NEW Testing INFO. Please Read

[Andrea J.]

https://www.aruba.com/us/traveler-health-requirements

We want to share an important update about your upcoming trip. To help ensure the safety and well-being of all our residents and visitors, the Government of Aruba continually assesses the overall environment related to COVID-19 and modifies a variety of health and safety protocols, as appropriate.
Latest news: Aruba is working on changing the entry requirements effective January 18, 2022.In summary: residents traveling to Aruba from a location listed as high-risk (including US and Canada), will now have the option to take an antigen test one (1) day or a Molecular COVID-19 test two (2) days prior to traveling to Aruba. Take note that since December 27^th, 2021 residents from high risk countries no longer have the option to test upon arrival.
The information on these pages will be updated soon to reflect this change. Please check back.
Additionally: If a traveler is traveling via a high risk country as a non-transit passenger, meaning staying in the respective country for more than 24 hours, the requirement of a one (1) day antigen test or two (2) day PCR test prior to departure shall be applicable. Transit passengers, those staying less than 24 hours, from low risk countries can continue to test three (3) days prior to departure date.
Visitors 12 and older, who have tested positive using a molecular Covid-19 test by nasopharyngeal swab between 10 days and 12 weeks prior to travel date to Aruba, and do not show any symptoms, will be exempt from the requirement of providing a negative COVID-19 test result for entry to Aruba. Take note that Aruba has reduced the amount of days from 14 to 10 days. As part of the mandatory Embarkation/Disembarkation Card process, these visitors will, however, be required to upload proof of their positive Molecular COVID-19 by nasopharyngeal swab test result taken between 10 days and 12 weeks prior to travel date to Aruba.

[darlou57]

Do you still need a note from your physician stating you are recovered and fit to travel if you had COVID from 10 days to 12 weeks. My wife and myself had COVID a 2nd time after getting all the shots and boosters and documentation that we both tested after nasal PCR. Thanks

[robin]

https://www.aruba.com/us/traveler-he...g#your-options

[Marianne]

I wonder if local community testing sites such as our local university center qualifies as "a certified lab" to get an antigen test at?

[Julemors]

Does anyone know if the Abbott BinaxNOW AG test that you take at home via video conference through eMed will be acceptable? This test acceptable by USA to get back to the states.

[Andrea J.]

Julemors.....Needs to be collected by licensed medical staff

COVID-19 Test requirements
Testing prior to travel to Aruba
The Government of Aruba requires the test to be a COVID-19 test, obtained from a nasal swab specimen through amplified Molecular testing or Antigen testing performed by a certified lab, and the results need to be uploaded as part of the ED card process.
Your lab results need to be in English, Dutch or Spanish, and list:
· Your name, as it appears on passport
· Date the test was collected
· "COVID-19", "SARS-CoV-2" or "Coronavirus"
· The type of test or test brand name (see below)
· How the test was taken: "Nasal", "Nasopharyngeal", "Mid-turbinate", "Combined Oral/Nasal", or "Combined Oral/Nasopharyngeal", or "Combined Oral/Mid-turbinate" swab
· Your test result (for example "Negative", "Not-Detected")

Tests that are accepted: Accepted Antigen test types: · Antigen test · Ag test · Rapid Antigen test · Lateral-flow Antigen test Accepted Antigen test brands, such as, but not limited to: · Quidel Sophia · Abbott BinaxNOW (only when collected by licensed medical staff) · LumiraDx Antigen Accepted Molecular test types: · PCR / RT-PCR / ddPCR / Rapid PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) · NAA / NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification) · AMP PRB (Amplified Probe) · LAMP (Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification) · TMA (Transcription-mediated Amplification) Accepted Molecular test brands, such as, but not limited to: · Abbott ID NOW - Only when results include the original thermal receipt / sticker, or results are verifiable through an email or patient portal. · Quidel Lyra PCR · Abbott Realtime PCR · Cobas Qualitative PCR · FTD PCR · Xpert Xpress · Simplexa Direct PCR · Vault Health · ADL Health · Stage Zero Life Sciences

Tests that are not accepted:
· Any at-home kits, telehealth or self administered tests (the sample needs to be collected by licensed medical staff)
o With the exception of Vault Health, ADL Health and Stage Zero Life Sciences
· Any test that does not rely on a nasal swab, such as:
o Sputum, saliva and spit collection (spit in a cup, etc)
o Gargle, oral rinse, etc
o Oral swab without a nasal swab
o With the exception of Vault Health, ADL Health and Stage Zero Life Sciences
· All Antibody tests (such as IgG, IgA, IgM and Rapid Antibody Tests)
· All blood tests (such as fingerstick, venipuncture)
· All plasma tests
· All serum tests
· All fever checks
· All temperature checks
· Any Doctor's note
Upload any of these, or an inauthentic test result, you will be denied boarding or required to retake the PCR test on arrival at the Airport at your expense.


And

Question If I've recovered from COVID-19 recently, how can I provide a negative COVID-19 test result?
Due to the fact that COVID-19 can show residual traces many weeks later in those who have tested positive, yet they show no symptoms and are likely not infectious, the Aruban government has implemented a specific policy.

Those visitors 12 and older, who have tested positive using a Molecular COVID-19 test by nasopharyngeal swab between 10 days and 12 weeks prior to their travel date to Aruba, and do not show any symptoms, will be exempt from the requirement of providing a negative COVID-19 test result for entry to Aruba.

As part of the mandatory online Embarkation/Disembarkation Card process, these visitors will, however, be required to upload proof of their positive Molecular COVID-19 by nasopharyngeal swab test result taken between 10 days and 12 weeks prior to their travel date to Aruba.

Note: This exemption does not apply for anyone who has had a positive COVID-19 test older than 12 weeks, or anyone who is not able to provide proof in the form of a Molecular COVID-19 by nasopharyngeal swab test result. Some examples of accepted Molecular COVID-19 tests are: PCR by nasopharyngeal swab, NAAT by nasopharyngeal swab, TMA by nasopharyngeal swab, etc. Some examples of tests that are not accepted are: Antigen, Antibody, blood tests, etc.

Question Do children need to be tested as well?

Children 11 and under are not required to take or submit any test.

Does anyone know if the Abbott BinaxNOW AG test that you take at home via video conference through eMed will be acceptable? This test acceptable by USA to get back to the states.

[SkiChris]

I think Julemors' question was about the covid tests that the USA accepts to board a plane back to the USA. In that case, YES - the Abbott BinaxNow Covid-19 Ag test kit, which includes the video conferencing with EMed to supervise and document the test result, is accepted as a valid Covid test method for return to the USA. There is a NAVICA app where results are displayed (that you can show to the airline) and you also receive a test report by email also. I ordered one of these test kits in December to take with me on a sailboat vacation in the British Virgin Islands. It was fairly easy to use. Just make sure you buy the type that includes the eMed Certified Guide for the testing process. There is a cheaper/less expensive version of the test that is just a self test (non-supervised) and that type is not valid for return to the USA.
"Fit to Fly" Test sites in Aruba are also widely available and the cost for an antigen test (~$35) in Aruba is about the same as the cost to order/buy the BinaxNow test kits.