COVID-19 UPDATE: ITALY & THE CARIBBEAN

Dear Captain, broker and crew member,

we are keen to keep you updated with all info regarding Covid-19 restrictions in Sardinia/ Italy, as we have been doing in the last months since the pandemic has started. 

In this specific newsletter we are happy to share with you the very last update related to Italian situation and also a detailed update regarding Caribbean, as many of you may be thinking about crossing for the winter.


Italy 
(update valid from 14/10 to 13/11/20)

Italy has extended the status of national emergency until 31/01/2021.

Everyone arriving in Italy from Belgium, France (the whole territory), Holland, UK, Czech Republic, Malta, Croatia, Spain and Greece is required to present upon arrival a negative report of a swab test done within 72 hours prior to arrival.

Maritime crews are exempted from this, however we suggest to do a swab test upon arrival for the sake of clarity.

For more information regarding arrival from other countries please see the latest update of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the link below:
https://www.esteri.it/mae/en/ministero/normativaonline/decreto-iorestoacasa-domande-frequenti/focus-cittadini-italiani-in-rientro-dall-estero-e-cittadini-stranieri-in-italia.html

 
Once in Italy:
- Masks: Italian last Decree introduces the obligation to always carry respiratory protective devices with you. Masks must be worn not only in closed places accessible to the public, but more generally in indoor places other than private homes and also in all outdoor places. Exceptions are made to these obligations, both indoors and outdoors:

Updated restrictions on activities and social life:
- Sports:
Activities at gyms, swimming pools, public and private sports centers are allowed in compliance with the current rules without gatherings. Contact sports for professional clubs in compliance with the protocols issued by CONI are allowed, while amateur contact sports are prohibited (eg. football, five-a-side football, basketball, volleyball)

-Entertainment:
Theater performances, concert halls, cinemas with pre-assigned seats and distances of at least 1 metre are allowed with max 1000 people outdoors and 200 indoors per room.
Has been suspended events in closed spaces that involve gathering and disregarding distances and also suspended dance halls and discos activities, both in open and closed areas. 

No parties allowed both in open and closed places: parties for ceremonies are allowed with up to 30 people. 

Private homes: avoid parties and in case of reception of non-cohabiting people max 6 people in total everyone wearing protective masks and respecting the interpersonal distance of 1 meter.

- Catering & food service:
Catering activities such as bars, pubs, restaurants, pastry shops are allowed until h. 00.00 with consumption at the table and up to h. 21.00 in the absence of consumption at the table; home restoration and take away allowed with ban on consumption on the spot after h. 21.00.

Always maintain an interpersonal safety distance of at least one meter and constant and thorough hand hygiene.

In the workplace, the current safety rules continue to apply. 

- App Immuni: we suggest the download of app Immuni as per Italian Health Minister suggestion. Immuni is an app that helps us fight the COVID-19 epidemic. The app uses technology to alert the users who have had a risky exposure even if they are asymptomatic.
Immuni has been designed and developed while taking great care to safeguard user privacy. Any data, collected and managed by the Ministry of Health and by public bodies, is stored on servers located in Italy. All the data and app connections with the server are protected. The app sends a notification to people who were in close contact with a user who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, alerting them of the risk of infection. Thanks to Bluetooth Low Energy technology, this takes place without the app gathering any data on the identity or the location of its users.

Everyone who wants to be tested upon arrival in Sardinia for a personal check can still ask for our assistance. Nautica Assistance is able to assist all yachts with the following test possibilities:

- rapid antigen swab test (results in approx 30 minutes)
- qualitative rapid test (results within 1 day)
- quantitative serological blood test (results in 24/48 hours)
- molecular swab test (results in 4/ 5 working days)

Caribbean 

How is the situation in the Caribbean so far? We have been doing some research through all our partners there and here below a resume for each country.


GRENADA
Travellers by air or sea from Caricom Bubble nations require a PCR test upon arrival. As at 11th of October - Grenada Bubble Nations are:

- Antigua & Barbuda
- Barbados
- Dominica
- Montserrat
- St Kitts & St Nevis
- Dominica
- St Lucia
- St Vincent & The Grenadines

 https://covid19.gov.gd/travel/ is the official government website with all the updated COVID 19 protocols.
 
Depending on the covid profile in each of these countries Grenada reserves the right to remove any country cited on this list should the Ministry of Health deem this necessary.

All people (guests and crew members) who are flying into Grenada must go directly from the airport to the yacht where they will spend their 4 days (maybe will be increased to 5 days) of quarantine. On the 5th or 6th day, they will be tested for COVID 19 and once negative test results are obtained, they will be allowed to disembark the yacht and move around the island freely.

Each yacht will have to be pre-approved on a case-by-case basis. The Ministry of Health must receive the yacht's specifications and other important information at least 7 days in advance of the guests' / crew's air arrival.  

If the Ministry of Health does not receive the requested information at least 7 days in advance, the guests or crew members will have to spend the 5 days of quarantine in a government-approved hotel. 


REGISTRATION PROCEDURES BEFORE ARRIVAL

- Grenada Lima is no longer operational.
- All vessels MUST now register with “Sail Clear” - https://sailclear.com/ 
- Registration MUST occur 24 hours before the vessel's intended arrival.
- Maritime Declaration of Health form before arrival in Grenada.


PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW UPON ARRIVAL IN GRENADA

- Once the vessel has arrived in Grenadian waters, you must check in with Ministry of Health Officials. You will need to present the completed Maritime Declaration of Health Forms to the Health Station and each crew/guest has to come to the Health Station for their  temperatures to be taken. The Health Station is located at the Grenada Yacht Club. Crew will have to dinghy across to visit the Health Station. 

-  The Health Officials will assess the travel history of everyone onboard and will then decide whether or not you need to be quarantined. It is no longer one size fits all - some vessels will have to quarantine while others would not have to.  Your travel history is the determining factor in their decision making. 

- if a Quarantine period is required, you will again meet with Health Officials at the end of the Quarantine period. They will then give you a card indicating that you are 'clean' provided that your test results come back negative.

- The  vessel will then be allowed to clear into Grenada as usual with presentation of the card. 


MARTINIQUE
 
Currently in effective shutdown as the July 10 decree published in Paris only allows yachts coming from European countries but not the English islands for which a 14 day quarantine is required. 

Things should go back to normal from October the 20th to guarantee all services on time for the winter season.

Martinique ports are open for commercial operations. Here below rules that apply to yachting:

Anyone arriving into Martinique needs to go into confinement for 14 days – by plane they go to a confinement centre; by yacht they need to stay confined on board.

Passengers for pleasure are not allowed in on any vessel / aircraft. So for private jets & charters this rule will be a barrier until confinement starts to be lifted post May 11th.

All European flagged pleasure yachts can come in. Must announce themselves to CROSSAG to get authorization to anchor. All LOA > 50m need to get permission prior to arrival.

Non EU flagged pleasure yachts are not allowed in (except in the case of loading onto a yacht transport)

Non-EU flagged yachts that are commercial can come in for a commercial operation (fuel / provisioning) and then leave. Tested & works fine.

Confinement rules are due to be eased after May 11th. No one knows what will be allowed & when but the pressure is mounting everywhere to get people back to work.

 
BVI
Yet to be issued the protocols for yacht entry. According to the government, the borders will be open on 1st December. They have not stated or advised what the requirements are for entry as of yet. 


ST THOMAS
A negative COVID test, taken within 5 days from arrival needs to be presented upon arrival in St- Thomas, this applies to anyone wanting to enter the island.


ST LUCIA
As of September 22, 2020, the following countries/territories form a part of  the Caribbean Bubble, countries that present a low risk of transmission of COVID-19 as a Designated Travel Bubble:
Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Anguilla, Montserrat, Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

All incoming passengers (including persons from the Caribbean bubble) should  present with a negative COVID-19 PCR test 7 days prior to travel. 

All arriving passengers from destinations outside the ‘bubble’ will be allocated  at a COVID-19 approved accommodation site. 

All arriving passengers from destinations within the ‘bubble’ will be exempt  from the 14 days of quarantine if presenting with a negative COVID-19 PCR test  7 days prior to travel. 

All arriving passengers from within the ‘bubble’ must have travelled directly  (been in-transit for less than 24 hours) from a country within the bubble and  have been in that country for at least 21 days.  
All arriving passengers from within the ‘bubble’ who have been in-transit in a country outside of the ‘bubble’ will be subjected to 14 days of quarantine.

All returning nationals from destinations outside the “bubble’ will be subject to  14 days quarantine at a government institutional quarantine.

Effective September 25, 2020, persons from outside of this updated  ‘Caribbean Bubble’ will be required to present with a negative COVID-19 PCR test 7 days prior to travel and complete 14 days of quarantine at a COVID-19  approved accommodation site.


ST MAARTEN
All persons arriving by plane must have a negative rt-PCR test taken within 120 hours of last leg of trip.  A form must be filled out per passenger.  That form can be found here.  This applies to all arrivals excepting those people flying from a low-risk location (those locations can be found here). 
For Vessel arrivals, the following applies:
If vessel is arriving from a low-risk country (found here), no test is required.
Testing 120 hours prior to departure from last port (must be immediate last departure point).  Such rt-PCR test results, along with all other entrance documents, must be supplied to us in advance of arrival.  No other electronic forms are required for Vessel arrival. 
If testing was not possible prior to departure from last port, Vessel can enter St. Maarten under quarantine, with testing to be done within 24 hours of arrival.  We can coordinate testing upon request.  Vessel must remain under quarantine until negative results received.
TRANSIT EXCEPTIONS:
Vessel is able to come to St. Maarten WITHOUT testing for maximum 48 hours in transit (fueling, provisioning, etc., possible).  All on board must remain in quarantine on board under this option.
PRIVATE FLIGHT DEPARTURES: Even if guests are coming from an island not considered low risk, they will be able to depart by private plane out of the FBO without an rt-PCR test.  This is something that we will need to organize in advance, and all necessary safety precautions must be followed (mask wearing at all times, etc).
 
 
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Travelers do not have to present a negative test COVID-19  result upon arrival. However, rapid tests will be given to randomly  selected travelers upon arrival, such as the breath test for COVID-19.  The breath tests will also be administered to all passengers with  symptoms. Passengers under the age of five and crew members  are exempt from this requirement. 

In addition, all persons entering the country must complete a  Traveler’s Health Affidavit that will be provided by the airline and/or  Dominican immigration authorities. In this declaration, passengers  must indicate if they have felt symptoms related to COVID-19 in  the last 72 hours and provide their contact information for the  next 30 days. 

As of July 1, 2020, Dominican Republic is open for all  international tourism so all airports and tourism activities in the Dominican  Republic have reopened, including the reactivation of flight routes  from Europe, Latin America, Canada and the United States. 

There are no restrictions  regarding which citizens can enter the country. In  addition to the immigration and customs forms, passengers will be  required to fill out and submit a Traveler’s Health Affidavit, which  will be provided by the airline or by Dominican authorities upon  arrival. 

Airports and other ports of  entry will perform temperature checks and other controls to  monitor all passenger arrivals. Travelers should also check with the airline directly to confirm if they have any testing or other related  requirements for inbound flights to the Dominican Republic. 

All airports have installed infrared thermal cameras to measure the temperature  of passengers visiting our country and guests entering the hotels. 

The airport reviewed all procedures to incorporate the latest  technologies and best practices in arrival & departures procedures.

As of September 15, rapid tests are being performed on randomly  selected travelers upon arrival, such as the diagnostic breath test  for COVID-19.  

Social distancing and the use of masks is mandatory for the duration of a visitor’s stay. 

YACHT CREW/ GUESTS - All crew and passengers onboard must submit our health  questionnaire at least 48 hours prior to arrival in Dominican Republic.  Traveler’s Health Affidavit 

Once in DR- Custom and clearance procedure at the following

  Marinas/Ports: 

• Cap Cana in Punta Cana 

• Puerto Bahia in Samana 

• Ocean World in Puerto Plata 

• Zarpar in Boca Chica 

After communicating with Dominican Navy and Marina/port via  radio, and once your dock is assigned, you must comply with the  following measures: 

Upon arrival a brief evaluation will be made using the mentioned  questionnaire to monitor if any medical assistance is needed.  Have and wear the following personal care essentials:  

• Hand sanitizer 

• Disinfecting alcohol 

• Surgical Mask  

- Maintain social distance and avoid any physical contact - Be ready for a temperature check 

- Brief onboard inspection will be required to discretion of local authorities 

IMPORTANT: Marina Casa de Campo in La Romana, has the same protocol plus mandatory COVID TEST not done more than 10  days before arrival. (can be flexible and subject to changes) 


ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
All countries in the “bubble” except Barbados are “not activated”.  This means that everyone coming from those countries must arrive with a recent negative PCR test in hand.  They may not be required to have another test upon arrival - that is at the discretion of the Port Health Officer.

There  are no active cases and no deaths from COVID-19 in the country. It is the country’s stated policy to keep this status quo. 

General Advice: 

• Encourage owners/charterers to fly private, not commercial 
• Plan longer trips (owner/charters) 
• Limit crew changes 
• Stay in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, limit excursions to other countries if  possible 
• Try to avoid short turn-arounds 
• Try to avoid add-on guest arrivals 
• Bear in mind that PCR tests are not usually taken or processed on weekends or  public holidays 

YACHT AND CREW ENTRY (aboard) 

Superyachts are allowed to enter Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. You must enter  through the island of Saint Vincent, (all entry ports in the Grenadines are closed) the easiest access to tests and island facilities is the entry port off Young Island in the  south of the main island. Once COVID-19 protocols have been satisfied, see below, you  will be cleared-in to the country and will be allowed to travel from island to island without further restriction. 

If arriving from the USA, USVI, BVI, Saint Martin/St Barth’s, Guadeloupe or  Martinique, Trinidad: all aboard will be required to have a COVID-19 PCR test on  arrival (within 3-5 days) and await results in quarantine at anchor at the port of  entry. The test results usually are available the following day (avoid arrival at  weekends!). If the result is negative for all aboard, the vessel may proceed free of  any requirements. 

If arriving from Caribbean “Activated Bubble” islands: (current list: is now limited to  Barbados; other former bubble countries (Grenada, Saint Lucia, Dominica, Anguilla,  Monserrat, Saint Kitts or Antigua) are now subject to more restrictions, if you have  been within the Bubble for a period of 14 days or longer, and have recent (3-5 days)  negative COVID-19 PCR test results for each crew member in hand, you do not have  to have another COVID-19 test in SVG and will be allowed to clear-in and proceed to  explore the islands.  

If arriving from not non-activated Bubble Islands (Grenada, Saint Lucia, Dominica,  Anguilla, Monserrat, Saint Kitts or Antigua) if you have been within the (now not  activated) Bubble for a period of 14 days or longer, and have recent (3-5 days)  negative COVID-19 PCR test results for each crew member in hand, you may have to  have another COVID-19 test in SVG and await test results, at the discretion of Port  Health. Following release by Port Health you will be allowed to clear-in and proceed  to explore the islands.  

If arriving directly to SVG from Europe: all aboard will be required to take a COVID-19  PCR test on arrival and await results in quarantine, at anchor, at the port of entry.  The test results usually are available the following day (avoid arrival at weekends!).  If the result is negative for all aboard, the vessel may proceed free of any  requirements. 

• Does everyone aboard have a recent COVID-19 PCR test result? Negative? This is  the recommended approach, as noted above, you may be spared a COVID-19 PCR  test here, but even if not, having the test results in hand will make entry permission easier. 

• Positive Test Result? At the discretion of the Port Health Officer the crew member(s)  who test positive will be either isolated aboard your vessel or sent to a shore-based  quarantine facility. The positive crew member(s) will be retested per protocols; as  will the crew remaining aboard. The vessel will remain in quarantine till negative  results are received. 

GUEST ENTRY (Private Jet) 

Guests joining the vessel should fly (private jet) to the Canouan JetPort.Guests must arrive with a recent negative  COVID-19 PCR test. Another test will be done on arrival. If the yacht is already  cleared, the guests may quarantine aboard till their test results arrive. Note: should the  guest(s) test positive for COVID-19 the entire yacht (crew and guests) will be returned to  quarantine status. 

CREW MOVEMENTS (and Guest Entry - Commercial Airlines) 

Strongly recommended not to arrive in SVG on commercial flights. There will be  quarantine - and depending on testing of the rest of the passengers on the plane, the  quarantine can be from 14 to 21 days. This includes flights to neighbouring Caribbean  islands and private air travel for the final leg of the journey - if the passenger has not  been in a Bubble country for 14 days, the protocol for the prior country will apply. 

For guest movements on commercial airlines, there are flights to Saint Vincent (SVD)  airport from Miami (American), from Toronto (Air Canada) and from Barbados.  

Guests that are flying from Miami must fly-in to Saint Vincent with a negative COVID  PCR test result from a test taken within 5 days of arrival in Saint Vincent. Upon arrival  the guests will be retested and quarantined for five days. They will await test results  at a hotel Erika’s will arrange in Saint Vincent. Arrival test results are usually received  within 48 hours. Guests/Crew arriving commercially will be tested again on Day 4 or 5  of the quarantine. With a negative test result from the second Saint Vincent test  guests can join the vessel: EXCEPT if someone sitting near your guests on the  commercial flight tests positive: In that case your guests will be deemed high risk and  have to remain in quarantine till the result of a third test is processed and negative  (Typically up to 14 days after arrival). 

Guests arriving from Barbados: Barbados is considered to be part of the SVG COVID bubble. If the guest flies to SVG from Barbados, and if the period of the guest’s stay in  Barbados was > 14 days, if the guests arrive with a negative test, they will be allowed  to enter Saint Vincent and board the vessel. If the stay in Barbados was less than 14  days then the protocols for the prior country (the country they arrived from) will apply.

Guests arriving from Canada: Canada is now considered to be medium-risk. If the  guest flies to SVG from Canada, and if the period of the guest’s stay in Canada was >  14 days, if the guests arrive with a negative test, they will be retested upon arrival and  await results (usually within 48 hours) in a hotel that the agent will arrange. If results of  the arrival test are negative they will be allowed to board the vessel. 

For Crew movements into Saint Vincent via commercial jet from Miami, Toronto or  Barbados, see above (as per guests).  

Our prior option, travel via Martinique, is no longer in effect. Martinique, like  France, is now considered HIGH RISK by SVG Health. 

HIGH RISK COUNTRIES (according to SVG Health) 

United States of America, including the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), China,  United Kingdom, Germany, British Virgin Islands, Guyana, Suriname, Belize, Jamaica,  Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Brazil, India, Panama, Argentina,  Peru, Haiti, Colombia, South Africa, Nigeria, Indonesia, Philippines, Italy, Bahamas,  Turks and Caicos Islands, France (including overseas regions), Spain and Russia 

MEDIUM RISK COUNTRIES 

Canada, Cuba, Taiwan and Iceland 

BUBBLE COUNTRIES (Activated) 

Barbados 

BUBBLE COUNTRIES (Non-Activated) 

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, , Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis,  St. Lucia 

ALL Countries not defined by the above will be treated as HIGH 


ANTIGUA

Pre-Arrival

The authorized ports of entry shall be Nelson’s Dockyard and Jolly Harbour  

All crew and skippers to have a Negative PCR Covid-19 test result within seven days  prior to travel, though preferred within the previous 72 hours.  
Daily monitoring and logging of temperatures and any signs or symptoms.  

Once possible, yachts will be expected to submit their Eseaclear declarations in advance  of arrival and upload the health declarations for all people on board, so that the  Health Authorities may assess risk on board prior to arrival of the vessel. 


On Arrival – Yacht Clearance & Health Screening 

Suggested requirements for Port Health Station:  
Minimum of two Port health Officers at each port of entry.  
Holding Areas for vessels deemed high risk and for those vessels who have not  submitted Eseaclear.  
Quarantine areas for vessels and for individuals completing their quarantine  time.  
A PCR testing facility at the ports of entry. (Outbound tests also should be  readily available for those who require them).  

VESSEL CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS  

The captain/skipper, observing the nationally established safety protocols,  reports to Port Health, and in the absence of an Eseaclear declaration, collects  the health questionnaire to be filled by each person on board, for submission to  Port Health.