Category Archives: Caribbean

International student faces second semester of virtual learning

When Kaymah Joseph gets ready for a day of classes, she starts by writing out a schedule and a to-do list. Staying organized is her main priority and helps keep her from falling behind in her asynchronous course load, she said.

Joseph is a second-semester freshman studying marketing at Loyola but has never set foot on campus or in New Orleans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, Joseph has been studying virtually from her home country of Dominica since spring 2021.

I feel disconnected from everything, Joseph said. I thought I would have had the chance to be on campus by now and have the normal college experience.

According to Reuters COVID-19 tracker, 31% of adults in the Caribbean islands have been vaccinated. After infection rates began to rise, the country was sent back into lockdown over the summer.

Joseph said spending a second semester studying from abroad has been disappointing, but necessary, after a flare up of COVID-19 made it impossible for her to leave her home country.

Mariette Thomas, director of the Center for International Education at Loyola, said that 30% of international students found themselves in Josephs position in fall 2020. One year later, however, Joseph is one of only 2% of international students who are still studying virtually from their home countries, according to Thomas.

Joseph said she feels as though her education has been impacted by her status as a virtual student and that she wishes she was able to feel more engaged with her classes.

I feel distant from my professors. They make time available during office hours and stuff but I do feel like I could get more time if I was actually on campus, Joseph said.

Thomas said Josephs situation is rare and that an international student would likely never find themselves studying completely online before the pandemic. Courses offered in a virtual format were less common prior to the pandemic, Thomas said, resulting in less students swinging an online semester.

Federal regulations also limit the number of hours that international students can take virtually, Thomas said.

For Joseph, the divide between New Orleans and Dominica has been driven deeper this semester after vastly different circumstances jolted both communities.

While campus transitioned back to in-person classes in August, Joseph found herself in lockdown. A week later, her classes were halted for Hurricane Ida, though this did not impact Dominica.

Joseph said that after growing up in the Caribbean she is used to hurricanes, but to deal with the drastically different circumstances while balancing her schoolwork was intense. Not being in a campus environment has made it difficult for Joseph to stay engaged with her school work at times, she said.

Sometimes I have to force myself to get out of bed and do my work because Im not with my classmates; I dont have that extra motivation. The last year has been self-motivation and actually wanting to do the work, Joseph said.

Studying from her home country has not been all bad though, she said.

Before attending Loyola, Joseph attended a boarding school in the U.S. so that she could grow accustomed to the school system before college. While attending the boarding school, Joseph was rarely able to go home to Dominica.

Joseph said she once spent an entire year without seeing her parents and siblings. Because of this, she does not find herself in the same position of many college freshmen who dont want to be home with their parents, Joseph said.

Being at home has been really good; my parents have been really rooting for me as have my friends, she said.

Joseph said she is now looking forward to the spring semester, when she hopes to finally join campus life.

Im looking forward to being in New Orleans, Ive never been there before, Joseph said. Hopefully I can make friends and get more involved on campus because its kind of difficult to do that in my current situation.

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Classes from the Caribbean - The Maroon - Maroon

Most guests at Disneyland and Walt Disney World get to live the pirate's life for a few minutes at a time when they visit the iconic attraction Pirates of the Caribbean. Last weekend, however, a few aspiring swashbucklers spend a lot more time on the water than they intended. On Halloween night, the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Disneyland broke down, and at least one of the boats on the ride was stuck in a difficult spot, leaving guests sitting in the attraction for an hour-and-a-half.

According to Brian Rokos, a Disneyland Annual Passholder from Riverside, California, Pirates of the Caribbean broke down on Halloween night, October 31st, just after 6pm PT. He posted a picture to Twitter after about 10 minutes of being stuck on the ride, showing where the boat had been halted.

Rokos later spoke with Fox News to say that it started out like any other ride issue, thinking that it would be fixed or that they would be escorted off after a few minutes. However, the specific position where the boat was stuck made it difficult. There were three feet of water on either side of the boat, so the guests couldn't just step off and walk out. They had to wait for Cast Members to come and help out. The lights came on and animatronics were turned off after about 30 minutes.

Eventually, a couple of Cast Members wearing rubber waders arrived on the scene and stepped down into the water. They pushed the boat over next to dry land and helped the guests off. The guests were then escorted to an exit, walking through the backstage area on the way. Rokos called it an "interesting view of the ride, the back side of the ride." Guests typically don't see the back stage areas, but there are some specific circumstances where exiting a ride safely trumps the immersive experience.

Perhaps the most surprising part of this entire ordeal is that everybody remained calm. According to Rokos, there wasn't a lot of complaining on the boat and hardly anybody seemed angry. He said there was a young boy who started playing a video game at one point, and a small baby that slept through the entire experience.

"I was surprised that people hardly said a word," said Rokos. "No one was yelling, I didn't hear anyone complaining. No one sounded angry."

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Disneyland Guests Stuck on Pirates of the Caribbean Ride for 90 Minutes - ComicBook.com

Officials from the World Health Organization on Wednesday urged countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to limit administering booster shots and to hold off on vaccinating children, allocating scant doses to the most vulnerable.

In some countries, we have seen vaccine doses reaching all levels of the population before a high percentage of vulnerable residents has been fully immunized, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, assistant director of the Pan American Health Organization, a division of the W.H.O., said at a news conference.

Just 46 percent of people in Latin America and the Caribbean have been fully vaccinated so far, with supplies being slow to reach many countries, the organization said. Inequities have plagued the region, too. While Chile and Uruguay have vaccinated more than 75 percent of their populations, countries like Haiti and Nicaragua have administered two shots to less than 20 percent of people.

Against this backdrop, vaccine supplies across the region must be distributed carefully and strategically, with the aim of reducing mortality and transmission of the virus among the adult population, Dr. Barbosa said.

P.A.H.O. urges countries to prioritize the elderly, frontline workers and people with pre-existing conditions to protect them, but also to prevent the health system from becoming overburdened with severe cases, he said.

Offering vaccines to children and booster shots to others before high-risk groups are fully vaccinated as the Dominican Republic has done may be defusing some of the efforts to control the virus in the region, Dr. Barbosa added.

Still, echoing a recent W.H.O. recommendation, he stressed that older and immunocompromised people who received the Chinese-made vaccines Sinopharm or Sinovac Biotech would need a third shot to ensure that they were fully protected against Covid-19.

Their vaccination cannot be considered complete until they have received their third shot, said Dr. Barbosa, noting that there is no evidence that healthy adults who have received two doses need another.

This could affect millions of people in Latin America and the Caribbean, where many countries including Chile and Brazil have relied heavily on the more readily available Chinese-made shots to speed up vaccination.

Vaccine supplies distributed through the United Nations-backed Covax program are picking up pace, with Latin America and the Caribbean receiving around 64.3 million doses so far. Some 2.6 million doses have reached Venezuela, where the health system is especially fragile, and more supplies are expected in November.

New Covid-19 cases across Latin America and the Caribbean have been declining in recent weeks, offering an encouraging signal for the region, Dr. Barbosa noted. But he urged countries to stay vigilant and maintain public health measures, warning that the pandemic is not over.

The declining case indices show that our approach is working, he said. And it is critical for all of us to stay the course until everyone is vaccinated and protected from the virus.

Officials also warned about the possibility of a spike in infections with the onset of winter and the holiday season. As travel restrictions are lifted in many countries, tourism could pose an additional risk, said Dr. Sylvain Aldighieri, the Covid-19 incident manager at P.A.H.O.

Social distancing and avoiding closed environments, together with mask wearing, are the most important tools for limiting the transmission, Dr. Aldighieri said. The public really has to incorporate these basic measures into their lifestyle, including beach, seaside and vacation activities.

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With scant vaccine supplies, the W.H.O. presses Latin America and the Caribbean to hold off on boosters. - The New York Times

For much of the year, the biggest question facing the travel industry has been the future of meetings, particularly in the Caribbean.

When will groups get together? When will corporate meetings come back?

But even amid the pandemic, the answer is clear: the future is now.

While meetings have certainly changed in the new age of travel, groups are already gathering again, according to research by Marriott International provided to Caribbean Journal.

So what does the meeting landscape look like?

In the Caribbean and Mexico, its mostly group and corporate meetings; while group sizes for premium hotels is actually higher than in 2019, luxury group sizes are smaller.

Group and events have begun their comebackin live and hybrid formats, and we foresee this to continue to accelerate into 2022, says Louise Bang, regional vice president for sales and distribution at Marriott International.

Indeed, the signs point to a strong 2022: key group hotels are showing a stronger base of group business, with some interesting new trends, most notably an increase in either partial or entire hotel buyouts, the company says.

Group buyers say sustainability and wellness are key driving factors in the destination decision-making process, and outdoor space requests are also on the rise, especially in the Caribbean (including at Marriotts new portfolio of all-inclusive resorts).

There is a need to unite employees around a joint vision, a need to onboard new talent and motivate and celebrate milestones achieved and encourage future success, Bang says.

So whos actually getting together?

On the larger scale, Marriott says its seeing insurance, medical and pharmaceutical as the top segments for luxury properties, while medical, professional services, consulting and manufacturing are tending toward premium properties.

And the worlds largest hotel company is making a strong push for groups right now, led by its new Connect With Confidence program, along with its class-leading Commitment to Clean health and safety protocols.

Its a multi-layer plan that covers every sector of the meeting experience.

That includes enhanced sanitation guidelines, new operational training for associates and the expanded use of convince technologies to ensure that customers are able to come together when they are ready.

We continue to see an uptick in incentives, smaller conferences, meetings, events and the requests for buyouts of entire hotels also remains. Social and celebratory leisure groups are at an all-time high as we all crave an occasion to celebrate, and many family highlights were missed these past years. Customers are often asking us for guidance on how to host effective events in this new environment, ideas and creative solutions for more innovative experience.

The overarching point then is that, unlike a year ago, in-person meetings arent at the far edge of the horizon theyre here right now.

While some meetings may be able to take place virtually, building relationships is most effective when done in person, Bang says. While the scale and scope of both groups and events is varied, I believe they will remain the staples of corporate life.

For more, visit Marriott Bonvoy Events and The Future Is Now.

CJ

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For Marriott, the Future of Meetings Is Now Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal

The Moorings new office at the Yacht Haven Grande marina in St Thomas is in a former Little Switzerland.

And if you look closely, you realize that behind the TV monitor on the back wall is the door to a secret safe, a home for hidden jewels.

And thats no coincidence.

Because amid the pandemic, St Thomas has emerged as a hidden jewel of its own in the Caribbean yachting industry, a fast-growing destination thats drawing passionate sailors and yachters from around the world, eager to discover its treasures.

St Thomas new buzz largely began in the 2020-2021 winter season, when The Moorings launched a major new charter base at Yacht Haven Grande.

That led to a very strong 2021 peak season a trend that has continued into the fall.

Were off the hook, says Simon Carey, Chief Operating Officer at The Moorings in St Thomas, along with the same role for &Beyond Yacht Charters. Were fully booked for next year this place is taking off.

The growth has come from a number of factors.

First, theres the United Sates Virgin Islands tourism boom amid the pandemic, buoyed by a region-leading Travel Health Screening system and surging visitors numbers.

And then theres the sheer ease of charter vacations in the USVI, given that the destination doesnt require a passport for US citizens to visit.

You can fly here and get on your boat here, Carey says. You get here, you dont need to have your passport. You get the drink in your hand on your boat.

In all, Yacht Haven has about 200 charter boats across five to six different companies.

And the government is supporting the sector, too, with an ongoing project to install 200 new mooring balls in the St Thomas-St John corridor.

For travelers used to neighboring yachting destinations, the USVI is uncharted territory but its increasingly home to the kinds of marine destinations sailors seek out.

That includes everything from the Pizza Pi boat-bound pizza delivery service to Lime Out, the floating taco bar off the coast of St John and the beloved Bikini Beach on St Johns Honeymoon Beach.

A sailing itinerary in the USVI sees a launch out of St Thomas and a few days around St Thomas and St John, exploring the wonders of St Johns beaches and navigating the green-hilled splendor around the tiny islands and cays off St Thomas straddled by stops at Magens Bay or Christmas Cove.

Its easy [to navigate], Carey says. Its not very well known yet. So youre not getting the Soggy Dollars yet but theyre coming. It will double in the next couple of years.

The secret, in other words, is no longer safe.

For more, visit The Moorings.

CJ

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St Thomas Is the Hottest Yachting Destination in the Caribbean - Caribbean Journal

JAMAICA The Covid pandemic has brought death and economic destruction to all parts of the globe, underlining why effective action on disaster prevention and management must embrace all sectors of society and involve national and international actors, a conference on risk reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean was told.

Intersectoral coordination, legal frameworks, policies and plans, up-to-date risk information to drive decision making, clear participation mechanisms and integration from global to regional and local levels are all elements of good governance, a priority for action of the global blueprint on disaster risk reduction, the Sendai Framework.

Covid has revealed things that we knew before, but which have become even more glaring, Alan Lavell, Associate Researcher, Costa Rican branch of the Latin American Social Science Faculty-FLACSO, told the Vll Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean, which is being hosted by Jamaica.

A high-level panel on the fourth and last day of the platform examined the challenges and opportunities to improve governance and intersectoral coordination in a region which is routinely exposed to a wide range of disasters, and which has suffered disproportionately from the ravages of Covid.

Although the Sendai Framework specifies the need to strengthen governance in risk management, the issue of pandemics is not yet fully incorporated into the approach, said Ciro Ugarte, Health Emergencies Director, PAHO/WHO. Covid shows this should be broached without delay by all governments and all disciplines, he told the session, which was held in virtual format.

Every healthcare emergency has political and social implications. The bigger the epidemic, the more the need for high-level intervention, he said. We have to strengthen good governance and cooperation and promote the full participation of all relevant actors, he said.

Paula Daza Narbona, Public Health Undersecretary, Government of Chile, outlined steps taken there to contain Covid, beginning with a declaration of a state of emergency. From the outset, the emphasis was on intersectoral cooperation between ministries and different levels of government. For example, the army was brought in to distribute vaccines, she said. Health squads of volunteers were set up in neighbourhoods, schools and workplaces to provide information to the population, she said.

The response to Covid in St Vincent and the Grenadines benefited from the existence of a strong and tested disaster management system in the many islands of the Caribbean state, said Chief Medical Officer Simone Keizer Beache. We have learned through experience that there is a need to have comprehensive disaster risk reduction integrated into all strategic plans. The government responded to the health emergency with an economic protection package worth some 3% of GDP, helping particularly the young and small and micro businesses. The motto is health security is national security, she said.

Central America and the Dominican Republic quickly realized the need for coordinated action to confront the Covid pandemic, including cooperation between health ministries to share information. Claudia Herrera, Executive Secretary, Coordination Center for the Prevention of Disasters in Central America and Dominican Republic ((CEPREDENAC), stressed the need for regional action to complete moves by national governments. She also emphasized the need for early detection and diagnosis of disaster risk.

Sergio Rico, Director, National Emergency System of the Presidency of the Republic of Uruguay, highlighted the fact that the country had a well-prepared national system designed to protect people and infrastructure. He pointed to the important role played by technology in combatting the pandemic, both in facilitating communication with the population, through such vehicles as Twitter, and by allowing students to keep studying without attending their places of education. The public has the right to know what is happening, he said.

As in Uruguay and St Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaicas national response to Covid was helped by existing policies on disaster risk management, including the Disaster Risk Act of 2015, Wayne Henry, Chairman and Director General, Planning Institute of the Government of Jamaica said. He also highlighted the importance of information sharing and cooperation between sectors. No one entity can do it, he said.

Wrapping up the session, Bijay Kumar, Executive Director, Global Network of Civil Society Organizations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR), said that it is important to examine risk from the perspective of local people, those on the hazard frontline. We need to recognize local capacities and how can incorporate the private sector and civil societies, and work together in a collective process, he said.

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COVID shines light on governance in the Americas and Caribbean - World - ReliefWeb

As winter approaches in Easton, students can experience the sunny beats of Afro-Caribbean music right on campus.

Tomorrow night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Caribbean and African Dance Club (CADC) will be hosting their annual dance showcase in the Marlo Room in Farinon. CADC, founded in 2018, focuses on both popular and traditional dances in Caribbean and African culture. The main three genres of music that the club dances to are dancehall, Afrobeats and soca.

According to Reanna West 22, co-president of CADC, the goal of the club is to spread awareness on campus about the importance of dance for various Caribbean and African cultures.

I feel like a lot of people, when they think about, for example, Jamaica and dancing, its very oversexualized. So we just want to give people an idea of what it really is and what it means to us, West said.

Usually, the general body of CADC meets for rehearsals once a week while the board meets twice a week to come up with choreography. However, in the time leading up to the showcase, the club increased their rehearsals to twice a week. This past week, the club met every day to rehearse.

West described the intense rehearsal period as tiring but worthwhile because of how important the showcase is to CADC. Briana Derivois 22, co-president of the club with West, explained that for some people on campus CADC is their only exposure to Afro-Caribbean culture. For that reason, Derivois and West are passionate about putting forth the best image of the club for the showcase.

Knowing the fact that not everybody is familiar with Afro-Caribbean culture, it means that were the ones setting the foundation for this type of knowledge for people, Derivois said. So we cant mess that up. You have to get the best type of knowledge available.

In addition to spreading awareness of Afro-Caribbean culture, CADC also provides a space on campus for some students to feel more at home.

Being a student of color in a PWI [predominantly white institution], you want to have the campus feel like as much of a home as you can. Having this dance club for myself, and a lot of other people who come from backgrounds similar to mineIt makes you feel at home, Derivois said.

The club plans to partner up with the Lafayette African and Caribbean Students Association to host an event for Black History Month.

Were not going to tell you because we want it to be a surprise, West said of this upcoming event. Just watch us and see whats coming up.

CADC welcomes all new members, regardless of skill level.

The main thing is that you show dedication and a willingness to learn, Derivois said. Youll enjoy yourself a lot.

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Caribbean and African Dance Club to hold showcase tomorrow night - The Lafayette

Royal Caribbean International's new Wonder of the Seas is set to leave theChantiers de lAtlantique shipyard on November 5 following its acceptance by Royal Caribbean International, becoming the biggest ship in the world at 236,857 tons.

The Wonder will sail to Marseilles where she is scheduled to spend some time for some final touches ahead of her entry into commercial service for Royal Caribbean from Port Everglades next March.

At our yard, we are aware that we have designed and built one of the most exceptional ships in the history of the cruise market, said Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de lAtlantique. The Wonder of the Seas is a unique synthesis of innovation, state-of-the-art technologies, and savoir-faire of thousands of engineers and skilled workers. This splendid ship is really a symbol of the faithful and fruitful partnership we have established with Royal Caribbean International for nearly four decades.

With the ship done,Chantiers de lAtlantique will get going on the installation of a new, huge gantry crane with a lifting capacity of 1,250 metric tons that will help in the construction of megaships.

Wonder of the Seas: Key Milestones

Wonder of the Seas: Ship Stats

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Royal Caribbean's New Wonder of the Seas Set to Sail from Chantiers - Cruise Industry News

Family vacations change as your kids become teens. They have their own likes and dislikes, and odds are your sleeping schedules dont align. This can create challenges in planning the ideal vacation for your family.

Whats the solution? A cruise. With so many places to visit, endless activities, and food offerings, it is the perfect vacation for families to have fun and reconnect, with something for everyones tastes.

Its a great opportunity to let your teens venture off on their own, while parents can relax, sit by the pool, listen to live music, or try their luck in the casino. All while their teens are nearby having a great time.

Here are some of the top reasons your family with teens will love cruising.

One of the best things for teens sailing on a Royal Caribbean cruise is the teen club. Decorated in fun colors, with a lounge and dance floor, it is a hub to meet new friends and find out about all the great things to do on the ship. Most teens are in the same situation. they dont have friends onboard but would love to hang out with people their own age, doing stuff they want to do. The teen club is the perfect place for this.

Divided by ages 12-14 and 15-17 for supervised activities, teens can come and go as they wish and participate in what they like. There is everything from organized sports to pool parties, karaoke, themed dances, ping pong, DJ training to guitar hero. A favorite is dedicated teen time at the Flowrider, a surf simulator.

It can also act as a meeting point for informal get togethers with new friends, maybe to grab some food or just stroll around. Information on the teen club can be found in the Cruise Compass (list of daily activities) or on the Royal Caribbean App. There is also a texting feature on the app, so you can chat with them if need be (at a cost of $1.99 per guest per day).

Beyond the teen specific programming, there are so many fun activities for teens and their families to enjoy together. In particular, the Oasis class ships, the largest class of ships in the Royal Caribbean's fleet, have so much to offer.

For sea days, there are plenty of high energy activities including sports like basketball and volleyball, rock climbing, and zip lining. Try out the epic slides including the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea at 216 feet, spanning 10 decks.

Many like to cool off and take a dip in the pool or relax in a hot tub. Enjoy a round of mini golf, try your luck in the escape room, laser tag, or trivia. And probably most surprising, you can even ice skate.

In the evening, take in one of the nightly movies or variety of entertainment options including incredible diving shows at the aqua theatre and renowned Broadway musicals.

Being a family focused cruise line, Royal Caribbean offers plenty of port excursions that span a wide range of interests and ages.

Offered on many sailings, is Royal Caribbeans private island CocoCay, located in the stunning blue waters of the Bahamas. The thrill waterpark is a must with its sky high slides such as the Daredevils peak (North Americas tallest waterslide) and a large wave pool. Or you can lounge at one of the many beaches and pools sampling the complimentary food.

Across the Caribbean, many ports offer sailing, snorkeling, scuba among other popular water activities. For animal lovers, swim with stingrays, sign up for a dolphin encounter, or meet sloths and monkeys in Roatan. Zipline through the lush jungles of Jamaica, or in Costa Maya, see how chocolate is made (with some sampling of course). Leisurely explore port areas, doing some shopping, or trying local cuisine. Whatever fits your family best.

Growing teens can eat a lot. The good news is that they wont go hungry on a cruise. During the day, they can try one of the popular roast beef sandwiches at Park Cafe or indulge in late night pizza at Sorrentos. Always a good choice, hot dogs and hamburgers by the pool, topped off with self-service ice cream, definitely a teen favorite.

A sit-down dinner in the main dining room is a great way to catch up on your familys fun filled day. Or for a more casual meal, try the Windjammer. Everyone loves a buffet, and it offers a lot of variety, even a chocolate buffet that can put a smile on any teenagers face.

To try something a little different, specialty restaurants like Izumi offer traditional sushi or Hibachi, always a good time as the chef entertains the table while cooking. Steak, traditional classics at 150 Central Park, Italian, and the whimsical Wonderland are all popular venues for families wanting to enjoy a special evening out.

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Why your teens (and you) will love a cruise vacation - Royal Caribbean Blog

Most foreign nationals from Latin America and the Caribbean who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter the United States by air under stricter travel guidelines that will come into effect on Nov. 8.

The new vaccination and testing requirements for international travelers was signed by President Joe Biden a week ago. It includes exemptions for non-tourists from Haiti and Nicaragua, where vaccination rates are low, but most U.S. visa holders, which include those with business and tourism visas, will still need to show proof of vaccination to enter the U.S.

Also affected by the new U.S. travel rules: visitors from Cuba, where two homegrown vaccines, Soberana and Abdala, have not been approved by the World Health Organization, as well as those elsewhere in the region who have been inoculated with Russia's Sputnik vaccine.

The new U.S. guidelines require individuals to receive vaccines from the WHO's approved list, even if they have not been approved by the U.S

"This policy prioritizes public health, protecting U.S. citizens and residents as well as those who come to visit us," State Department spokesman Ned Price said. "Because it puts public health first, exceptions to this policy will be extremely limited, including children under 18 and certain individuals in countries where vaccines are not yet readily accessible."

Non-tourists from nearly 50 countries, including Haiti and Nicaragua, where the vaccination rate is less than 10%, are among those that have been given an exemption.

In July, Haiti became the last country in the Americas to receive vaccines after the Biden administration shipped 500,000 doses of Moderna shots to Port-au-Prince a week after the July 7 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Mose and weeks after the death of the country's high court from a COVID-19 related illness.

As of Sunday, the Haiti Ministry of Health reported that 135,256 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine had been administered. Of these, 39,335 were second doses, leaving Haiti with less than 1% of its population vaccinated. With the vaccines expiring, the Haitian Ministry of Health decided to redeploy 250,000 doses to Honduras, with the help of the Pan American Health Organization, to avoid vaccine wastage, the regional body said.

With vaccine skepticism and the lack of money for vaccine awareness campaigns hampering rollout, the Pan American Health Organization said it will be sending 150,000 one-shot Johnson and Johnson doses to inoculate health workers and first responders in the areas affected by the recent earthquake that devastated Haiti's southern peninsula, in hopes of immunizing more Haitians against the deadly pandemic.

As for Nicaragua, PAHO said it has received 2,407,270 doses via the U.N.-backed vaccine-sharing program known as COVAX. According to the data transmitted by the Nicaragua Ministry of Health to PAHO, the country administered a total of 1,540,217 doses as of Oct. 29 but to date only 414,670 persons are considered to be fully vaccinated.

The exemption for Haiti and Nicaragua does not cover those with business and tourism visas, B1 or B2, respectively. They will still need to show proof of vaccination and a COVID-19 test taken within three days in order to board a flight, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

It will be up to airlines to determine if foreign travelers meet the U.S. vaccination requirement for traveling prior to boarding U.S. bound flights, including verifying that the last dose was given at least two weeks prior to the date of travel.

After barring visitors from 33 countries including India, China and most of Europe, even if they were fully vaccinated, the White House announced in September that it would be tightening requirements for U.S.-bound travelers, who were required to present a negative viral COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of travel regardless of whether they were vaccinated or not.

Now the new guidelines require all U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents as well as visitors to show proof of vaccination and be tested three days before travel. Unvaccinated Americans and permanent resident holders who travel will need to present a negative COVID-19 test a day before re-entering the U.S., while unvaccinated foreign nationals will only be allowed in under limited circumstances.

The CDC also is now required to collect phone numbers, email and a U.S. address from all international air passengers, as part of new contact-tracing rules. The airlines must retain the information for 30 days in order to follow up with travelers in case someone is exposed to COVID-19.

El Nuevo Herald Cuba/U.S.-Latin American policy reporter Nora Gmez Torres contributed to this report.

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Traveling to the US from the Caribbean, Latin America? - Texarkana Gazette