Americans traveling from the U.S. mainland territory to St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix and Water Island, some of the islands that make up the U.S Virgin Islands (USVI), do not have to quarantine or submit a COVID-19 test on arrival or when coming back home because these are considered domestic flights.
U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte is on a quest to teach fellow Americans that the U.S. Virgin Islands are also part of the American soil and, therefore, the international restrictions recently enforced by the CDC do not apply to them.
“The new [COVID-19 testing] requirements do not apply to persons traveling or returning directly from the U.S. Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland,” simply because “we are on United States soil.” said Boschulte.
So here there is some important information visitors need to take into account when traveling to or from the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Do Americans traveling from the U.S. mainland territory need to present a COVID-19 test or quarantine on arrival in the U.S. Virgin Islands?
As of today, visitors coming from the U.S. mainland, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and other U.S. overseas territories can enter the islands with no restrictions.
Do returning Americans need to present a negative COVID-19 test to re-entry the U.S. mainland?
Since these are considered domestic flights, travelers do not need to submit a negative COVID-19 test to go back home.
What airlines are flying to the U.S. Virgin Islands?
- Delta Airlines offers flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays to and from Minneapolis and St. Thomas.
- Sun Country Airlines has a flight on Saturdays also from Minneapolis and St. Thomas
- JetBlue will open a new route between Newark (EWR) and St Thomas (STT) starting this coming summer.
- And Frontier Airlines is serving a route between Orlando and St. Thomas and it is planning to offer another one between Miami-St. Thomas from March.
Can visitors stop at nearby islands such as St. Maarten or the British Virgin Islands and then enter the U.S. Virgin Islands without restrictions?
No. They can’t. Travelers visiting from any non-U.S. territory (even if it is a very close place) need to submit proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test result taken 72 days within arrival. (Source).
What is the COVID-19 situation in the U.S. Virgin Islands?
The U.S. Virgin Islands recommend self-monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms and following social distancing measures to avoid the spread of disease.
As of February 26, the State has 110 active cases and 25 people have lost their lives to the virus.
Are the U.S. Virgin Islands a safe place to visit?
It’s relatively safe since the daily contagion rate is not out of control. However, the CDC has ranked the State at a level 4 warning which means that travelers should avoid all travel to the islands.
What activities are allowed in the U.S. Virgin Islands?
Tourists can enjoy beaches, restaurants, bars and other touristic venues. However, the government insists on asking visitors to observe all sanitary measures to avoid the spread of the virus.