rapid test taken within 48 hours of arrival or a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival to enter. Unvaccinated visitors may only enter for a compelling reason (family, professional, medical) with pre-authorization. Visitors who travel through St. Martin need to pre-register to enter and must show results of the negative PCR test. US visitors traveling to St. Barts through San Juan must show results of the negative PCR test. More information: www.saintbarth.com.

St. Kitts and Nevis: Open to US travelers. Only fully vaccinated travelers are allowed to enter (unvaccinated children must be accompanied by a vaccinated adult). Visitors must complete a travel authorization form and include proof of vaccination. Once verified, travelers will receive authorization of their vaccination card and a KN number. They must then upload results of a negative PCR test done 72 hours prior to departure and proof of booking at one of the travel-approved accommodations. The Vacation In Place quarantine has been reduced from 4 days to 24 hours, after which travelers are tested ($150). Following a negative test result, travelers are free to make use of restaurants, beach bars, attractions, craft markets, tours, and water sports. Unvaccinated children under age 18 are subject to the 24-hour test and stay-in-place requirement. More information: www.stkittstourism.kn/travel-advisory-update and www.nevisisland.com.

St. Lucia: Open to US travelers. All travelers 18 and older must submit an online travel registration. Travelers age 5 and older must submit a negative PCR test result taken within 5 days of arrival. Fully vaccinated travelers must submit proof of vaccination and do not have to quarantine; they will be issued a wristband that must be worn at all times. Unvaccinated children ages 5 to 17 traveling with vaccinated adults must be retested upon arrival at the airport (the traveler pays the cost of the test) and they must remain in quarantine until the test result is received, usually within 24 to 48 hours. If negative, they are no longer required to quarantine. Unvaccinated travelers must be transferred by certified taxi to an approved COVID-19 accommodation and remain on property for 14 days or the duration of their stay except to transfer to another COVID-certified property to continue their stay or to participate in certified activities, tours, and excursions (listed on stlucia.org). More information at www.stlucia.org/COVID-19.

St. Maarten/St. Martin: Fully vaccinated travelers are not required to take a COVID-19 test to enter St. Martin. This is applicable for travelers who are fully vaccinated with the approved vaccines. All visitors must complete the health pre-authorization application through the Electronic Health Authorization System, submit proof of a negative COVID test 72 hours before arrival or antigen test done 48 hours before arrival. Once authorization is approved, travelers receive a pre-authorization e-mail which contains a QR code showing vaccination status and COVID test result.

The St. Maarten SXM Protection Plan is mandatory health coverage for all visitors. The plan covers hospital costs, ICU costs, doctor consultations, COVID-19 tests and, if necessary, medical evacuation. For those ages 15 and up, the cost is $15 for visits up to 180 days; it is $10 for those under 15 years of age. Travelers from a high-risk country (the United States is considered high-risk), will receive an automated daily e-mail alert with a link to submit body temperature and any symptoms during first five days of their stay. More information at sintmaartengov.org.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Open to US travelers. All visitors must complete the pre-arrival form, show results of a negative PCR test done 72 hours before arrival and arrive with a fully paid reservation. They will be retested upon arrival. Fully vaccinated visitors must show proof of vaccination, quarantine for 48 hours and can then move to a “bubble protocol” hotel (three in Canouan, one in Bequia, one in Mustique and Petit St. Vincent Island & Resort). Unvaccinated visitors must quarantine for 14 days in a tourism-approved hotel at their own cost and be retested between day 4 and day 7 of quarantine. More information: discoversvg.com and www.gov.vc.

Turks and Caicos: Open to US travelers. All visitors ages 16 and older must be fully vaccinated to enter. Travelers are required to show proof of vaccination through the TCI Assured pre-travel program and portal prior to entering the country. Proof of vaccination in the form of a digital copy or paper copy, inclusive of vaccine cards issued by the CDC, will be accepted. The vaccination requirement is in addition to a negative PCR or rapid test done within 3 days of travel as well as medical/travel insurance that covers medical evacuation, a completed health screening questionnaire and certification that the traveler has read and agreed to the private policy document. All these requirements must be uploaded to the portal in advance of arrival. More information: Turks & Caicos tourism.

Trinidad and Tobago: Open to US visitors. All visitors, including those 16 and older, must be fully vaccinated and each must apply for entry through the Travel Pass application, upload result of a negative PCR test taken within 3 days of arrival, proof of vaccination and evidence of fully paid accommodations. More information: https://ttravelpass.gov.tt

US Virgin Islands: Every US traveler 5 years and older must apply through the USVI travel portal and submit a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 5 days of travel. This applies to vaccinated as well as unvaccinated travelers. Upon arrival, travelers must submit the test result and travel authorization received from the portal. Travelers unable to produce the required test result are subject to a 10-day quarantine with testing until a negative result is achieved. More information: www.usvitravelportal.com

US Moving To Toughen Testing Requirement For Travelers

Washington (AP) — The Biden administration is moving to toughen testing requirements for international travelers to the U.S., including both vaccinated and unvaccinated people, amid the spread of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a Tuesday statement that it was working toward requiring that all air travelers to the U.S. be tested for COVID-19 within a day before boarding their flight. Currently those who are fully vaccinated may present a test taken within three days of boarding.

“CDC is working to modify the current Global Testing Order for travel as we learn more about the Omicron variant; a revised order would shorten the timeline for required testing for all international air travelers to one day before departure to the United States,” the agency said.

The precise testing protocols were still being finalized ahead of a speech by President Joe Biden planned for Thursday on the nation’s plans to control the COVID-19 pandemic during the winter season, according to a senior administration official who said some details could still change.

“CDC is evaluating how to make international travel as safe as possible, including pre-departure testing closer to the time of flight and considerations around additional post-arrival testing and self-quarantines,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said earlier Tuesday.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the administration’s plans before the announcement, said options under consideration also include post-arrival testing requirements or or even self-quarantines.

currently recommends post-arrival testing 3-5 days after landing in the U.S. from overseas and self-quarantine for unvaccinated travelers, though compliance is voluntary and is believed to be low.

The move comes just weeks after the U.S. largely reopened its borders to fully vaccinated foreign travelers on Nov. 8 and instituted a two-tiered testing system that allowed fully vaccinated travelers more time to seek a pre-arrival test, while requiring a test within a day of boarding for the unvaccinated.

Much remains unknown about the new variant, which has been identified in more than 20 countries but not yet in the U.S., including whether it is more contagious, whether it makes people more seriously ill, and whether it can thwart the vaccine. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, said more would be known about the omicron strain in two to four weeks as scientists grow and test lab samples of the virus.

As he sought to quell public concern about the new variant, Biden said that in his Thursday remarks, “I’ll be putting forward a detailed strategy outlining how we’re going to fight COVID this winter -- not with shutdowns or lockdowns but with more widespread vaccinations, boosters, testing, and more.”

Asked by reporters if he would consult with allies about any changes in travel rules, given that former President Donald Trump had caught world leaders by surprise, Biden said, “Unlike Trump I don’t shock our allies.”

UK Launches Booster Vaccination Blitz And Compulsory Masking As New Variant Spreads

LONDON (AP) — New measures to combat the new omicron variant of coronavirus took effect in England on Tuesday, with face coverings again compulsory in shops and on public transportation, as the government said it would offer all adults a booster dose of vaccine within two months to bolster the nation’s immunity.

From Tuesday morning, all travelers returning to the U.K. must also take a PCR test and self-isolate until they receive a negative result. Previously they had been able to take a lateral flow test and there was no quarantine requirement.

The reintroduction of mandatory face masks brings England closer in line with the rest of the U.K. — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — which had kept some restrictions in place after England lifted all mandatory measures in the summer.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the new measures will “buy us time in the face” of the new variant. He said that while many people felt an understandable “sense of exhaustion” at the prospect of renewed restrictions, the U.K.’s position is “immeasurably better than it was a year ago.”

The government said Tuesday that 22 cases of the omicron variant have been identified across the U.K., a number that is expected to rise.

Much remains unknown about the new variant that was first identified in South Africa, including how contagious it might be. It contains a large number of mutations that scientists say may make it more resistant to current vaccines than the currently dominant delta variant.

Johnson’s government is expanding its booster vaccine program, with a booster dose to be offered to everyone 18 and up, three months after the second shot — halving the current gap. Until now, only people 40 years old or over and those deemed clinically vulnerable were eligible for the booster shot.

Britain has already delivered more than 18 million booster shots, and the change in advice makes another 14 million people eligible.

Johnson said at a news conference that the goal was to offer everyone a booster shot by the end of January. He said the shots would be given at hospitals, doctors’ offices, pop-up vaccination centers and more than 1,500 community pharmacies, with 400 troops called in to help medics and a “jabs army” of volunteer vaccinators.

“We’re going to be throwing everything at it, in order to ensure that everyone eligible is offered that booster in just over two months,” Johnson said.

Jenny Harries, who heads the U.K. Health Security Agency, said that while there was still uncertainty in understanding the omicron variant, officials hope that the expansion of the booster shot rollout will “to some extent counter the potential drop in vaccine effectiveness we might find with this variant.”

She also urged people to be cautious and reduce socializing over the festive season if possible.

When asked if he agreed with Harries’ advice for the public to change their behavior, Johnson told reporters “it’s always sensible to be careful,” but his government had no plans to change the “overall guidance about how people should be living their lives.”

The government’s scientific advisers said in October that a “Plan B” — including reintroducing government advice to work from home — should be implemented in case of a surge in infections, but the government has so far said there’s been nothing to suggest this is necessary.