A day after Puerto Rico reopened for tourism it closed once again as COVID-19 continues to surge on the mainland.
Discover Puerto Rico posted: “Puerto Rico is postponing its official inbound tourism reopening in order to safeguard visitors and residents. A continuous assessment of the situation in Puerto Rico and in the United States will influence Island-wide orders that prioritize health and safety.”
As Puerto Rico opens for in-bound tourism, the Island has implemented additional measures to further safeguard residents and visitors. Travelers with a negative molecular COVID-19 test (which consists of a nasal or throat swab) taken no more than 72 hours prior, plus a completed Travel Declaration Form will be welcomed to the Island.
Puerto Rico continues to recognize the importance of health and safety with the Island applying locally enforced measures to ensure the wellbeing of residents and visitors.
They include the Puerto Rico National Guard assisting with enhanced health screenings of all arriving passengers at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, where all passenger flights are currently being diverted. Face masks are mandatory.
All arriving travelers will be pre-screened via thermographic cameras to monitor temperatures, and enhanced protocols will take place at baggage claim before exiting the airport.
If an asymptomatic traveler (a person who doesn’t present COVID-19 symptoms) arrives on the Island with a complete Travel Declaration Form, a negative molecular COVID-19 test result, and an Airport Exit Confirmation QR Code, the traveler can proceed with their trip.
If an asymptomatic traveler (a person who doesn’t present any symptoms) arrives on the Island with a complete Travel Declaration Form, but is awaiting the molecular COVID-19 test result taken no more than 72 hours prior, the traveler is required to quarantine for 14 days or until test results are provided digitally to the Puerto Rico Health Department.
If the molecular test result is negative, the 14-day quarantine will be lifted. If the molecular test result is positive, the traveler must isolate and seek medical attention. Travelers placed in isolation will be responsible for covering their own medical expenses/extended stay.
If an asymptomatic traveler (a person who doesn’t present any symptoms) arrives on the Island with a complete Travel Declaration Form, but without a negative molecular COVID-19 test result and is not awaiting results, a Testing Authorization Voucher will be provided for the traveler to get tested locally. A list of testing sites on-island will be provided at the airport and can also be found here.
While awaiting results, the traveler will need to quarantine for 14 days at their lodging property, cover COVID-19 testing fee, and possible extended stay. If the on-island molecular test result is negative, the quarantine will be lifted. If the on-island molecular test result is positive, the traveler must isolate and seek medical attention. Travelers placed in isolation will be responsible for covering their own medical expenses/extended stay.bIf the traveler chooses to not take a molecular COVID-19 test on the Island, they must quarantine for 14 days and cover their own extended stay.
If a symptomatic traveler (a person who is displaying COVID-19 related symptoms) arrives on the Island, the Puerto Rico National Guard will conduct a rapid COVID-19 test at the airport (which consists of a finger prick blood test). Even if the test result is negative, it will be mandatory for the traveler to quarantine and cover their own medical expenses/possible extended stay as rapid COVID-19 tests can sometimes yield false results. The quarantine is mandated until the traveler digitally uploads proof of a negative molecular COVID-19 test result taken on-Island to the Puerto Rico Health Department’s online portal.
If a negative molecular test is not provided, the traveler will be required to quarantine for 14 days, or the length of their stay.
If the rapid COVID-19 test (which consists of a finger prick blood test) conducted at the airport results are positive, the traveler will get a molecular COVID-19 test on-site.
While the traveler awaits the results, they must isolate themselves at their lodging property.
If the molecular test is negative, the quarantine will be lifted. If the molecular test is positive, the traveler will continue to isolate and seek medical attention at the traveler’s expense.
For your reference, you can learn more about measures tourists need to take prior to visiting at travelsafe.pr.gov as well as view the Discover Puerto Rico travel advisory here.
For more updates on new protocols, visit Recommend’s Safe Travels page. Stories about future travel can be accessed at #AmazingDaysAhead.
