Just in time for our New York issue: good news. International travelers can now add the US as a destination again. Finally, after almost 19 months, America is welcoming foreigners into its borders. Of course, not without a few strings, like a negative PCR test and proof of vaccination.
Here are the details:
1, After 600 days, citizens of 33 countries will be able to enter the United States. Travelers can arrive via air travel, without a quarantine requirement.
The milestone seems like a quick reversal from what officials previously stated less than a week earlier. However, Covid-19 czar, Jeff Zients, acknowledges that vaccine rates have made it possible to ease travel restrictions.
2. Countries that qualify include the 26 Schengen countries as well as the UK, Ireland, China, India, South Africa, Iran and Brazil.
3. Visitors must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by an FDA-approved or WHO-authorized vaccine. Exceptions to this rule will exist for children. There will also be exceptions for people who are participating in vaccine clinical trials. Additionally, those who have urgent travel needs for humanitarian reasons but lack access to vaccination will have a dispensation.
4. Contact tracing and pre-flight negative tests will be required.
5. We don’t have an official date when the policy will go into effect, but it will be at some point in November.
Keep Calm, Travel On
So yes, it will be possible for international travelers to travel again in the midst of the delta outbreak. It’s impressively thanks to new technological systems that allow for tracking rates of infection. As always, however, be careful and respectfully enjoy your vacations.
