Hello- we are traveling to Eleuthera Feb 12th-20th. I understand the health visa and the insurance we need to do and the covid test to enter the island- BUT can anyone tell me where on the Eleuthera island we can get the required RT PCR covid test in a timely fashion? We will need it on day 5 as we are staying 7 days and need it enter back into the US now.
You don’t need the pcr test to enter the US. The rapid antigen test you receive on day 5 will be suffice as long as you are leaving on day 7 back to US.
Hi- As of Jan 12th the US is requiring a negative test to enter whether you are a citizen returning or a visitor.
Do you know if tests are easy enough to get in in a timely fashion on Eleuthera?
On Tuesday, Jan. 12, The Wall Street Journal reported that all travelers flying to the United States — U.S. citizens included — will need to provide proof of a negative coronavirus test. Travelers flying to U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and those arriving via a land border like Mexico or Canada, are exempt.
I also just saw this- Jan 26th it begins
The new CDC directive goes into effect January 26.
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Starting January 26, all international passengers flying into the United States—including returning U.S. citizens—will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding, according to a new order issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday.
Cindy, the rapid antigen test is easy to get on Eleuthera, the PCR test is not. As Caicos mentioned the rapid antigen test is what is required by Bahamian authorities on day 5, and this test also fulfills the requirements to fly back to the US, so you should be fine. They should give you a list of places that you can do your 5 day test when you arrive. If you are staying centrally on the island then the clinic in Palmetto Point is probably a good choice.
On the tourism website are many testing centers listed. We will be on Spanish Wells and noted that their center requires appointments which we will make upon arrival. Also not that if you have children under 10, they are required to test for returning to the US but not the for the Bahamian gov. We will likely have to pay for our child's test -- the rapid rest is only $35 in SW.
I always find the wording on days difficult to understand. The Bah. Min of Tourism rapidly responded to my email regarding testing date questions both for pre travel and and during travel. I didn't bother contacting the US gov to confirm the pre-return test because, yeah right, From everything I have read so far a rapid test will suffice. And CDC wording is "get tested no more than 3 days before their flight departs."
We will be swabbed Monday. Arrive in Bahamas on Saturday and retest on Wednesday per bahama gov requirements confirmed via their email. Wed is three days before our Saturday departure so we are good.
THIS is SOO stressful!
Vacation will be needed after this vacation. Ha ha.
Best of luck and safe and happy travels to you all!
Will be interesting to see if this comes to pass:
https://thenassauguardian.com/govt-wants-waiver-from-cdc-order/
That's interesting Amy. I would think that the requirement for a PCR test to get into the Bahamas would reduce tourist numbers more than the requirement to have a rapid antigen test to get back to the US. If the Bahamas switched from a PCR test to a rapid test tourist numbers would probably go up quite a bit.
Also I'm guessing that the new US administration is likely to be more strict with international travel, not less.
I wonder if the Minister of Tourism is talking to the Canadian government about the requirement for a PCR test (not a rapid test) to fly from the Bahamas back to Canada.
Can anyone tell me how coming back to Canada with the new PCR test requirements within 72 hours worked? Was it hard to have completed in that time frame from Eleuthera? Thanks
I checked out CDC requirements and they are asking for an Antigen test within 3 days priorto your trip.
Might have to go to States first , suggest Florida , you can get a PCR test there within the time frame and then on to Canada. We are Canadian , thats what we are doing in May thinking they wont close the Border to Canadians.
