Puerto Rico relaxes entry requirements and expands dining capacity

Puerto Rico is further relaxing its rules around coronavirus in good news for the tourism business there.

Vaccinated travelers to Puerto Rico on domestic flights will no longer have to present a negative COVID-19 test on arrival starting Feb. 2. Unvaccinated visitors will still have to present a negative test that was taken no more than 48 hours before landing, but they can skip the mandatory seven-day quarantine.

Remember since PR is a U.S. territory, you don't have to have a negative test when you fly home.

If travelers arrive in Puerto Rico and did not take a COVID-19 test before departure, they have 48 hours to do so. They need to remain in quarantine until the results are available. If the COVID-19 test is positive, then they need to quarantine for 10 days. If negative, then they can be released from quarantine.

Restaurant capacity will also change on Feb. 2 from 50% to 75% for indoor dining, and outdoor dining areas will be able to operate at full capacity. Bars are still limited to 50% capacity. Large scale events can be held at 50% capacity, and there is no longer a limit of 250 guests. Masks are required indoors.

Current COVID-19 situation

The relaxed entry requirements are due to a decline in the number of cases being reported on the island. The most recent 7-day average of positive cases in Puerto Rico was 22,690, according to the World Health Organization.

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Like many places, the rules to enter Puerto Rico have been changing as the virus peaked and surged. In May 2021, the island dropped its testing requirement for visitors who were vaccinated. But it was put back in place in December 2021 following the omicron surge.

COVID-19 rules for Puerto Rico

Passengers arriving in Puerto Rico are required to fill out a Travel Declaration Form and upload their vaccination record if they have one on the Puerto Rico Health Department's site. If you aren't vaccinated, you will need to upload a PCR molecular or antigen COVID-19 test. You will get a QR code that you present with ID to get through the airport. If you aren't vaccinated or don't have a negative test, you have two days to take a test.

Travelers arriving on international flights will still have to present a negative COVID test taken within one day of departure along with proof of vaccination. Non-U.S. citizens or long-term residents need to show proof of being fully vaccinated before traveling to the U.S. There are fines or penalties for not following requirements.