‘They have a sense of entitlement’: Puerto Ricans complain of tourists flouting Covid rules
Series of viral videos reportedly showing bad behaviour from US mainland visitors, as 500 receive fines for ignoring rules
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Residents of Puerto Rico are exasperated at the “sense of entitlement” shown by recent American arrivals to the overseas territory, some of whom were seen breaking Covid rules.
The complaints come amid a surge in tourists to the Caribbean island for spring break, and a year of Americans being banned from flying internationally.
According to a number of reports, recent arrivals to Puerto Rico were spotted without masks, while a series of viral videos showed tourists destroying private property in recent days.
Other videos show tourists, many of whom appear to be from the US mainland, fighting on the streets of Puerto Rico’s capital, Old San Juan, or jumping on top of cars.
"They were behaving as if no one else existed in Old San Juan," a resident of the city told NBC News this week.
"I don't have a problem with people trying to have a good time, but they have to be respectful. We're still living in the middle of a pandemic,” said Israel Meléndez Ayala.
Read more:
- Serial stowaway reveals how she snuck onto more than 30 flights without a ticket
- Teen Vogue editor steps down after anti-Asian posts resurfaced
- Texas museum forced to take down Trump statue because everyone keeps punching it
- Piers Morgan tries to lecture Gayle King on ‘how to do your job as a journalist’ after call with Meghan and Harry
“People can't come here and act as if the virus doesn't exist ... They have a sense of entitlement and apathy I don't understand."
Puerto Rico, in comparison to most of the US mainland, was one of the first US jurisdictions to order a public mask mandate in March last year.
And as Covid-19 spread throughout the US and its overseas territories, the government of Puerto Rico introduced a curfew and other restrictions to contain the virus, many of which remain intact.
Residents, including Ms Meléndez Ayala, are concerned that tourists acting aggressively, and ignoring those rules, will subject Puerto Rico to a second wave of infections it has so far avoided.
According to NBC News, police in Old San Juan issued 500 fines for incidents involving Covid in the past week, of which 110 were for not wearing a mask.
In response to concerns from residents and business owners, the island’s tourism board this week launched an English language information campaign to remind visitors from the US mainland of restrictions in Puerto Rico.
Of 55 states and US territories, Puerto Rico currently has the fourth lowest figures for cases of Covid, and the fifth lowest figures for deaths, according to figures from The New York Times.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments