Every country has its own COVID-19 situation, so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests not traveling until you are fully vaccinated, and says international travel can pose more threat to spreading the virus. Also, the CDC says there is an increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some “new and concerning” COVID-19 variants.
However, if you are bound for an international trip, pay attention to the COVID-19 conditions in the destination you are traveling to, here is a helpful map.
Also, airline vaccine requirements, mask-wearing, testing, and quarantine vary from U.S. requirements and your destination’s requirements.
A graph from the CDC that breaks down the different travel recommendations between being fully vaccinated and not vaccinated says if you are not vaccinated it is recommended you get tested 1-3 days before traveling out of the US, and self-quarantine after travel for 7 days with a negative test or 10 days without test. For vaccinated and unvaccinated people, the CDC recommends wearing a mask and take other precautions while traveling.
What about a Roman Holiday or a tour through Europe?
Americans visiting countries of the European Union may do so after vaccination. More countries are opening up to tourism as new plans from the European Union are being rolled out.
Spain reopens to vaccinated tourists in June.
Also, France is expected to open up in June to international travelers and it will be open to everyone.
Travelers from the United States must provide a negative molecular or rapid antigen test taken within the last 72 hours prior to entering and self-isolate in their home/hotel for 10 days, the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy website states. Italy remains at COVID-19 level 4, a high level of concern at this time. The CDC says because of the current situation even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk and should avoid all travel to Italy.
Is Iceland on your mind? All travelers worldwide are welcome just be prepared to show your certificate of full vaccination against COVID. You will need to take a PCR test, the “gold standard COVID test,” as a negative PCR test is required before boarding an aircraft to Iceland, and taken within 72 hours of departure, according to the Icelandair website. Then quarantine, arriving passengers must undergo double screening and 5-6 days quarantine between tests, the website adds. Here are more recommendations and requirements for traveling to Iceland.
What about unvaccinated kids? The European Commission says unvaccinated children can travel but need to have a negative result test taken no more than 72 hours before arriving to the continent.
For museums and outings expect a vacation based more on planning than winging it, as museums are likely to offer time slots, similar to the U.S. for high-traffic attractions.
Here’s more on traveling to Mexico, Australia, and Maui.
Cruise lines
In April, the CDC sent a letter and issued new guidance with recommendations for cruise line operators that includes “establishing a plan and timeline for vaccination of crew and port personnel.”
“The CDC guidance at this time says that 95 percent of all guests must be vaccinated and 98 percent of employees,” said Carnival President Christine Duffy during a visit to Galveston, KHOU reported.
The CDC‘s guidance for the next phase of its Framework for Conditional Sailing Order, includes “COVID-19 vaccination efforts will be critical in the safe resumption of passenger operations.”
Anticipating summer departures, in May hundreds of crew members, were vaccinated At the time, Duffy said were a lot of details to be still worked out.
As for guests aboard, a test is not required for fully vaccinated people. Vaccinated guests may go maskless. However if you are not vaccinated before embarking on your trip you must get tested 1-3 days beforehand, and if passengers show signs or symptoms of COVID-19 while onboard they must get tested with CDC-approved onboard testing.
Family coming into town from another country?
For travelers coming to the U.S., the CDC says, all air passengers coming to the United States, including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated people, are required to have a negative COVID-19 viral test result no more than 3 days before travel or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months before they board a flight to the United States.
As more people get vaccinated, more people will be traveling, and show proof of vaccination which can be confusing and problematic as well. Leonard Marcus, director of the Aviation Public Health Initiative at Harvard University told NPR there needs to be a better honor system and standard vaccination card, so that people who are vaccinated can prove it at the airport, at a crowded facility that they have been vaccinated.
