Trying to keep it real with you
[QUOTE=SJobs;2482434]This has been confirmed by all major medias in Colombia, the mayor of Cartagena, and the official twitter account of Cartagena airport..[/QUOTE]I live near Colombia and currently working as an advisor to the Dutch Government on the air space opening policies for the Dutch Caribbean.
I am on the inside of the decision processes several governments are using to decide what is safe to open and who is going where.
I am not involved in any way with the thought processes or policies specific to Colombia--outside of the procedures for medical flights between Barranquilla and Curacao and Aruba that happened a couple of months ago--a few people from the ABCs were receiving care in Barranquilla and needed to be repatriated. Outside of that, I have no direct knowledge of Colombia's inside policy development. I am a demographer who has worked in developing public health policy in several nations. So, my thoughts come from studying and being involved with how several islands and nation-states are developing their flight restrictions and openings.
I understand that not hearing what you want may be disconcerting and uncomfortable to some, but that does not make my words less accurate, nor is it worthy of personal insults designed to fraudulently build oneself up by tearing others down.
Remember these posts and watch what happens.
The same people saying that its crazy to think Americans won't be allowed in very very soon are the same people who have been wrong month after month after month after month already about this. Some BMs here claimed they would be in MDE by June, July, August, September. And they were wrong each time. It's a trend. Others, like me, have been saying, 'no, its going to be a longer process than that' and we keep being proven correct. At some point, maybe people should accept that reality and start thinking more clearly? Some of us are just trying to help and keep it real and help manage expectations.
Unless you stop in another place outside the US that will be open to Colombia--and quarantine for 2 weeks there-you will not be allowed into Colombia from the US anytime soon. Even with that, you may need to quarantine in monitored quarantine in Colombia upon arrival with a US passport--that is currently being discussed as an option. The costs and logistics for that are somewhat complicated and will be at the tourists expense. You may also need to agree to install an app on your phones to be tracked and will be heavily fined and // or deported for non-compliance. Hotels may be required to track who comes in and out and when. Most Americans will have a greater problem with that than most non-Americans. Moreover, they don't want foreigners taking up the space in the hospitals if you get sick while there, and they can't send you back if you do test positive until you are cleared of the virus. You will likely also be required to have internationally accepted travel and medical insurance if / when you are allowed in.
My education and experience related to COVID-19, well, as was said with the grammatical skills of an obviously truly stable genius: "is bound originate from less uneducated mongers". Yes, I am less uneducated-which actually means more educated. So, thanks for he compliment. (Some of this discussion reminds me of when Trump says things that are incredibly stupid-but thinks he is being smart, while the whole world is face palming themselves and mocking him for exposing his own stupidity).
As of now, nobody from the US will be taking direct flights to Colombia with no restrictions or quarantines until 2021. And probably not early 2021. It is what it is. Yes, that could change. There is a solid chance of Canadians being allowed into Colombia fairly soon. There is far less spread in much of Canada than in the US. When the govt. Says 'international flights'. Remember: the US isn't the only international country! Uruguay has basically eradicated the virus. There may be a few flights from Uruguay allowed fairly soon. Its not going to be all countries at once. Its a few at a time, then wait and see how the numbers develop. This takes time.
Also, be aware, for a while, you will be required to fill out a health declaration, likely need a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure. In the US-testing is a huge problem because.
A: testing is not as readily available in the US as most other countries.
And.
B: The US is having great difficulty getting results back to people fast enough.
For example: If you want to fly on a Thursday at 9 am, you will need to be tested (negative PCR test) no earlier than Monday at 9 am and have the negative test results in hand when you attempt to check into the flight.
How practical is that for most Americans right now?
When they say limited international flights: its from areas with extremely low virus transmission rates which are reviewed every 10-14 days, have only passengers with negative test results in hand from tests less than 72 hours old, with full international travel and medical insurance and possibly with the ability to provide sufficient proof you can financially provide for yourself if the air space is closed for several months and you can't be repatriated to your country of origin for an undetermined amount of time. All of these constraints will reduce demand for flights. There will be less flights, less flight capacity on each flight with stringent rules before during and after travel, all developed and opened to a few countries at a time. Again, its going to take time.
Right now, there are about 65 active cases of Covid-19 on Curacao. Curacao normally has direct flights to Bogota and flights through Panama to Medellin. Look at a map. Curacao is quite close to Colombia. With 65 cases on the island--Curacao is considered too risky for Colombia to open flights with. Many people living in Curacao are actually Colombians. Yet, they can't even open to each other anytime soon even for people who just want to visit their families and can stay in a family home without much public interaction-as opposed to a tourist in a hotel. Do you really think if 65 active cases in Curacao makes Curacao too risky to open to Colombia for at least another month, that the US is going to be opened up to Colombia really soon? Me neither.
I encourage everyone to be patient. Practice distancing, wearing masks, getting your friends and families to wear masks and stay home and avoid travel and gatherings. The more of us who do this -the faster the process goes.
