Covid Tests Offered In NY to Bermuda Travellers
A Covid-19 screening service in New York City will be offered to travelers flying to Bermuda, the BTA and OpenClear announced today.
A spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Tourism Authority [BTA] and OpenClear announced today a collaboration that offers travelers to Bermuda convenient access to an expedited Covid-19 screening service in line with the Government of Bermuda’s health protocols.
“Starting October 27, OpenClear’s Covid-19 screening service is available every Tuesday and Thursday [9 am–3 pm, by appointment only] in midtown, New York City.
“The service is designed to help visitors to Bermuda from the New York City area, as well as returning residents of Bermuda, obtain a Covid-19 test result for the country’s pre-trip Travel Authorisation process. Since Bermuda reopened its tourism industry safely and responsibly July 1, one-third of the island’s leisure visitors are from New York addresses.”
“OpenClear has a strong performance record for delivering test results on time and that is exactly what Bermuda visitors need to book their travel to the island with confidence,” said BTA Interim CEO Glenn Jones.
“Bermuda’s rigorous protocols have kept visitors and residents safe, and now, in New York City, consumers ready to return to travel safely can access our open-air, island life experience more easily. This collaboration with OpenClear is another way to help set Bermuda’s safety record apart from other destinations.”
Isaak N Yakubov, Co-Founder & CEO, LEAA Health, conducts an OpenClear Covid-19 test on the BTA’s Glenn Jones earlier this month
The BTA said, “OpenClear’s Covid-19 screening service program, led by LEAA Health, includes nasopharyngeal swab collection by a healthcare worker for the laboratory-based RT-PCR assay. This US Food and Drug Administration collection method and test, approved for emergency use, are accepted by the Bermuda Department of Health.
“The island’s record as a safe destination includes an upgrade to Level 2 on the Centers for Disease Control travel advisory list; Bermuda is one of only four countries to earn that assessment. Bermuda also earned the Safe Travels Stamp from the World Travel & Tourism Council.
“Through its collaboration with the BTA, OpenClear’s Covid-19 screening service in midtown, New York City, is only offered to those flying to Bermuda. To book an appointment visitors and residents will provide proof of travel to the island within seven days [flight number, flight date].
“Travelers must then apply for a Bermuda Travel Authorisation one to three days before departure and show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than seven days* before departure. [*For example, a pre-departure Covid-19 PCR test taken on October 1, will be valid for travel until October 8.]
“OpenClear will offer three result reporting turnaround times for the COVID-19 screening [12–24-hour turnaround, 24–48-hour turnaround, 48–72-hour turnaround], with prices starting at $199.
“OpenClear is an out-of-network testing service provider and does not accept any insurance for this Covid-19 screening service. Travelers to Bermuda can choose to receive COVID-19 testing services from OpenClear or any authorised healthcare provider.
“Visit www.openclear.nyc/bermuda-tourism to learn more about OpenClear’s Covid-19 screening service, rates and appointment scheduling.“
As the island and world deals with the Covid-19 pandemic, we are doing our best to provide timely and accurate information, and you can find more information on the links below.
- All: Our coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic here
- Official: The Bermuda Government website here
- World Stats: Live graph of all cases worldwide here
- Bermuda Stats: Chart of the Bermuda stats here
- Timeline: Visual look at the timeline here
- Comprehensive: Our Covid-19 website here
Shouldn’t the person doing the test be wearing gloves?
Already approved by the Bermuda Department of Health, CDC, FDA and the WT&TC, street clothes and bare hands. Hilarious.
Don’t worry. It is just a photo op.
Now, Glenn, how can the PLP Government continue to hate you if keep doing good things like this?
the initiative may be good idea BUT no gloves, no face shield, no scrubs. Sorry and not to be a debbie downer but doesn’t look overly professional to me.
Several other islands and international destinations have negotiated that testing be done at the departure airport (or boarding gate) by the airlines including American, United and Jet Blue, with results delivered to the destination country before the flight lands. Why does bermuda not offer this service to our residents and guests?
Even if this does not replace the pre departure test but just the landing test, surely this would be good for everyone involved. Unless testing tourists is a big business for our local labs…
The tester should be wearing gloves. He would not be able to touch me – no siree!
I am flying to Bermuda on Dec. 22. When should I get the test? Will Medicare and my supplementary health insurance pay for the test? Please advise. Thank you. Mary Ann Romano
Not a good look! You should have listened to your awesome staff with COMMON SENSE. They would have done an awesome job, guaranteed. Really can’t get my head around NO gloves, NO shield. Bermuda is on the map for being COVID 19 free destination. Lastly prices – my partner paid $65.00 dollars for his pre-departure test. Wrap your heads around that!
Hopefully this is just a photo op.
If you have seen the testers in Bermuda, they are in full PPE. Gowns, gloves and face shields. Interesting to see this is an ‘out of network provider’. Would be interesting to see the 12-24 hour price.
Overall however this makes sense. Everyone coming to Bermuda should be pretested.
The suggestion about airlines doing the test before you board and providing the result before you land is a non starter. What happens if you test positive.. you will then have had the opportunity to infect many others on the plane!!
I also understand that the Bermuda approved test cannot be done within the 90 min travel time to Bermuda.
But again, to Mr. Jones and his team… the pre testing is a good initiative… hopefully it will be a success after some fine tuning.