The Guardian tried to reach Sanders’ lawyer for comment, but the number for his office was disconnected. “Sounds like Puerto Rico” wants to bring you closer to the Island’s culture, Taíno heritage, tropical vibes, and nature’s tranquility. Some children were dehydrated after the coronavirus gave them high fevers, Dr. Ramos said, but others had the inflammatory syndrome that afflicts some children with Covid-19. SAN JUAN, P.R. Puerto Rico relaxes COVID curfew, reopens beaches but bans alcohol in certain public spaces. Puerto Rico Just Had Its ‘Worst Moment’ for Covid-19 The island saw explosive growth in coronavirus cases, fueled by business reopenings, Easter and tourists on spring break. Puerto Rico's plans to encourage more tourism from the U.S. mainland have backfired as the number of COVID-19 cases has spiked at the same time that the island has attracted more visitors — … August 24, 2020, 9:09 AM PDT. Videos circulating on social media show aggressive tourists starting fights, disrespecting local workers and residents, and disregarding Covid-19 precautions, including not wanting to wear face masks and having large gatherings as the travel influx to the island continues. Officials pushed up the start of a nightly curfew to 10 p.m. from midnight — it is the only remaining blanket curfew in any state or territory — and reduced indoor capacity to 30 percent from 50 percent for restaurants and businesses. Travel may increase your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. The island's tourism industry, in 2020, suffered a great deal because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Pierluisi, who took office in January, has resisted pressure for a more stringent partial lockdown endorsed by opposition lawmakers and recommended by his own coalition of experts. Tourists poured in for spring break season. As a U.S. jurisdiction, travelers must observe national health guidance, as per Centers for … About 800 people a day are being vaccinated at a site overseen by the Puerto Rico National Guard at Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum in Bayamón. Several hotels fluxed within single-digit occupancy percentages. ), Lucía Santana Benítez, 52, who lives in a public housing complex in San Juan and runs a nonprofit group to feed her neighbors, caught the coronavirus last year, as did her son and husband. eases restrictions on travel. Correa, at the Condado Vanderbilt, says he has not seen any reduction of guests at the hotel since Presidents’ Day weekend and thinks it will stay that way for spring break. “It might be the worst moment we’ve been through this past year.”. Should you book a holiday for 2021 yet? The women, who were staying at an Airbnb in San Juan, threw their drinks at the resident’s face and told her to speak English. Italy’s school-dropout crisis has gotten worse during the pandemic. Though restrictions were eased slightly over the summer, and the former governor Wanda Vázquez reopened beaches fully in September, they were closed again from November until January. His restaurant is located in La Placita de Santurce, a popular tourist area. Erika P. Rodriguez for The New York Times. The governor said in a news conference this week that the recent measures he did take were working but needed more time to fully take effect. All arriving passengers to Puerto Rico’s three open airports must complete an online Travel Declaration Form from the Puerto Rico Health Department, show a negative PCR molecular COVID-19 test result taken no more than 72 hours prior, and obtain an Airport Exit Confirmation QR Code, which travelers will automatically receive when uploading their PCR molecular test results to the Puerto Rico Health … Puerto Rico, according to Discover Puerto Rico, has exercised an abundance of caution since the onset of COVID-19 (coronavirus), with policies … Only this week did the numbers stop rising, giving the territory its first respite since the surge began in mid-March. If you must travel: Before you travel, get tested with a … That helped Puerto Rico avoid a drastic increase in cases for many months but also dearly cost the economy. With restrictions having relaxed, Bolivar admits hotels have experienced issues with some guests, but said many incidents, such as large gatherings and excessive noise, occur mostly in Airbnbs. Associated Press. Those restrictions hit the hospitality industry hard. Worse than Hurricane Maria, the 2017 monster storm that was seen as a once-in-a-generation disaster, according to one top official. A one-way flight to Puerto Rico from Florida booked two days in advance could be as low as $62. (The previous rules allowed travelers the option of isolating for 10 days if they could not provide a negative test result. Puerto Rico’s new governor, Pedro Pierluisi, ... island has struggled since to maintain a healthy balance between keeping locals and tourists safe from the threat of COVID-19, and restarting its tourism industry, which is a crucial part of the local economy. In February, one video showed tourists assault a woman in a wheelchair after they were told to wear masks. Jim Wyss; Bookmark. Puerto Rico … “We’re seeing a lot of tourists in the streets not wanting to cooperate with the executive order,” says Bolivar. “The situation is stabilizing,” he said. Airbnb removed the guest from the platform due to the incident. Starting next week travelers heading to Puerto Rico will face a fine if they arrive without showing proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR Test taken within 72 hours of arriving. Now, Puerto Rico is under curfew from 12am to 5am and indoor establishments can operate at 50% capacity as the newly elected governor, Pedro Pierluis, has increasingly been easing restrictions since January. Hear its essence, speak the lingo! “Minutes after they go outside late at night looking for a party, they come back and ask, ‘Is the curfew thing actually real?’”. “The tourists think they can do whatever they want,” says Correa, 24, who is also a student at the University of Puerto Rico. Starting on April 28, travelers who do not show proof of a negative Covid-19 test upon their arrival will be fined $300 unless they submit a test result within 48 hours. Some have been arrested after breaking quarantine orders.). People gathered to celebrate Holy Week, a time when many are off work. “You can tell that they are very, very overwhelmed,” he said. Some mayors have adopted additional restrictions, including closing beaches. But she decided to get the shot so she could visit her children and grandchildren, who live in Florida, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Aug 24 2020, 9:39 PM Aug 25 2020, 1:21 AM August 24 2020, 9:39 PM August 25 2020, 1:21 AM (Bloomberg) --How bad has the Covid-19 crisis been for Puerto Rico’s tourism industry? Read our full post on: Is it safe to visit Puerto Rico during COVID? About 1.65 million people — about 31 percent of the population — have received at least one vaccine dose, according to a Times database, which relies on statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Jim Wyss. Hotel occupancy reached 60% during Presidents’ Day holiday weekend in February, according to the island’s destination marketing organization, Discover Puerto Rico. It was the highest number since Christmas, and hotels expect to reach the same occupancy rates for the forthcoming spring break. Puerto Rico has reported relatively low numbers of COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, according to Johns Hopkins' data. Go on a journey to understand our jargon and discover its origins. “Or they say, ‘Why should I get vaccinated if I can still catch it or have strong side effects?’” (She tells them she got the shot herself and felt fine. Hospitals still have bed capacity, Dr. Ramos said, but doctors and nurses are stretched thin. In early April, the island went from averaging about 200 new cases a day to about 800, according to a New York Times database. Bolivar expects hotel rooms to sell out. Airlines could benefit when the E.U. Mr. Rivera tested positive for the coronavirus two weeks ago and lost his sense of smell. “I’m being a responsible grandmother,” Ms. Santana said. Recent reports have included Puerto Rico among the list of US territories suffering a high increase COVID-19 case count after reopening the territory for a second time. Porto Rico : toute l'actualité en direct, les événements, l'économie, la politique, les analyses, des photos et des vidéos pour rester informé en continu toute la journée The Puerto Rico Tourism Company also launched an English-language campaign geared toward tourists, reminding visitors to follow local COVID-19 guidelines. “They don’t believe in vaccines, and the Johnson & Johnson situation has only made it worse,” Sister Faustina said, referring to the pause of that vaccine to study whether it causes blood clots. The results were staggering. Long lines formed to receive unemployment benefits. Puerto Rico went into lockdown last March. Beaches are also open for recreational use. One of the children hospitalized with severe Covid was just 3 months old, he said. “This gave the virus opportunities to spread that it didn’t have a year ago. Sounds like Puerto Rico. When he left after one of his shifts a few days ago, the hospital’s pediatric patient count had grown to 10. For José Silva, owner of El Chicharrón restaurant, tourists arriving in the last weeks have put him on edge due to the large crowds without face masks forming on the weekends. “I’m nervous about myself, and for the friends and family I surround myself with, because I have no idea where this person who doesn’t want to wear a mask is coming from.”. — Throughout the pandemic, Dr. Víctor Ramos, a pediatrician, had not seen more than two Covid-19 patients hospitalized at the same time at San Jorge Children & Women’s Hospital in San Juan, the Puerto Rican capital, where he works nights. Pedro R. Pierluisi shut down in-person instruction at schools because of the virus surge. By. “There must be a very measured, very prudent approach to these types of decisions.”. Puerto Rico continues to be among the most accessible travel destinations for Americans in the time of COVID-19 as U.S. visitors don't need a passport or a negative coronavirus test result before returning home in order to experience the coveted Caribbean island. She does not have Covid-19 — she had surgery and has been in and out of intensive care — but the facility has been so full of Covid patients that there has not always been room for her in the I.C.U., he said. The island has seen a resurgence in tourism recently, mostly from the U.S. mainland, which is a boon to the local economy. As of December 3, the Center for Disease and Control (CDC) has issued a Level 4 risk, meaning there is a very high level of virus transmission in Puerto Rico. “The association has brought the claim to the government, municipal government and the police.”. Hotel occupancy on the island is at 20%-30% of normal levels. Outside of public testing sites, private labs in Puerto Rico still require a doctor’s order to conduct a gold-standard polymerase chain reaction test to detect the coronavirus, creating a barrier for socially vulnerable populations to find out if they are infected, said Melissa Marzán-Rodríguez, an epidemiologist and assistant professor of public health at Ponce Health Sciences University. In the week leading up to April 13, more than 7,100 cases were identified, a record. Low-cost flights to Puerto Rico have enticed many travelers to choose the island as a vacation spot during the pandemic. The island saw explosive growth in coronavirus cases, fueled by business reopenings, Easter and tourists on spring break. Puerto Rican authorities are being forced to crack down on aggressive tourists who refuse to follow the island’s requirements to prevent the spread of COVID-19. At the Condado Vanderbilt hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Christian Correa clocked in to work the night-shift as a doorman and braced for the worst. She initially did not want to get vaccinated, though she was promoting the vaccine in her community. Masks remain mandatory in public places across the island. Surging virus variants push the Philippines over a million total cases. Jorge Manuel Rivera, 43, has seen it firsthand: His wife has been hospitalized in a San Juan hospital since late March. Silva says the police close the streets around the area on weekends, making it hard for Ubers or taxis to pick up tourists after bars and restaurants close. Before traveling to Puerto Rico. With spring break coming up and the spread of new variants still on the rise, Discover Puerto Rico is encouraging travelers to participate in outdoor activities, such as visiting El Yunque national rainforest or the beaches. And what about refunds? The testing rate had dropped sharply before doubling in recent weeks, Dr. Mellado said. In the past several weeks, new Covid-19 cases more than doubled on the island. “There are too many people who are not aware of what is happening,” he said. Puerto Rico sees a surge in tourism – and a rise in aggressive tourist behavior. The CDC categorized Puerto Rico at its highest Level 4 COVID-19 rating due to the high level of cases on the island and is still recommending that people avoid all travel there. A woman walked past a sign encouraging social distancing in the Old San Juan section of the Puerto Rican capital on Wednesday. It isn't that Puerto Rico doesn't welcome tourism. (EFE) To date, only 28 cases of different variants have been recorded on the island, of which 18 are British (B.1.1.7) and six cases are California (B.1.429). SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Puerto Rico… Then came the coronavirus.Reservations that had begun to trickle in after the earthquakes were canceled. There is also resistance to mask-wearing, testing — “Some people think it’s going to hurt, up their nose,” she said — and vaccinations. Travelers should avoid all travel to Puerto Rico. “We’ve seen fights, parties in the rooms and aggressive behavior.”. Scenes of tourists behaving badly — flouting mask orders, crowding local hangouts and refusing to heed demands that they respect pandemic rules — have routinely made headlines. Overall, Puerto Rico … On March 12, 2020, the governor of Puerto Rico declared a state of emergency. I couldn’t even bathe.”. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory and is excluded from the CDC requirement to provide a negative Covid-19 test to enter or return to the mainland U.S. Travelers entering Puerto Rico … Last month, the Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Division in Puerto Rico filed charges against the North Carolina resident, Devin Sanders. Correa, who is also a bellman at the hotel, has seen a surge in American tourists coming to the US territory in the last three months and the hotel has been busy. In Old San Juan, another popular tourist area, Cristina Colón has been questioning whether her job as a waitress in Pirilo Pizza is worth the money as she sees a rise in clientele who refuse to abide by the Covid-19 precautions. She described it as “bad, bad, bad, bad — I spent a week sweating, with a fever, pain. April 29, 2020. by Chief Assignment Editor. But contact tracing suggests many of the new infections have come not directly from tourists, but from Puerto Ricans going to work, restaurants and shops in person, public health experts say. “They never believe me when I tell them there’s a curfew,” says Correa. Covid-19 Worse for Puerto Rico Tourism Than Maria, Official Says. The combination of US residents wanting to escape cold weather, cheap flight tickets and easing restrictions on the island has been bringing tourists en masse. Dr. Carlos Mellado López, the Puerto Rico health secretary, said in an interview that the Health Department estimated the number was actually higher, about 2.2 million people. Now the virus has the opportunity to spread in all places.”. People enjoy Pine Grove beach in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico. “We are certainly seeing the effects of increased traveler confidence coinciding with vaccine distribution in the US,” said Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico. For years, Puerto Rico has lost many medical professionals to better-paying jobs in the states, leaving fewer of them to tend to the virus on the island. At its peak, the positivity rate reached about 14 percent, according to the Puerto Rico Department of Health. The tourism industry in Puerto Rico has also taken specific steps to ensure that partners on the Island and their teams have the latest information on COVID-19, including prevention measures on the Island, personal prevention tips to use themselves and to share with travelers, cleaning and disinfecting protocols, and guidance for what to do if they or their guests begin experiencing symptoms. one video showed tourists assault a woman in a wheelchair, filed charges against the North Carolina resident. Although he used to enjoy high season before the pandemic, recently, many tourists arriving to Puerto Rico have enraged local residents and hospitality workers as the island eases its Covid-19 restrictions. Low-cost flights have enticed travelers, but relaxed restrictions have led to large gatherings, fights and Covid rule-breaking, Last modified on Mon 15 Mar 2021 14.42 GMT. The latest outbreak can be managed with more gradual measures, Mr. Pierluisi said, citing the existence of virus treatments, a contact tracing system in Puerto Rico’s municipalities and the availability of vaccines. “The situation has deteriorated so much over the past few weeks,” she said. Puerto Rico: Official COVID-19 Tourism Update. A COVID-19 test has been required since July 15 in order to travel to Puerto Rico but starting April 28, there will be a $300 fine imposed if someone arrives without proof of a negative COVID … Here’s what else you need to know about traveling safely and responsibly in Puerto Rico right now. “So much public attention turned to vaccination,” she said. Porto Rico Inscrivez-vous Assurance voyage Destinations. 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