Covid-19 Update January 2021

Information for US travelers and antigen testing 

Starting on January 26, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will require a negative COVID-19 test for passengers flying into the United States. (This applies even if their final destination is another country but they are on a connecting flight, which first enters the United States.)

To help you comply with this new travel ruling and for your convenience, Royal Resorts will make COVID Antigen tests available onsite, through certified independent laboratories, at no cost starting January 23 at The Royal Sands, The Royal Haciendas and Grand Residences. This policy is valid until July 17, 2021. 

It is important to note that free testing is for all members and guests staying at Royal Resorts, is one-time only and available to those who have no symptoms.  Results are available in 24 hours.  Royal Resorts is not responsible for the results. 

Free onsite COVID Antigen testing will be conducted in the Gran Salon at Hacienda Sisal at The Royal Sands for guests of all Royal Resorts in Cancun, at the Grand Residences office right below the Tennis Courts at The Royal Haciendas and in one of the business centers in the lobby of Grand Residences.

Testing will be carried out Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Gran Salon at Hacienda Sisal in Cancun; Wednesday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Royal Haciendas and Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Grand Residences.

Reservations are required for onsite testing.  

 If you are staying at Royal Resorts, click here to make reservations for COVID-19 tests.  You will receive an email from the laboratory, as soon as possible, confirming the day and time of your appointment.  We appreciate your patience as the lab is experiencing a high volume of requests and is prioritizing by date of departure. 

If you are staying at Grand Residences, please contact the Front Desk or Concierge upon arrival to make arrangements for testing. 

Additional onsite testing in The Royal Cancun will be available for a fee in case guests cannot make the trip to the Gran Salon at Hacienda Sisal. 

Onsite testing is only available for guests who have no symptoms.  If you have symptoms, you must contact the Front Desk or the Medical Service to make arrangements for in-room testing.

If you need a second antigen test the cost is $466 pesos at The Royal Sands and The Royal Haciendas, $450 pesos at The Royal Cancun and $400 pesos at Grand Residences (prices include tax).

Recommendations for your test appointment

Please follow these laboratory recommendations two hours before your test:

• Do not drink or eat anything
• Do not clean your teeth
• Do not use dental or antiseptic mouthwash

For more details on the CDC order visit:

•     https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html
•     https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/fr-proof-negative-test.html

Countries requiring PCR testing

Countries such as Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, France, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Chile now require all inbound travelers to show documentation of a negative laboratory test result to the airline prior to boarding their flight. The test must be performed using a COVID-19 molecular polymerase chain reaction test (PCR test) with results dated within 72 hours of their scheduled departure. 

Travelers bound for Canada who receive a negative test result and are authorized to enter Canada must still complete the full, mandatory 14-day quarantine. In the case of the United Kingdom all inbound passengers must fill in a passenger locator form and self-isolate for 10 days regardless of the test result. 

If your country requires a PCR test, this is also available onsite through certified independent laboratories, for a fee of US$100 in Cancun or The Royal Haciendas (results in 24 hours) or $110 at Grand Residences (results in 52 hours). 

If you test positive and must quarantine

If you test positive, Royal Resorts will cover the cost of accommodations and meals from the Royal Care Standard Recovery Menu for up to 14 days.  Accommodations and meals are covered only for the guest/s who have tested positive and on an availability basis.

If you are staying at Grand Residences, this policy also applies.

We will do everything we can to make you feel comfortable and safe while following our Royal Care Standard policy and the instructions issued by the health authorities. 

Accommodations for quarantine are subject to availability.  This policy is valid until July 17, 2021.

Frequently Asked Questions

All information is subject to change at short notice.

1. Will COVID-19 tests be available at the resorts?

Yes, the COVID-19 viral antigen nasal swab test required by the United States and PCR tests are available at Royal Resorts in Cancun, The Royal Haciendas and Grand Residences.  They are administered by an authorized independent laboratory.

Your test results must be dated within 72 hours of your departure.  Royal Resorts is not responsible for results.

COVID-19 Antigen tests

Starting January 23, Royal Resorts, through certified  independent  laboratories, is making convenient COVID-19 antigen testing available at no cost onsite at The Royal Sands, The Royal Haciendas and Grand Residences.  Tests are carried out  Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Royal Sands and Grand Residences and Wednesday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Royal Haciendas.It is important to note that free testing is for all members and guests staying at Royal Resorts, is one-time only and available to those who have no symptoms.  Results are available in 24 hours.  Royal Resorts is not responsible for the results.

Reservations for onsite testing are required with 24 hours notice.

If you are staying at Royal Resorts, click here to make reservations for COVID-19 tests.

If you are staying at Grand Residences, please contact the Front Desk or Concierge upon arrival to make arrangements for testing. 

If you have symptoms, please contact the resort doctor to make arrangements for a test.

COVID-19 PCR tests

The PCR test now required by Canada, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Argentina, Chile  and Colombia is also available onsite at The Royal Sands, The Royal Haciendas and Grand Residences through certified independent laboratories, at a cost of US$100-$110 per person.   Test results within 24 hours.  Royal Resorts is not responsible for the test results.

These are exclusive prices for Royal Resorts members and guests. Guests showing symptoms must remain in their room and follow the doctor’s instructions.

If you are staying at Grand Residences

The antigen nasal swab test is available at your resort at no cost.  Results are available within 24 hours.

The cost of the PCR test at Grand Residences is US$110 and results are ready in 52 hours.   Appointments for testing can be made through the Concierge or the Front Desk.

2. How long does it take to get COVID-19 tests back?

You should receive your COVID-19 test results from the laboratory within 24 hours.

Please bear in mind that your test results must be dated within 72 hours of your flight departure.

3. Do children need to be tested?

Yes, in the case of travelers bound for the US, children aged two and above must be tested before departure.

In the case of Canada-bound travelers, children aged five and above must be tested.

4. I recently had COVID-19 do I still need the test?

If you have had COVID-19 within three months of your departure for the United States you must show proof of the positive test result and documentation of recovery from a licensed healthcare provider giving you clearance to travel.

5. What happens if my COVID-19 test is positive?

If you test positive, Royal Resorts will cover the cost of  accommodations and meals from the COVID Recovery Menu for up to 14 days.  Accommodations and meals are covered only for the guest/s who have tested positive and on an availability basis.  We will do everything we can to make you feel comfortable and safe while following our Royal Care Standard policy and the instructions issued by the health authorities.

If you are staying at Grand Residences, this policy also applies.

Accommodations for quarantine are subject to availability.  This policy is valid until July 17, 2021.

6. What is the COVID Recovery Menu

The COVID Recovery Menu is a menu developed by our house doctor with recommended meals for COVID patients.  The meals on this menu are covered during the up to 14 day quarantine period covered by Royal Resorts for guests who test positive and must stay longer.

7. What happens if we need separate accommodations to stay at Royal Resorts with someone who tested positive for COVID-19?

There will be accommodations available at special Patient Companion Rate for members and guests.  If someone in your party has tested positive and you need to stay, you may reserve separate accommodations at this rate on an availability basis.

8. If I test positive for COVID-19 will I be able to leave my room to get food?

If you test positive for COVID-19 you will have to self-isolate in a room or suite in a designated area of the resort. We will do everything we can to make you feel comfortable and safe.

9. Will the COVID-19 test be covered by my health insurance?

An authorized independent laboratory administers the test and you will have to ask your health insurance provider about coverage.

10. Can I get an appointment for a COVID-19 test?

Yes, appointments are required for testing at least 24 hours in advance.

If you are staying at Royal Resorts, click here to make reservations for COVID-19 tests.   You will receive an email from the laboratory confirming the day and time.

If you are staying at Grand Residences, please contact the Front Desk or Concierge upon arrival to make arrangements for testing.

11. I need the PCR test, can I get it on site and what is the cost?

The PCR test now required by Canada, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Colombia is available at Royal Resorts.

Prices

In Cancun and The Royal Haciendas Cost: US$100 per person.

Test results within 24 hours.

At Grand Residences: US$110 per person.

Results are ready in 52 hours.

Reservations are required see previous question for details.

Royal Resorts is not responsible for the results.

12. I have been vaccinated for COVID-19, do I still need the COVID-19 test or show documentation of recovery from COVID-19?

Yes, all air passengers traveling to the US, regardless of vaccination status, are required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery.

13. Are there cheaper COVID-19 tests available in Cancun and Playa del Carmen?

Some drugstore chains are offering a cheaper COVID-19 test however, you would have to go and stand in line with the risks and delays that this may entail.

14. How will I receive my COVID-19 test results?

You will receive your test results from the laboratory via email. You can print them at the Royal Market resort store at no charge.

15. I am only staying at your resort for 2 days, can I get a rapid COVID-19 test?

Yes, but different prices will apply.

16. Can the airline refuse to let a passenger travel if a COVID-19 negative test is not presented before boarding?

Yes. For flights departing to destinations that require a negative test, airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers or documentation of recovery before they board. If a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger. 

17. Can I get a free COVID Antigen test if my country doesn’t require a negative test?

No, only members and guests whose country requires a negative COVID Antigen test qualify for free testing.

At Royal Resorts, all our staff wear face masks and we ask that all our members and guests use them too when indoors and in busy public areas of our resorts. The use of face masks is mandatory in the Activity Center, Kids Club, Spa, resort stores, in elevators and on board the vans used for resort and airport transfers, the inter-resort shuttle and tour buses. Masks should be worn when entering restaurants and bars and until you are seated and the waiter brings your drinks and food.

Visit RoyalCareStandard.com to learn more about enhanced health and safety measures.

Use of masks is now mandatory in public in Cancun, fines apply for non-compliance

The Cancun municipal government recently passed legislation making the use of face masks mandatory in public for residents and for visitors. The police are now enforcing the new law and there are penalties for infractions. Fines may be given for not wearing a mask and if the fine is not paid the offender may face detention for 36 hours.

A similar law is now in effect in Tulum municipal district and police have detained several people for not wearing a face mask.

The State Health Department (SESA) is issuing daily COVID-19 bulletins with detailed statistics of the virus. It is important to note that the figures are cumulative taken from the day the first case was recorded at the outset of the pandemic in March. Tables show the breakdown of cases by municipality, sex and age. There is also a map showing city neighborhoods where clusters of cases have been detected through contact tracing and testing. In Cancun and Playa del Carmen the zones with the highest incidence of cases are on the outskirts of the city, far from tourist areas.    

The Quintana Roo Health Department is reporting that as of January 21 there were 481 cases being studied in the state, 951 in quarantine and 238 in hospital throughout the state. The most recent figures published by the Mexican Ministry of Health (daily technical bulletin) are from January 20 (Jan 7 to Jan 20) when there were 522 active cases in the state; this refers to patients with symptoms who subsequently tested positive for the virus in the 14 days before the cutoff date. 

Measures to protect visitors and residents

The Mexican authorities continue to be extremely vigilant and have taken steps to protect lives and contain and prevent the spread of the virus while also gradually reopening the economy. 

The Mexican government introduced an epidemiological risk “traffic light” monitoring system in order for states to reopen and for people to return to work in the new normal. The colors are red, orange, yellow and green from highest to lowest and they are applied according to the evolution of the pandemic.  As the number of cases declines, the state moves through the different colors and more activities are allowed to reopen.

Red light: Do not go out unless strictly necessary. Only essential economic activities are permitted.

Orange light: Non-essential economic activities are permitted to open at 30 percent capacity. High-risk groups continue to take precautions and stay at home if possible. Public spaces may open again with reduced capacity.

Yellow light: All employees may return to work but with special protection for groups at high risk from COVID-19. Open air-public spaces may operate as normal and public spaces indoors may reopen with reduced capacity and taking all the necessary precautions.

Green light: All activities may resume and schools reopen.

The use of a face mask, social distancing, frequent hand washing, use of hand sanitizer and repeated cleaning of surfaces in the workplace and at home apply at all times.

This system is reviewed on a weekly basis depending on the number of COVID-19 cases reported and decisions are made accordingly, including implementing further preventive measures if necessary. 

According to the latest update of the Quintana Roo government monitoring system, the northern half of the state, including Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya, is in the orange light stage (for the week starting January 25) and the southern half is yellow.  

In the orange light stage hotels, resorts, restaurants, parks and golf courses are permitted to operate at 50 percent occupancy. Public beaches are open with social distancing rules at 30 percent capacity. Masks are mandatory and groups of up to five people are permitted. You may not take food and drinks on to the beach. Your temperature will be taken at the entrance and there is hand sanitizer. 

Archaeological sites are open in Quintana Roo and Yucatan, including Tulum, Coba, Muyil, San Gervasio, Chichen Itza, Uxmal and Ek Balam. The number of visitors permitted per day has been reduced and masks are mandatory.

Links

https://qroo.gob.mx/sesa/nuevo-coronavirus-covid-19

https://www.guestassist.mx/portal/en/Covid-19.php

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/visiting-cancun-mexico-coronavirus