Covid PCR Tests for US and Canadian Travellers

[KonaGecko]

I stand corrected. Does indeed look like both are accepted. That's good news.

[tursiops]

I stand corrected. Does indeed look like both are accepted. That's good news.

Agreed!
But US policy on this has a 99% chance of changing before any of us travel, starting tomorrow.

[mervynt]

Just as an FYI for Canadian travelers Transport Canada says "Tests must be performed using a COVID-19 molecular test, such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) test. Other types of tests, such as antigen tests, will not be accepted."

[MelE]

New requirements coming for entering Bonaire. Looks like an antigen and a PCR test will be required. Anyone in the states know how hard it is to get tests for travel?

https://www.infobonaire.com/testing-protocols-change-for-bonaire-travelers/?fbclid=IwAR2VB1W8LoutOUyEb3rBslBHb9Z_Nbs3ekJ3ZWO_HKvw5bL3ydnxSopN1Q8

[hallerdodd]

The antigen test must be done within 4 hours of departure. There is a testing site at EWR Terminal B that does a rapid test for $200. Sadly, it is only open M-F 7 AM to 6 PM, so it's of no use for the United Saturday morning flight to Bonaire. Unlikely to find a place in NJ that would do a test at 4:30 AM on a Saturday and give us instant results for a mad dash to the airport! For two of us, we are now looking at up to $1000 in testing fees in the US and Bonaire if we could even find a way to get the testing done.

[tursiops]

The antigen test must be done within 4 hours of departure. There is a testing site at EWR Terminal B that does a rapid test for $200. Sadly, it is only open M-F 7 AM to 6 PM, so it's of no use for the United Saturday morning flight to Bonaire. Unlikely to find a place in NJ that would do a test at 4:30 AM on a Saturday and give us instant results for a mad dash to the airport! For two of us, we are now looking at up to $1000 in testing fees in the US and Bonaire if we could even find a way to get the testing done.

Agreed. The antigen test within 4h of departure is going to be a show-stopper.

[ModRoy]

Looks like some good info in this thread so far. But it seems the topic is more active on the "Musings" thread. Too bad as this specific discussion will get lost in the hundreds of posts there, but it seems to be the de facto only active thread for the last half year. So the info is not split between both, maybe the mod could consolidate the threads?

Good Point AGD, Musings Thread is now closed. Please use the 2 newer threads -

and on a side note for other posters Stay on Topic, I have some new boots that need breaking in (not directed at you in particular AGD)

[Andrey]

Agreed. The antigen test within 4h of departure is going to be a show-stopper.

Can't agree with you more, @tursiops. We are booked to fly to Bonaire via Aruba on March 3rd. If the 4-hour requirement for antigen test is officially implemented, we are going to go to Curacao instead. I honestly do not understand the logic behind this requirement as most people from the US will not be able to satisfy it.

[susan]

Audrey, I suggest you "hang tight" for a few days. This requirement was made for The Netherlands by The Netherlands, and Bonaire is part of The Netherlands. The logic behind it is to stop the very quickly spreading second strain of the virus, which is becoming rampant in certain places of the world, hence the new flight bans. This was a surprise for all of us on Bonaire. Give it a few days to see how things shake down.

[Canuck52]

To all us Canucks, the Canadian Government has just announced the possibility of some very hard restrictions on any of us getting back into Canada in the next while. That is from both our PM and other senior ministers within his Government. They have asked us all to cancel ANY travel plans. Kinda of hard for us, as we are already here, but if we get ‘stuck’ in Bonaire, well so be it. 😎