COVID-19 Protocols

With most countries worldwide working hard to vaccinate their population as quickly as possible, there is considerable speculation on how vaccination status will change an individual’s ability to travel internationally.

We anticipate that many smaller island nations will soon adopt policies requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination to fast-track quarantine requirements or even to enter their Territory. These policies will protect their population (many of whom may not receive the vaccine for some time) while restarting their tourism economy.

While not required, we recommend that all eligible students (determined by local authorities and medical experts) endeavor to become fully vaccinated* for COVID-19 before joining the program. Given our groups’ age demographic, we understand that our younger students are not likely to be eligible, so we anticipate that our group will adhere to our standard COVID-19 risk management strategy during summer 2021.

*Fully vaccinated – definition
The CDC considered individuals fully vaccinated for COVID-19 greater than or equal to 2 weeks after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, etc.), or greater than or equal to 2 weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson [J&J]/Janssen).

The goal of our pre-trip protocols is to reduce the possibility of an infected person joining the vessel

1. 10-day Pre-Program Precautionary Period

We require that all students take part in a 10-day pre-trip precautionary period before joining our program. This is a condition of participation. Over these ten days, at an absolute minimum, students must limit exposure* and follow the health requirements and guidelines set by their local, state, federal, or any other health authority or governmental organization. Living in different geographic locations, we recognize that guidelines may differ from student to student, yet we ask all students to err on the side of caution during this period. Individual decisions made during this period will determine the student’s eligibility to join the program. We define “limiting exposure” as avoiding unnecessary contact with those who are not operating within an environment of active COVID-19 risk mitigation. Completing in-person school or attending another summer camp would likely be appropriate, but unnecessary vacation travel may not be. Each family needs to weigh the importance of one experience against another, so please don’t call our office expecting us to approve a European vacation, Celebrity cruise, a trip to Disney, or any public gathering within this period.

2. Negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test – Five Day

Within five (5) days of traveling to the program, students must take a COVID-19 Nasopharyngeal RT-PCR test and receive a negative result. Q-PCR or Rapid antigen tests will not be accepted. The results need to be presentable on an official document (electronic or otherwise) that clearly shows the following:

• Laboratory name and contact details
• Student’s name
• Test taken, stating RT-PCR
• Date and time that the sample was taken
• Negative result for COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2

Please note – “Five days before traveling to the program” means no greater than five days from when a student can definitively prove that they started traveling to the British Virgin Islands on their most direct route (i.e., without unnecessary stopovers). The date and time of a student’s first flight is the best benchmark for this. Our experience shows that a 24-48hr testing turnaround is easily achievable when working through a primary health care provider. Another good resource for US-based students is the following user-generated list of centers that have met this requirement for travelers – https://testfortravel.com/

3. Register to travel to the British Virgin Islands using the BVI Gateway App.

Once you have your negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test results all students must register to travel using the BVI Gateway App. Your application must be started greater than 48 hours before traveling to the Territory and completed no later than 24 hours prior to travel.

 
Learn more about BVI Travel Protocols
Link to the BVI Gateway App

We’ll send you any specific information needed to complete this step in the lead-up to the program. The application is easy to complete requiring you to submit a copy of your negative RT-PCR test results, proof of health insurance covering COVID-19 related medical expenses, and confirmation of your program booking. You’ll answer a few questions about your travel itinerary, health history and need to pay the $175 fee covering the cost of the Day Zero and Day Four in-country COVID-19 tests (see below for details). Once the BVI officials have reviewed your application, you’ll receive an email containing your Travel Authorisation Letter. You must print and carry copies of your negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test results and Travel Authorization Letter with you when you fly.

4. For students traveling to the BVI via St. Thomas – Register your arrival using the U.S. Virgin Islands Travel Screening Portal.

All students must gain pre-approval to enter the USVI, using a simple form on the U.S. Virgin Islands Travel Screening Portal. You should complete this application between 48hrs and 24hrs before travel.

Link to the USVI Travel Screening Portal

Once you submit the form, you’ll receive an email containing a specific QR code, likely colored orange, indicating your application is “pending.” Within a few hours, you’ll receive a second email with the same QR code, now colored green. This color change means your application is now approved. Print a copy of this QR code to carry with you as a health official will need to scan this upon arrival in St. Thomas.

5. Negative COVID-19 test (RT-PCR, Q-PCR, or approved antigen test) – 36hr

Within 36 hours of traveling to the program, students must take an additional COVID-19 test and receive a negative result. This can be any kind of COVID-19 test, including a Rapid Antigen Test or Q-PCR, which produces results in as little as 15 minutes. The results need to be presentable on an official document (electronic or otherwise) that clearly shows the following:

• Laboratory name and contact details
• Student’s name
• Date and time that the sample was taken
• Negative result for COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2

Please note – “36 hrs before traveling to the program” means no greater than 36 hrs from the time when a student can definitively prove that they started traveling to the British Virgin Islands on their most direct route (i.e., without unnecessary stopovers). The date and time of a student’s first flight is the best benchmark for this.

6. Submit the ActionQuest Pre-Trip Self Certification form, and upload a copy of your BVI Travel Authorization Letter and negative 36hr COVID-19 test result

Within 24 hours of travel, students (and parents if a student is under eighteen) must complete and submit our Pre-Trip Precautionary Self Certification Health Form. This form documents that over the preceding 10-day period:

• The student has complied with their State or Country’s regulations and CDC/WHO best practices for social distancing etc.
• The student has taken proactive precautions to limit exposure
• The student has taken their temperature daily, and that it has continuously been within the range considered normal (98.6).
• The student has not experienced any other symptom that may be associated with COVID-19, such as a dry cough, loss of taste or smell, etc.
• The student has not been in physical contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within 28 days before the trip.

Parents will be required to authorize $200 on a credit card which we will use to cover the fees associated with any mandatory re-entry testing requirement for their home country. For example, current federal regulations require all returning U.S. residents to take a COVID-19 test within 72-hrs of travel and receive a negative result. Currently, the BVI Health Department charges $70 per exit COVID-19 test, and transportation costs may vary. ActionQuest will pay these fees on behalf of the student, then capture that amount against the $200 that was initially authorized. We will provide you with an invoice for the charges made and release any excess funds back to the credit card at the end of the program.

Link to a sample of Pre-Trip Self Certification form

Our pre-trip risk mitigation strategies culminate on travel day and during the on-boarding process.

1. Print and Carry Essential Documents

Print out two (2) sets of the documents listed below. They do not need to be color copies. Plan to carry one set with you in your hand luggage and place the second set in your checked baggage as a backup. Photos or electronic PDFs stored on a cell phone are not accepted. You will need to present these to multiple officials throughout the day, so we suggest that you store each set in a small folder or sheet protector so that they don’t get damaged.

• Proof of your RT-PCR Covid-19 test results that clearly shows:
  i. Laboratory name and contact details
  ii. Student’s full name that matches legal name in passport
  iii. That the test taken was an RT-PCR test
  iv. Date, time, and location where the test was taken
  v. Negative result for Covid-19 or SARS-CoV-2
• Your British Virgin Islands Travel Authorization Letter
• If flying through St. Thomas, a printed copy of the QR code emailed to you after you submitted your application through the U.S. Virgin Islands Travel Portal.

2. Mitigating risk during travel

We require students to take maximum personal health precautions while traveling to the program. This includes wearing a face mask, avoiding touching your face, wearing gloves and/or washing hands, and applying hand sanitizer frequently after touching common surfaces throughout the airport, aircraft, or any ground transportation.

3. BVI arrival protocols

The BVI officials will already have your details on file when you arrive, but they will still need to:

• Check the details you submitted in the Gateway App
• Verify the results of the negative Covid-19 RT-PCR test you took at home
• Complete the standard arrival health check and administer the Day Zero Covid-19 RT-PCR test
• Be fitted with a visually distinctive “Quarantine” band.

Once complete, students will be transferred to the vessels. The full BVI Protocols can be found HERE

4. GoBeyond Onboarding Protocol

Upon arrival, we separate students into their boat “pods” and complete a quick temperature check before boarding. Students exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or having an elevated temperature will not be allowed to board the vessel until symptoms subside or the Day Zero negative Covid-19 test result is received.

Staff and students will wear facial coverings from arrival until the Day Zero test results are received (unless sleeping, eating, or physically distanced from one another).
Staff will administer and record daily temperature and symptom checks for the duration of the program.

The BVI’s current “QuaranTeam” protocols are as follows

• Initial quarantine for four whole days. We do this aboard the vessel with our staff and crew. We can sail between designated anchorages during this time, so program activities will not be affected. We’ll need to wear the visually distinctive “quarantine bracelet” over this time (think concert band), so swimming, snorkeling, and even scuba diving should be fine.
• Take the Day Four RT-PCR Test (actually taken on Day Five of the trip). Once the test comes back negative, there are no further restrictions.

The goal for the duration of the program is to limit opportunities for any student or staff to become exposed or infected

We understand that eradicating all risk of contracting Covid-19 during the trip is not feasible without destroying the nature of our program. That said, we know that we can limit the risk by employing the following strategies:

• Daily health and temperature checks
• Carefully considered and executed shore-side activities

While ActionQuest excursions are typically more nature-based than touristy or urban, it makes sense to limit activities that put us in places that can be regarded as higher risk. Examples of this would be crowded, high-traffic areas that are indoors and/or harder to socially distance such as museums, restaurants, covered markets, etc.

At present, most countries are requiring proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hrs of the start of travel home

Should this requirement remain in effect throughout the summer, our staff will coordinate your student taking the appropriate test (PCR or Antigen) within the required timeframe. We will also help parents complete any authorization application in order to re-enter or transit through certain countries.

In addition to transportation expenses, the BVI currently charges $70 per exit test. ActionQuest will cover these costs initially, then charge these fees back to our families against the amount pre-authorized at the start of the program.