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Puerto Rico resident Sarah Molinari was looking forward to spending time in New York this week to take hold of upwards with family and celebrate the holidays. What she didn't see coming were the hours spent scrolling through COVID-19 testing centre websites to make certain she could fly home Tuesday.

While traveling to the U.S. territory used to be a breeze for Molinari and other vaccinated travelers, that changes Monday when Puerto Rico starts requiring all travelers to test negative for COVID-nineteen before arriving.

The new rule comes as the U.S. finds itself in the midst of yet another coronavirus test shortage, with consumers facing express sales at retailers and long lines at testing centers.

"I was getting really frustrated, thinking almost how exercise I plan and brand sure I get this exam in time?" Molinari said. "I take no problem with the policy itself. It's more than of the inadequacy of testing on a national calibration right now that'south making these policies really complicated."

Testing requirements are cipher new in the age of COVID-19, but travelers are finding information technology more difficult – and more expensive – to visit sure domestic destinations amid the latest testing shortage.

New COVID testing requirements to enter Puerto Rico brainstorm Monday

Gov. Pedro Pierluisi announced the rule change Monday, 1 week before the new rules were set to get into effect.

Starting this Monday, all passengers arriving on domestic flights must prove a negative coronavirus examination taken no more 48 hours before inflow, regardless of vaccination status. (Currently, only unvaccinated domestic travelers are required to prove proof of a negative test.)

Notice Puerto Rico, the territory's destination marketing organization, told USA TODAY that PCR and rapid tests are accepted, just at-home tests cannot exist used.

"The authorities of Puerto Rico, along with Discover Puerto Rico, are committed to protecting and prioritizing the health and safety of all on the Island; residents and visitors alike," reads a argument from Discover Puerto Rico. "The changes to local guidelines made by Governor Pierluisi and the Health Section this week reverberate the recent and rapidly irresolute landscape of COVID-19, which required immediate activeness."

Officials "highly propose" travelers examination before departure, but passengers who arrive without a negative coronavirus test will have 48 hours to take a exam upon inflow. Tests are bachelor at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, and Discover Puerto Rico noted that travelers tin can also schedule a examination at a local pharmacy. Those who don't go tested in time face a $300 fine.

Travelers who test on the isle do not need to quarantine while they look for results, according to Discover Puerto Rico, but unvaccinated travelers will demand to quarantine vii days subsequently arrival, even with a negative test.

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Difficulties getting tested

While post-arrival testing is an option, Molinari said the Caribbean island has its own testing supply issues. Discover Puerto Rico'due south website says travelers can become a test on-site at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airdrome after inflow, only travelers should exist prepared to pay $110 for the service.

"I can't do that," said Molinari, who was surprised to learn the test's price tag.

Merely finding a test stateside is besides a challenge.

"Friends that were going to the public testing sites around New York were telling me about hourslong waits," she said. "Some of them show upwardly at i site, look for hours and so they would run out of tests. So my thought was ... I actually only might not become a test when I need information technology."

Somewhen, after about iv hours trying to track downwards a test her insurance would cover, Molinari plant a dispensary that could offer her an antigen examination at no cost.

"I accept access to the engineering science and the information, and I have the fourth dimension to navigate this procedure, whereas, for many others, that'south not the situation that they're in," Molinari said. "So if this was hard for me, my question is, how is someone else supposed to exercise this?"

Other travelers take taken to social media with their concerns over finding a test in time.

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Hawaii, United states of america Virgin Islands: Other testing requirements for domestic flights

White House printing secretary Jen Psaki reiterated Thursday that the federal government does non plan to crave testing for domestic air travel at this time.

"Nosotros still require masks on airplanes, of class. We've likewise increased the fee on, if people exercise non wearable masks on airplanes," she said. "Rules, as you know, for international travel are dissimilar ... to assistance keep COVID cases out of this country and delay any new possible variant from coming into the country."

All U.S. flights – domestic and international – require masks through at to the lowest degree March eighteen. International flights into the U.Due south. also require a negative pre-deviation viral coronavirus test taken no more one twenty-four hours before travel.

Nonetheless, some domestic destinations take taken information technology into their ain hands to add more stringent entry requirements.

► Hawaii: Unvaccinated U.S. travelers flight into Hawaii tin can take a test to avoid a 10-solar day quarantine. The state accepts Nucleic Acrid Amplification Tests, or NAATs, from a trusted travel partner taken no more than 72 hours before departure.

► U.S. Virgin Islands: Domestic travelers five and older flying into the U.S. Virgin Islands must submit a negative antigen or NAAT test within v days of travel, including those who accept been fully vaccinated outside the Virgin Islands.

► Northern Mariana Islands:Equally of Monday, all fully vaccinated travelers must be tested for the coronavirus upon arrival. Travelers must quarantine while they await for their results. Unvaccinated travelers must quarantine at a designated regime facility for vii days and will be tested afterward the quarantine menses ends. If their test is positive, they volition be isolated for another 10 days at the facility.

►American Samoa:The U.S. territory currently limits entry to essential purposes.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Bailey Schulz on Twitter: @bailey_schulz.

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Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2021/12/23/puerto-rico-travel-entry-testing-requirement/9007119002/

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