COVID testing policy for vaccinated US VIslanders to enter USVI scrapped
Come Wednesday, July 28, 2021, vaccinated [US] Virgin Islanders traveling back home will no longer need to take a Covid test for clearance to travel. All they've have to do is insert their vaccination card information into the USVI Travel Portal and await the green QR code confirmation.
That's according to [US] Virgin Islands Department of Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion, speaking during the Bryan administration's Covid-19 press briefing on Monday.
"Once you have been vaccinated within the territory and you put your information in, you would actually be given the green QR code," she said.
US Virgin Islanders have complained that even after being vaccinated, they were subjected to paying for Covid-19 tests to be allowed to travel back into the USVI. Health officials announced the new feature to the USVI Travel Portal in June, but strict health data regulations meant implementation took longer than expected.
The commissioner also reminded Virgin Islanders of the benefits associated with the department's digital vaccination record system named Polaris Key. She said during the original announcement on July 7, 2021, that Polaris Key "will make it easy for individuals to securely share their vaccination status while maintaining their privacy with a growing network of local organisations."
Additionally, Polaris Key "can be carried as a wallet-sized photo as well as an Apple Wallet and Google Wallet.” The data-keeping system is optional and Ms Encarnacion assured residents that “the programme follows cybersecurity and privacy best practices to ensure all your information is secure.”
"Once you have been vaccinated within the territory and you put your information in, you would actually be given the green QR code," she said.
US Virgin Islanders have complained that even after being vaccinated, they were subjected to paying for Covid-19 tests to be allowed to travel back into the USVI. Health officials announced the new feature to the USVI Travel Portal in June, but strict health data regulations meant implementation took longer than expected.
The commissioner also reminded Virgin Islanders of the benefits associated with the department's digital vaccination record system named Polaris Key. She said during the original announcement on July 7, 2021, that Polaris Key "will make it easy for individuals to securely share their vaccination status while maintaining their privacy with a growing network of local organisations."
Additionally, Polaris Key "can be carried as a wallet-sized photo as well as an Apple Wallet and Google Wallet.” The data-keeping system is optional and Ms Encarnacion assured residents that “the programme follows cybersecurity and privacy best practices to ensure all your information is secure.”
