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Tuesday 26 January 2021 LOCAL
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From a reader: Urge for adequate plan From our tourism authorities:
Testing tourists on the return to the
Aruba on local Covid testing USA, post vacation. It's easy!

ORANJESTAD — Aruba Today is a free other than being referred to the same 3 ORANJESTAD — In response tors accommodation (ho-
newspaper distributed six days a week locations. Can you possibly imagine what of the letter we received tel/ home). Appointment
and an important platform for our tourists. it would look like on any given day when from Evan Brett regarding recommended for this ser-
The main part of our interaction with our thousands of Americans need to get the post vacation testing vice. This service will be free
appreciated visitors is happy news, they tested on the same day? There are not Aruba’s tourism authorities of charge if booked online
share their love for the island with us and enough hours in a day to administer and find it important to explain in advance on www.covi-
we feature them. Now and then we also process Covid tests at a lab. your options when vaca- daruba.com. An extra fee
receive important concerns of our visitors And they are charging up to $125 for it, or tioning on Aruba. will be applied if the ap-
like Evan Brett’s letter below, addressed to $500 to a family of 4. That’s enough to lose pointment is made on the
our authorities. Thank you Brett for sharing the tourism revenue. In accordance with the same day 2. Walk-in service
your preoccupations with us. In Mexico, hotels are providing free, at Center for Disease Control accepted at our physical
hotel testing with a guaranteed appoint- and Prevention and the location – No appointment
“Here is some unfortunate news. Unless the ment assigned upon check-in, so you Government of the United necessary Price for the test
Aruban government can provide some know exactly when your test is, and you States of America it is re- is $126. Conduct the test
assurances about their planning for CO- needn’t leave the hotel grounds for test- quired that all returning before 11am for same day
VID testing in advance of the upcoming ing. Aruba’s plan is to have all tourist de- travelers present a nega- results. • M e d C a r e
US restrictions later next week, tourists will scend on the same 3, already sold out tive COVID-19 test result and Laboratorio di Servicio
be forced to cancel planned trips. locations is not realistic. Expecting tourists prior boarding. This will be- are formally approved to
Both the Aruban Tourism Authority and the to rely on taxis and buses to opt for the come effective as of Janu- do both antigen and PCR
Marriott Surf Club continually provide the hospital will only increase the risk of infec- ary 26, 2021. In the Aruban testing. They will be doing
3 testing locations for tourists…only for us tion, and cause more stress on the quaran- Government’s continuing this at several of the larg-
to find out no appointments are available tine scenario - which is an entirely different efforts to provide the safest, er branded hotels/resorts.
for Feb and March, including President’s problem lying in wait altogether. seamless and coordinated Most hotels/resorts made
Day…Arguably, the highest demand What I fear for Aruba, is stranded tourists travel experience possible, similar arrangement, tour-
week between Christmas and Easter. We and hoards of tourists on monumental the Aruba Tourism Author- ists/incoming passengers
normally travel to Aruba with about 12 lines lighting up social media, putting Aru- ity would like to inform you should know that they have
families…and of our group, my family is ba squarely back in the news again. that all necessary facili- options when on island.
the last hold-out. We’ve not cancelled, For those of us who are/were planning to ties and procedures are in
yet…but that decision will likely be made bring our tourism dollars to Aruba on Presi- place for any visitor need- General information:
this week…as American’s cancel in favor dent’s Week, we are running out of time to ing to take a PCR test while MedCare Clinic is a high-
of the safer option, Florida. know that you have an adequate plan for in Aruba as a requirement quality, high-service medi-
this, or the merchants, hotels and restau- for re-entry to their country/ cal clinic specialized in
I’ve personally been emailing support@ rants are all squarely at risk. state of origin. care for tourists with test-
aruba.com and management of the Mar- Regards, Aruba has a modern infra- ing locations conveniently
riott Timeshares, but get zero in response Evan Brett”q structure, state-of-the-art located at several of the
hospital and well-equipped major brand hotels. They
medical facilities. Three (3) are open seven days a
certified laboratories in Aru- week; please check open-
ba will offer the PCR testing ing times with your hotel.
service to outbound travel- They collaborate with Lab-
ers. The facilities have am- oratorio di Servicio which is
ple test kits available and an ISO-15189:2012 medical
testing is priced between laboratory fully accredited
$75 and $126. Visitors will by the Dutch Council for
find appointments easy to Accreditation (M317) and
book and the turnaround they guarantee reliable
time for test results is with- test results within 24 hours.
in 24 hours. Between the For departure testing Med-
facilities, visitors will have Care Clinic/Laboratorio di
the option to make an ap- Servicio offer Antigen and
pointment, walk in, or have PCR testing:
the test done at their place 1. High service testing loca-
of stay. It is also very impor- tion at your hotel:
tant to note that the Aruba Antigen testing US$50
Visitors Insurance will cover PCR test US$125
all costs related to a posi- An In-room (high privacy)
tive Covid-19 results based service is also possible at an
on this requirement such as extra charge.
quarantine, isolation and 2. Drive thru and walk in fa-
transportation. Cost. The in- cility at their location at The
surance however does not Mill (J.E. Irausquin Blvd 330,
cover the test upon this new Noord), at the Courtyard
requirement. These are the by Marriott
3 certified labs where you Antigen test US$50
can conduct your test: PCR Test US$125
• MedLab: www. For special group arrange-
covidaruba.com – Phone ments or appointments
(+297) 586-1600 – Cell/ please mail to info@med-
WhatsApp (+297) 597-5544 care.aw or call +297 280
1. Testing is available at visi- 0630.q