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Updated Bahamas requirements.

Discussion in 'Marinas & Waypoints' started by Pascal, Dec 23, 2021.

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  1. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Updated Bahamas Entry Requirements, Effective December 23, 2021.
    Persons travelling to The Bahamas from other countries will be required to obtain their negative COVID-19 test NO MORE THAN THREE DAYS (72 hours) prior to the date of arrival to The Bahamas.

    ALL PREVIOUSLY APPROVED TRAVEL HEALTH VISAS WILL REMAIN VALID UNTIL AND INCLUDING EXPIRATION DATE.
    Effective January 7th, 2022:

    ♦ All persons ages 2 and abovemust present a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR Test no more than three days (72 hours) prior to the date of arrival to The Bahamas.
    ♦Rapid Antigen Tests will no longer be accepted, regardless of vaccination status. Travellers must obtain a RT-PCR Test
  2. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Interesting how they will no longer accept a rapid antigen test even for vaxed people. I guess they realized that being vaxed does not affect the risk of infection and transmission.

    going to make travel quite a bit more difficult as it takes an average of 24 hours to get a PCR result and another 12 to 18 hours to get the visa online.
  3. Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    This should be getting quicker all the time. They tell me that the facility at Yacht Haven Grande in St. Thomas can pump out PCR results in an hour!
  4. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Not yet. Curative which we ve used for the last 18 months now offers fast RT-PCR test at a handful of locations.

    problem is that with the latest mass hysteria episode about the new variant, lines are getting longer and appointments harder to get in Florida
    Capt Ralph likes this.
  5. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    New update issued yesterday. The Bahamas is dropping the upcoming RT-PCR test for vaxed travelers that was supposed to come in effect on Jan 7. So, no changes from the current rules : RT-PCR within 72 hours of arrival if unvaxed and Rapid Antigen also within 72 hours if vaxed

    what is tightening is the post arrival rapid antigen test with must now be taken on day 2 instead of day 5. Irregardless (as we say in Miami) of vax status.

    if cruising between islands, it can be taken upon reaching the first location with testing. In the Exumas that’s Highborne, Staniel, Blackpoint, Emerald and Gtown
  6. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    Noteworthy that the incoming test is no longer mandatory for the PCR test, but that they allow the rapid test in its place.
  7. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Not sure what you mean. If by “incoming test” you mean taking a test prior to arriving in the Bahamas, this has been the case since July of 2020. What has changed is that for the last few months they have been allowing vaxed travelers to take rapid antigen test. That was going to change tomorrow when all travelers would be required to take an RT-PCR but they reversed that decision.
  8. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    Previous requirements was that the test you had to take within 72 hours was the PCR. RT-PCR is Rapid Test or PCR test. In the past they didn't deem the RT to be a qualifier for incoming travel. Recently they appear to have learned the PCR test has its own reliability challenges?
  9. Maxwell

    Maxwell Senior Member

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    FYI... We just returned from the Bahamas and used the Emed service (using Abbott BinaxNow antigen test) which was really easy as we could just take it from the boat with an emed rep watching you as opposed to having to go to a testing site. I couldn't get the online session to work right on my ipad, however had no issues using a laptop.
    rocdiver likes this.