The lifting of all COVID-19 measures (see related story) is a clear indication that Aruba has initiated its pandemic exit strategy. They are no longer considered justified with only 13 related hospitalisations and a reduction in active cases.
Completely reopening the island is obviously important to its economic recovery, with the high season in full swing. Arriving travellers must continue to present a negative test result, unless they received both initial vaccinations plus the booster shot.
Nevertheless, being able to go back to regular business hours is a huge deal especially in terms of evening entertainment. The latter is a major part of the destination’s tourism product.
Dutch Minister of Public Health, Wellbeing and Sports VWS Ernst Kuipers said Curaçao too had been able to relax its restrictions in early February, but that this was not yet the case for St. Maarten. However, a week later authorities changed the local closing time from 11:00pm to 1:00pm.
The fact remains that St. Maarten is lagging far behind the other islands in the Caribbean part of the kingdom, with an adult vaccination rate of 47 per cent as of February 14 compared to 75 per cent in Aruba, 72 per cent in Curaçao, 79 per cent in Bonaire, 60 per cent in St. Eustatius and 93 per cent in Saba. For youngsters ages 12-17, it was respectively 25, 60, 38, 62, 29 and 94 per cent.
Despite this vulnerability, the number of infected patients admitted to St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) has thankfully remained relatively low of late, allowing for a gradual return to normalcy. But make no mistake, continued precautions like social distancing and face-mask-wearing where appropriate are still very much needed to keep it that way.
