US Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association

March 16:

Please see the attached most recent update (here and here) from the USCG regarding entry into the United States and the USVI; key passages are as follows:

The following restrictions apply to the following countries: Iran, China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau), and beginning at 11:59 p.m. eastern standard daylight savings time on March 13, 2020 the European states within the Schengen Area: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Vessel owners/operators and local stakeholders should be aware of the following restrictions:

1. Passenger vessels or any vessel carrying passengers or crew that have been to the countries noted above or embarked passengers who have been in the countries noted above within the last 14 days will be denied entry into the United States. If all passengers exceed 14 days since being in the countries noted above and are symptom free, the vessel will be permitted to enter the United States to conduct normal operations. These temporary measures are in place to safeguard the American public.
2. Vessels carrying passengers from the countries noted above that originally departed and/or initiated from U. S. ports will be authorized to return to U. S. ports.

Note: The above restrictions do not apply to U.S. citizens or any other persons listed in Section 2 of Presidential Proclamation “Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus.”

March 12:

On March 12, VIPCA met with the USVI Department of Health in a Maritime Safety Meeting, and March 11 received new protocol for entering the BVI, with or without charter guests. Below are the updates of both BVI and USVI regarding Coronavirus protocol. Click here to see the BVI Quarantine Advisory and Countries of Special Interest. This clearly does not include the United States as an “affected area”. See https://gov.vg/covid-19

For yacht crew commencing charter in the USVI: 

When yacht crew receive guests in the USVI from national or international flights, the USVI Department of Health recommends that the yacht crew inquire if any guest has any flu-like symptoms, and if they do, to phone the Department of Health on 340-712-6299 / 340-776-1519. Do not send suspected cases to any hospital or clinic, but instead recommend self-quarantining them in a hotel or home.

For entering the BVI with as a private vessel / charter vessel:

1. A Maritime Declaration of Health (see MDH attached sample) must be filled and submitted by email to publichealthehd@yahoo.com/zelmichael@hotmail.com more than 24 hours in advance of arrival in the BVI. Within several hours of submitting the MDH by email, you should receive notification of your permission to enter the territory.
2. Printed Personal Declaration Forms (attached) filled by each of the guests and crew is to be submitted at the Port of Entry with all other boat papers, with the yacht name on the form. General information number for BVI Ministry of Health +1284-852-7650.

March 12th 9am Press Release (attached): The BVI Ministry of Health and Social Development is hereby advising the public that any national or non-national with a travel history within the last 14 days from an affected area*, whether in transit or originating, or has been in close contact with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 within the last 14 days, may be subject to quarantine on arrival in the British Virgin Islands for up to fourteen (14) days even if they do not exhibit symptoms of COVID-19.  *According to the WHO, “affected areas” are considered those countries, provinces, territories or cities experiencing ongoing transmission of COVID-19, in contrast to areas reporting only imported cases. COVID-19 affected areas may be found on the World Health Organization (WHO) website. Also you may refer to the Centres for Disease, Control and Prevention website.