Puerto Rico to demand COVID-19 test results from passengers
During The Pandemic
OHEL’s Tent Has
Not Folded
Services to Over 1,600 Holocaust Survivors
and Older Adults Continues
Caregiver HelpLine
Seminars
Outreach
Referrals
IF YOU ARE A SURVIVOR OR IF YOU KNOW A SURVIVOR
THAT CAN BENEFIT FROM OHEL PLEASE CALL 718-851-6300
Caribbean Life, JULY 3-9, 2020 21
By Danica Coto
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)
_ Puerto Rico‘s governor on
Tuesday announced strict new
rules for all passengers flying
into Puerto Rico in a bid to
curb coronavirus cases as officials
blame recent outbreaks on
those who flew to the U.S. territory
and were infected.
Starting July 15, all passengers
have to wear a mask and
must take a molecular test 72
hours prior to their arrival and
submit the results to officials at
the airport. Those who refuse
to do so, or tested positive, or
do not have the test results
available, will be forced into a
two-week quarantine. During
that time, they have to undergo
a molecular test and share
the results if they want to be
released from quarantine, said
Puerto Rico Health Secretary
Lorenzo Gonzalez.
“If you don’t want to be tested,
stay home. Don’t come here
and complicate our situation,”
he said.
Most molecular tests involve
a nose or throat swab and are
used to diagnose an active infection.
Puerto Rico‘s government
will not accept any other test,
including antibody ones that
require a finger stick or blood
drawn.
The island of 3.2 million people
is emerging from a lockdown
that began in mid-March.
The government has reported
at least 153 deaths, along with
more than 1,690 confirmed
cases and more than 5,770
probable ones.
Gonzalez acknowledged that
the government will not track
every single violator ordered
into quarantine. Instead, the
monitoring via a system known
as “Sara Alert” will be random
and target those who do not
respond to tracking efforts,
including phone calls and personal
visits. Passengers who do
not respond to text messages
requesting health updates will
be fined.
Gov. Wanda Vazquez said her
administration will recruit 350
people to help with tracking and
monitoring efforts.
“We cannot let our guard
down, especially with people
who live elsewhere and are
infected,” she said.
The new rules come amid an
alarming resurgence of cases in
the U.S. mainland, with states
like Texas, Florida and California
backtracking on reopenings.
Meanwhile, worldwide,
officials report 500,000 confirmed
deaths and 10 million
confirmed cases.
Several weeks ago, Vazquez
asked the U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration to temporarily
ban commercial flights
from cities in the U.S. mainland
that are considered coronavirus
hotspots. The FAA did not
respond to that request.
Puerto Rico expects to
receive up to 9,000 passengers a
day in upcoming months, compared
with the roughly 4,500
daily current arrivals, said
Carla Campos, executive director
of Puerto Rico‘s Tourism
Company.
Vazquez’s administration will
require that all passengers fill a
form prior to arriving in Puerto
Rico with required information
including where the test was
taken. Vazquez also stressed
that everyone has to wear a
mask if they’re outside or going
into a business.
Puerto Rico‘s main international
airport will continue
to be the only one accepting
all commercial flights, with
no date yet on when other
airports, including a smaller
international one in the island’s
northwest region, will reopen.
Currently, passengers can voluntarily
undergo a test at the
Luis Munoz Marin airport.
More than 280,000 people have
been tested, with more than
660 positive results, said Gen.
Jose Burgos, commissioner of
the island’s Emergency Management
Bureau.
n this May 21, 2020 fi le photo, a Puerto Rican fl ag fl ies on
an empty beach at Ocean Park, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Puerto RicoÕs governor announced Thursday, June 11, that
she will lift nearly all restrictions aimed at curbing coronavirus
cases, which means beaches, churches and businesses
including movie theaters and gyms across the U.S. territory
will reopen after three months. Associated Press / Carlos Giusti, File
Program supported by Program supported by
The New York City Council
Elie Wiesel Holocaust Survivors Initiative
Home Visits
Case Management
Virtual Counseling
Online Classes
www.ohelfamily.org
/www.ohelfamily.org
/www.ohelfamily.org