Domestic flights to require testing before arrival
Puerto Rico resident Sarah Molinari was looking forward to spending time in New York this week to catch up with family and celebrate the holidays. What she didn’t see coming were the hours spent scrolling through COVID-19 testing center websites to make sure she could fly home Tuesday.
While traveling to the U.S. territory used to be a breeze for Molinari and other vaccinated travelers, that changes Monday when Puerto Rico starts requiring all travelers to test negative for COVID before arriving.
The new rule comes as the U.S. finds itself in the midst of yet another coronavirus test shortage, with consumers facing limited sales at retailers and long lines at testing centers.
“I was getting really frustrated, thinking about how do I plan and make sure I get this test in time?” Molinari said. “I have no problem with the policy itself. It’s more of the inadequacy of testing on a national scale right now that’s making these policies really complicated.”
Testing requirements are nothing new in the age of COVID-19, but travelers are finding it more difficult – and more expensive – to visit certain domestic destinations amid the latest testing shortage.
New COVID testing requirements to enter Puerto Rico begin Dec. 27
Gov. Pedro Pierluisi announced the rule change Monday, one week before the new rules were set to go into effect.
Starting Dec. 27, all passengers arriving on domestic flights must show a negative coronavirus test taken no more than 48 hours before arrival, regardless of vaccination status. (Currently, only unvaccinated domestic travelers are required to show proof of a negative test.)
It wasn’t immediately clear what sort of tests are accepted; USA TODAY reached out to the territory’s destination marketing organization, Discover Puerto Rico, for more information.
Passengers who arrive without a negative coronavirus test will have 48 hours to take a test upon arrival and face a $300 fine if they don’t get tested in time. If unvaccinated, travelers will also need to quarantine seven days after arrival, even with a negative test.
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Difficulties getting tested
While post-arrival testing is an option, Molinari said the Caribbean island has its own testing supply issues. Discover Puerto Rico’s website says travelers can get a test on site at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport after arrival, but travelers should be prepared to pay $110 for the service.
“I can’t do that,” said Molinari, who was surprised to learn the test’s price tag.
But finding a test stateside is also a challenge.
“Friends that were going to the public testing sites around New York were telling me about hours-long waits,” she said. “Some of them show up at one site, wait for hours and then they would run out a test. So my thought was … I really just might not get a test when I need it.”
Eventually, after about four hours trying to track down a test her insurance would cover, Molinari found a clinic that could offer her an antigen test at no cost.
Now, Molinari said she just hopes the test is accepted by…
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