Puerto Rico is taking the newest Covid wave, dominated by the newer and highly contagious Delta variant, very seriously and the island nation is soon to set new policies for travel, tourism and hospitality companies.
Beginning in only a week- on August 16, the U.S. territory will require that guests and employees of all hotels, inns, guesthouses and short-term rentals, including private Airbnb and Vrbo rentals, submit either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of their arrival on property. For any unvaccinated guest staying longer than one week, they will need to continue presenting negative tests. This will occur on a weekly basis.
For anyone trying to avoid the new mandate, they risk a $5,000 fine or even up to six months in jail.
“We cannot lower our guard,” Governor Pedro Pierluisi said when announcing the new requirements. “There are vaccines for everyone. Vaccinations are the solution.”
However, Puerto Rico’s Health Secretary, Carlos Mellado stated that 20 percent of the island’s current hospitalizations are people who have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
To that end, while all businesses are open, masks are required to be worn in all indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status. This includes children as young as three years old if social distancing isn’t feasible.
Entering Puerto Rico is easier for vaccinated travelers who only need to show proof of their shots through Puerto Rico’s Travel Safe portal. Unvaccinated visitors must present proof of a negative PCR or antigen test performed within 72 hours of their arrival. Failure to do so will result in a $300 fine which can be waived if the individual tests negative within the 48-hour period following their arrival. Again, this stands for all guests over the age of two.
While Puerto Rico is still hoping to welcome their much needed tourists, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has categorized the territory as having a “high” level of transmission. The island is reporting an 11 percent transmission rate this month, compared to just 1.4 percent in late June. By comparison, most of the U.S. also currently falls into the same category.
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