International travel and Covid 19 [Archive]

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Zeos1

05-09-20, 21:11

I think it would be interesting and informative to have a thread to consolidate information on the return of international air travel during or after this pandemic. It seems like many feel it is a matter of weeks, but a few current indications look more like months. What countries are totally closed to non-essential visitors, what countries may be open but have no scheduled flights operating, and dates when countries are opening, and when flights might resume.

Many airlines show flight schedules to various places that are not yet open to visitors. This may be just to be ready. In case the country does open up. Or it may be to collect fare money that they then refund when the flights are cancelled. Eventually.

A few countries have possible opening times. Costa Rica, for example says June 15. But that still doesn't tell you who it will be open to, or whether this is just another possible target date that will be delayed again.

A few countries have said they may allow visitors / tourists but they would have to undergo a 14 or 15 day quarantine.

A recent report suggests that Colombia is looking at mid December.

I believe that governments are looking at different options. Possible options include:

1. Allowing flights and visitors from countries with little or no current cases. For example, no new infections for more than 2 weeks, and / or all cases resolved (recovered or died).

2. Banning certain areas and / or countries, much like most of the world did with China, or the Wuhan area, in January and February.

3. Allowing visitors after screening for temperature and symptoms before boarding airline.

4. Allowing visitors with an immunological test showing exposure and recovery from Covid, and or a test showing no current Covid infection.

5. Wide open as before.

My guess is that it will be one or a combination of 1 to 4. I don't think option 5 will happen.

But please. No need to argue about why it should be different. We're not the makers of policy. And from what I read on the forum. Thank dog for that.

So hard information is appreciated.

Artisttyp

05-09-20, 21:22

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/safe-travel-again-143000520.html

Shows how things may look in the near future.

Midwestern

05-10-20, 01:09

Zeos1

05-10-20, 03:12

When international flights become more relaxed, it will be before it's 100% safe to do so. Just like economies are reopening before it's 100% safe to do so. So, we all will have to decide for ourselves if international travel is really worth it. Even when we can travel internationally, we might as well scratch mongering off the to-do list. Mongering availability is way down.All true from the traveler point of view.

Guess I'm wondering about the national governments. When they're going to allow visitors in. Where I am it is 2 weeks quarantine for anyone coming in (except truckers, nurses, etc) and I think it will stay that way for a long time.

WindAngel

05-10-20, 11:47

More and more countries will start imposing 2 weeks quarantine for anyone coming in, even democratic countries that brag about human rights. For example, Britain is also currently in the process of implementing it. For many places already doing it, it is like prison. And you have to pay for it too. It's not free. The cost per day is equivalent to a 4 star hotel.Taiwan gives about US $50 each day to it's returning citizen, depending on the city, to stay in an approved hotel. Not all hotels are qualified. The citizen can stay at home if some conditions are met, like if you are the sole resident in the place.

Zeos1

05-10-20, 22:57

Taiwan gives about US $50 each day to it's returning citizen, depending on the city, to stay in an approved hotel. Not all hotels are qualified. The citizen can stay at home if some conditions are met, like if you are the sole resident in the place.So on the list of options for countries another is this one. That they would allow visitors, but everyone would have to quarantine. This is currently the case in Canada, and it has been since mid-March, although it was only made compulsory under the quarantine Act sometime in early April. This applies to everyone. Citizens, residents, or visitors. If you have no place to go to in order to quarantine, and you are a returning citizen or resident, the government provides a place. If you are a visitor you would know before you board a plane that you have to do this so it is your choice, to come in and quarantine, or not come in. Land borders are closed to tourists / visitors both ways.

The Cane

05-10-20, 23:15

So on the list of options for countries another is this one. That they would allow visitors, but everyone would have to quarantine. This is currently the case in Canada, and it has been since mid-March, although it was only made compulsory under the quarantine Act sometime in early April. This applies to everyone. Citizens, residents, or visitors. If you have no place to go to in order to quarantine, and you are a returning citizen or resident, the government provides a place. If you are a visitor you would know before you board a plane that you have to do this so it is your choice, to come in and quarantine, or not come in. Land borders are closed to tourists / visitors both ways.Boris Johnson announced today that the UK will impose a quarantine on people arriving by air. He did not indicate a start / end date. I for one won't be traveling to any country where I would have to go into quarantine and / or the mongering destinations I would like to visit are not open as they were before this damned virus wrecked everything.

Zeos1

05-15-20, 03:34

Boris Johnson announced today that the UK will impose a quarantine on people arriving by air. He did not indicate a start / end date. I for one won't be traveling to any country where I would have to go into quarantine and / or the mongering destinations I would like to visit are not open as they were before this damned virus wrecked everything.Quarantine on arrival seems to be gaining ground as an option for many countries. Also there are countries that are setting up, or talking about setting up, "bubbles" where other countries with the virus under control can travel with their country. Essentially bilateral agreements. These would be based on seeing active cases gone or almost gone, and no new cases for a specified period. Australia is said to be looking at this with nearby countries / areas.

For Canadian or US travelers. Quarantine seems to be the best or most likely possible option after outright travel bans are lifted. Countries that have got the virus spread under control will likely opt for that, at least for travelers coming from places with active cases.

BUT. We all wait for the actual announcements of policies by various governments.

Quagmire1974

05-15-20, 03:50

Thanks, Zeos1, for starting this thread. I just discovered this through TripAdvisor:

https://thepointsguy.co.uk/guide/reopening-soon-a-country-by-country-guide-to-coronavirus-recovery/?linkId=88569101&fbclid=IwAR2Ms5UUQ6lLICFnvCLLjnyPH14kNlpPAF9ukzFwW7hQ9w2sicRezQPiyo4

MonkeyPaw

05-15-20, 04:25

Quarantine on arrival seems to be gaining ground as an option for many countries. Also there are countries that are setting up, or talking about setting up, "bubbles" where other countries with the virus under control can travel with their country. Essentially bilateral agreements. These would be based on seeing active cases gone or almost gone, and no new cases for a specified period. Australia is said to be looking at this with nearby countries / areas.

For Canadian or US travelers. Quarantine seems to be the best or most likely possible option after outright travel bans are lifted. Countries that have got the virus spread under control will likely opt for that, at least for travelers coming from places with active cases.

BUT. We all wait for the actual announcements of policies by various governments.I find it a bit odd that in certain countries like Vietnam, that the "foreign infection" from outside the country is being highly propagandized. A country where doctors are not allowed to report COVID-10 diagnosis or determinations, rather government officials can be pretty scary. So Russia, just allowed these migrants to leave and board an airplane while infected? Did they get infected during the flight? Too many countries pointing the finger at outsiders or international travelers. So if I came from Vietnam with 300 cases and 0 deaths to the UK which has way more, I am the risk? Do flights crews quarantine themselves as they bounce country to country? None of this makes senses. The crap that these governments try to tell people and they believe it like 10 commandments. Chaos.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-vietnam/vietnam-reports-24-new-coronavirus-cases-all-imported-cases-pass-300-idUSKBN22R03R

ShoesAndSocks

05-15-20, 07:08

If contact tracing forms a key part of the way to control this pandemic, I can't see how widespread international travel can be allowed.

Say I was in Frankfurt and I enjoyed my last night in Europe at an FKK club, and I'm required to leave contact details in case anyone in attendance is subsequently diagnosed with Covid-19. Then, next day I return home to Australia via Singapore. I've caught a train to FRA, one of the busiest hubs in the EU. Spent a few hours there mingling with travellers going all over the world, then onto a long-haul flight with passengers headed all over the world, then another couple of hours in very busy SIN airport, and finally another long flight home.

When I return home, someone from Frankfurt contacts me regarding an outbreak at the club and asks me who I have been in contact since my visit, so what happens then? I've possibly infected travellers across 3 countries, folks who have since travelled who-knows-where. Who wants responsibility for that? Certainly not me!

The Cane

05-15-20, 12:33

If contact tracing forms a key part of the way to control this pandemic, I can't see how widespread international travel can be allowed.Yeah, I don't see how contact tracing would work very well within a large, populous country like the United States, let alone throwing in an international component on top of it.

Lucky Nuts

05-15-20, 15:27

Artisttyp

05-15-20, 17:56

The testing industry is working 24/7 to develop in high volumes faster more accurate tests. This is a needed and necessary development both for our hobby and for some normalization of societies in general. As it pertains to our hobby whether it's a 15 minute test on arrival or a 24 hour approved hotel quarantine while awaiting results either requirement would suffice for many of us even regardless of a required fee as well. Let's hope the testing industry makes the necessary strides in getting where we need to be sooner rather than later.Interesting theory but the tests would need to be 100% accurate and if you picked up the virus on the flight (just an hour ago) would there be enough incubation period for the test to recognize the infection? I don't see how you safely get around the 2 weeks of isolation to be 100% sure.

Downandup

05-15-20, 18:55

Interesting theory but the tests would need to be 100% accurate ...Like this? https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/roche-test-covid-antibody-coroanvirus-testing-uk-when-can-i-get-where-a9515571.html At least it's part of a solution.

Zeos1

05-15-20, 19:37

Like this? https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/roche-test-covid-antibody-coroanvirus-testing-uk-when-can-i-get-where-a9515571.html At least it's part of a solution.This is the other type of test. A test for antibodies. It would say you have had the virus and have developed antibodies. But it doesn't say whether or not you have an active case. The other types of testing are for the virus directly. To tell whether you have an active case.

Both of these tests could be useful for travel, but as far as I know there is no country that is allowing people in based on a positive antibody test and a negative virus test. That's the so-called immunity certificate, or immunity passport idea.

Artisttyp

05-15-20, 19:47

This is the other type of test. A test for antibodies. It would say you have had the virus and have developed antibodies. But it doesn't say whether or not you have an active case. The other types of testing are for the virus directly. To tell whether you have an active case.

Both of these tests could be useful for travel, but as far as I know there is no country that is allowing people in based on a positive antibody test and a negative virus test. That's the so-called immunity certificate, or immunity passport idea.True.

I was going to add how would the test know if you picked it up on the flight over or not? Too soon to tell.

Another variable to consider now on is how you will address illness in your country of visit if you become ill on the road. I was recently in Negril, Jamaica. Just finding cough syrup can prove to be difficult over there. What if I came down with Corona?

Lucky Nuts

05-15-20, 23:25

Interesting theory but the tests would need to be 100% accurate and if you picked up the virus on the flight (just an hour ago) would there be enough incubation period for the test to recognize the infection? I don't see how you safely get around the 2 weeks of isolation to be 100% sure.I believe there will never be 100% test accuracy and therefore never 100 percent perfect screening. But I think if airport arrival screening can become 99 percent effective or close to that within 24 to 48 hours of arrival that a country like Thailand would not cancel their 2021 high tourist season. Just my opinion.

Artisttyp

05-16-20, 05:42

https://samchui.com/2020/05/09/whats-the-future-of-air-travel-like-post-covid-19-2/#. Xr9 t1 S2 ZO3 e.

Zeos1

05-16-20, 17:55

https://samchui.com/2020/05/09/whats-the-future-of-air-travel-like-post-covid-19-2/#. Xr9 t1 S2 ZO3 e.Link above is to a travel type group with some good information on the potential changes for travel.

Air Canada just announced they are laying off 50 -60 percent of their workforce. They are thinking 4 years to get back to normal, and only back to 25% by the end of this year from their current 10 or 15% of pre-Covid business. Air Canada is in no imminent financial danger. To me this shows that they are thinking "back to normal" is not happening any time soon. These are permanent lay-offs. They don't feel they can pay all or part of the salaries for that long to keep them around.

I think domestic travel has held up a bit better in the US (it was / is very restricted in Canada) but I don't think any of the major airlines will be keeping their workforce intact.

Zeos1

05-17-20, 13:39

Some news. Italy is reopening for INTERNAL travel. There have been restrictions on movement within the country.

Also some relaxing of travel bans between countries within the European Union. It's not wide open yet by any means but some easing of restrictions is to happen.

A couple of more wrinkles on travel into various places and the tools that will be used.

- Hong Kong requires testing on arrival. You self administer the test, then go to a "holding room / hotel" to await the results. If you are clear of current infection you then go to your 14 day quarantine hotel room. You get a 1 time use key card, and also a tracking bracelet I believe. You go into your room once. And cannot leave until your 14 days is completed. You cannot leave the room. Food is brought to the door.

So I guess the key ideas. Testing on arrival, plus quarantine, plus strict control to make sure you do it.

The Cane

05-17-20, 14:23

ShoesAndSocks

05-17-20, 16:10

So I guess the key ideas. Testing on arrival, plus quarantine, plus strict control to make sure you do it.So, why would anyone bother going through all of that unless travel was essential?

The idea of "normal" international travel within controllable "bubbles" like Australia + New Zealand or Germany + Austria I can see, but you can't widen those arrangements too much.

I read Thai Airways may contemplate bankruptcy as a means to "rehabilitate". Doesn't give you much confidence in making any advance bookings. I think airlines and hotels may have to offer deals where you don't have to pay until departure of first flight segment or first night of stay, to allay fears that they may go out of business before we start our trips.

Sad thing is it might all become self-fulfilling ... everyone will be scared of travel company insolvencies and not make bookings, and that of course will cause their insolvency.

Artisttyp

05-17-20, 17:20

When this was first proposed as an Idea I posted a thread on a rated G travel website. The closest I got to a "yes I would quarantine for 14 days" is "Maybe if I was going for business or a 1 or 2 month stay". Most people replied with a clear NO WAY.

Who has more than 2 weeks a year for vacation anyway? Who has money to waste like this while traveling? Can you imagine being in a budget hotel room for 2 weeks?

The concept is commendable in theory but hardly sustainable long term.

Downandup

05-17-20, 19:26

UK government plans to have 30 million doses of a vaccine ready in September if the Oxford trial is successful.

Zeos1

05-17-20, 22:43

And in Hong Kong what happens if a passenger tests positive at the port of entry?You call an ambulance for transport to a hospital.

Sound7

05-17-20, 22:51

To control the spread of COVID-19, the Alameda County Health Officer issued an order on April 17, 2020 for all residents and workers to wear face coverings when conducting essential business and when around others outside of their immediate household. Combined with physical distancing and frequent hand washing, face coverings may reduce the risk of infection posed by people who are infected and without symptoms.

We recommend you do not purchase and-95 and surgical / medical masks. These masks are in short supply, and need to be conserved for health workers, first responders, and other workers on the front lines.

Taiwan Model Expanded: Alameda County, California, USA + 6 feet Social Distance. First Mask Health Order in USA.

Zeos1

05-17-20, 22:52

UK government plans to have 30 million doses of a vaccine ready in September if the Oxford trial is successful.Looking for that information. Basically animal trials are done, and phase 1 human trials are about to start. But a long ways from that to commercial production, but I'll keep looking.

Normally human trials take a few years since they are looking for negative effects in short and long term. And only in Phase 3 do they test it against the actual virus.

Anyway, I know a lot of this is being fast tracked, but it still seems unlikely to be that soon.

Sound7

05-17-20, 22:55

Would booster be required or just a single dose, many questions. 30 million a good start to reaching the billions capacity needed for the whole herd.

UK government plans to have 30 million doses of a vaccine ready in September if the Oxford trial is successful.

Zeos1

05-17-20, 23:01

Looking for that information. Basically animal trials are done, and phase 1 human trials are about to start. But a long ways from that to commercial production, but I'll keep looking.

Normally human trials take a few years since they are looking for negative effects in short and long term. And only in Phase 3 do they test it against the actual virus.

Anyway, I know a lot of this is being fast tracked, but it still seems unlikely to be that soon.I did find some more info on it. Seems like it didn't actually prevent infection in the animal trials. The actual data and information from the animal trials was released later than the original story and hype. The hope it that it can at least help reduce the severity of the infection. Or. There is still a possibility that it could work better in humans than in the animal trial. Phase 1 human trials are starting. The company was going to prepare some quantity of it basically "in case it works". But the earliest is around the end of the year.

Lucky Nuts

05-17-20, 23:30

Deleted post because the link didn't work

Downandup

05-18-20, 09:57

Looking for that information. Basically animal trials are done, and phase 1 human trials are about to start. But a long ways from that to commercial production, but I'll keep looking.

Normally human trials take a few years since they are looking for negative effects in short and long term. And only in Phase 3 do they test it against the actual virus.

Anyway, I know a lot of this is being fast tracked, but it still seems unlikely to be that soon.Here's the story:

https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2020-05-17/cambridge-company-astrazeneca-to-make-30-doses-of-coronavirus-vaccine-if-it-works/

Phase 1 is completed and if the trials are successful then 100 million doses will be made by September with the UK getting 30 million.

Zeos1

05-18-20, 16:15

Here's the story:

https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2020-05-17/cambridge-company-astrazeneca-to-make-30-doses-of-coronavirus-vaccine-if-it-works/

Phase 1 is completed and if the trials are successful then 100 million doses will be made by September with the UK getting 30 million.Right. Thanks for the link. The other information that I found was that the Phase 1 testing (animal tests) were at first said to have great results, but the actual data was released it was not so great. Anyway, the ITV report was a "feel good" story for the British. Hopefully this vaccine performs in human trials and if so could be released to the British within some months. If the early results of human trials are promising it would make sense for the company to start building up supplies. It takes time to produce vaccines because they are "grown" not mixed up in a vat, so having it on hand in case it is effective is a great idea if the company has the resources to do that.

Artisttyp

05-18-20, 19:28

Airplanes don't make you sick ?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/18/airplanes-dont-make-you-sick-really/

Zeos1

05-19-20, 01:34

Just a reminder that information on international travel is what I'm hoping for here. I'm not interested in people arguing or presenting points of view as to why it should be this way or that. Countries and governments are doing what they think they need to do and time will tell what are the best strategies. But discussion of herd immunity, "natural course" things should go, various theories relating to political agendas or even national agendas are not needed here.

This is similar to a thread in the Colombia forum, I just thought a thread with a worldwide view of what various countries are doing and saying as far as travel is concerned might be of value to some of us who might be looking for alternative places to travel to, for example.

Artisttyp

05-19-20, 18:59

https://nypost.com/2020/05/19/international-travel-may-not-return-to-normal-until-2023/

Kingpin

05-20-20, 02:35

Some hope from Italy!

Foreign minister Luigi Di Maio indicated that Italy's eased restrictions would apply to those already in the European Union, writing on Facebook that from June 3 it will be possible "to move within E. U. States".

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/italy-announces-plans-to-ease-travel-restrictions-starting-june-3/2020/05/16/fd0822dc-9745-11ea-9f5e-56d8239bf9ad_story.html

Zeos1

05-21-20, 04:01

Announced apparently that international travel to Colombia will not be allowed until after the end of August.

And perhaps similar with Argentina.

Probably opening the way for this to be the next date announced through many Latin American countries.

Costa Rica published a long list of things that will open up over the period of a few months. But nothing about international travel there either.

Artisttyp

05-21-20, 04:55

https://www.yahoo.com/news/refuse-crowded-flight-refund-205655785.html

Sky Ryder

05-21-20, 10:34

Announced apparently that international travel to Colombia will not be allowed until after the end of August.

And perhaps similar with Argentina.Argentina has already announced there will be no domestic or international flights in Argentina until the end of September. Of course it is Argentina we are talking about and things could change within the hour.

Sky Ryder

05-21-20, 10:37

Airplanes don't make you sick ?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/18/airplanes-dont-make-you-sick-really/Unless you spend your day in a surgical theater, I'd venture to say the air you breath on a commercial jet airplane will be the most germ free air you breathe all day.

Quagmire1974

05-24-20, 07:25

Here is an article from Lonely Planet detailing how and when some nations and territories in the Caribbean (Aruba, Saint Lucia, Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Puerto Rico, Grenada) will open with the current COVID 19 situation:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/what-caribbean-countries-are-reopening?fbclid=IwAR18H4ZgsOpSRrjbGdQ8OoTv-VldYTwGV62pvK09C_JJtn3HgC4LjDDN6hA&utm_campaign=article&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

Zeos1

05-28-20, 04:00

I have been hoping to travel again. Like many others on this forum I'm sure. But.

Here's the deal as I am starting to see it. I'll just put it out to all of you. The last things to come back will be international travel. At least travel as we used to know it. Perhaps limited travel with extensive testing and 2 week plus quarantines, but not low cost available and open travel.

This is based on comments I'm hearing from experts, things like "if there's pockets of infection anywhere in the world it will get everywhere" And indeed that is how it got started, and how it spread.

So imagine a country, like New Zealand for example, that has almost no cases, in fact everyone that had it has recovered and they have no new cases coming on. Do you think they'll be anxious to open their airports to, for example, Americans? Or Brazilians? When they've spent huge amounts of their national treasury on stamping out the virus. And tourism is very important to their economy. But with the virus they have no economy, so the best bet is to keep out the potential infected people.

We have that already in Canada. We have provinces with no cases. Do you think they're interested in tourism from Ontario and Quebec. Not really.

And so with the places we love.

So, I'm not optimistic about travel any time soon. Until there is a very effective treatment, or until vaccination is almost universal (and we don't know if or when that will happen).

And so I'm trying to envision a retirement without travel, which for me is without sex to be blunt. Sucks. But that's how it feels to me. Guess I might have to try to work up some feelings of desire for those that might have me, grandmotherly types, whales, the twisted and entitled, and the like.

Mr Matrix

06-13-20, 15:01

Here's a tempting deal from Eithad Airways, buy a travel voucher from them before 24th June. It's good for travel anytime in the next two years and they will add 50% of the value to it for free when you book a flight. They do fly from the you. S, but this is probably more suitable for Far East and Africa mongering destinations from Europe.

Like most airlines they must need some cash flow, but as the flag carrier for you. A. E. Your money should be safe.

https://www.etihad.com/en-gb/book/special-offers/promotion/etihad-travel-voucher

Quagmire1974

06-13-20, 18:00

Lonely Planet, a travel website and online retailer of guidebooks and other travel accessories, has been steadily churning out information regarding the reopening of nations and territories in the current coronavirus pandemic. Within the past couple of days, they published a story that is quite appropriate for this forum:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/iata-map-travel-restrictions

The map referenced in the article can be found here:

https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm

To get the most recent coronavirus travel information, simply click or tap on a nation or territory on the map, and a separate box will pop up and give the latest information. To supplement the map, be sure to add Lonely Planet to your timeline on Facebook, as Lonely Planet is constantly providing information as to when nations and territories will open for international tourists.

The Cane

06-14-20, 00:04

Sammon

06-14-20, 14:18

Quagmire1974

06-14-20, 17:34

Aruba has announced that they will reopen for tourism and allow tourists from Canada and Europe to enter beginning July 1. Tourists from the United States will be allowed to enter beginning July 10. Details, including entry requirements and updated flight schedules, can be found here:

https://www.aruba.com/us

Quagmire1974

07-03-20, 00:31

Lonely Planet continues to update their website regarding international travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

European Union lifts travel ban for 14 nations July 1. United States not included on list:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/eu-us-travel-ban

Caribbean nations continue to reopen for tourism. Common theme appears to be negative COVID-19 test 72 hours before you arrive:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/what-caribbean-countries-are-reopening

Belize reopening to tourism August 15. Very helpful chart included in story:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/when-does-belize-reopen

Quagmire1974

07-03-20, 21:41

Fodor's Travel recently published an online article detailing the entry procedures for Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article includes 28 nations in the Caribbean, Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa, Pacific, and Indian Ocean:

https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/americans-cant-go-to-europe-so-which-countries-can-you-travel-to

Quagmire1974

07-06-20, 17:48

Africa opening its airspace in July and August:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/africa-starts-opening-airspace-even-as-covid-19-cases-climb

Saint Lucia originally mandated that travelers needed to have a negative COVID-19 test result 48 hours before they arrived at the airport on the island. That time frame has now been extended to 7 days. Details on Saint Lucia's website:

https://www.stlucia.org/en/covid-19/

I hope at least one person is finding these posts helpful. I'll post more updates as I find them.

The Cane

07-06-20, 21:46

Glad somebody here showed us this: https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm.

Golfinho

07-07-20, 00:32

https://www.stlucia.org/en/covid-19/
I hope at least one person is finding these posts helpful. I'll post more updates as I find them.Finding up-to-the-moment posts on country covid status all in one place would be too ideal.

Kayak is trying: https://www.kayak.com/travel-restrictions.

Quagmire1974

07-08-20, 17:34

Finding up-to-the-moment posts on country covid status all in one place would be too ideal.

Kayak is trying: https://www.kayak.com/travel-restrictions.Excellent post, Golfinho! I like that map a lot better than the IATA Travel Centre website that I discovered through Lonely Planet.

Quagmire1974

07-08-20, 17:45

United Airlines adding 25000 flights to its schedule in August. Note the helpful charts attached to the story detailing where and how often United will be flying to certain locations:

https://hub.united.com/2020-07-07-united-airlines-to-hold-webcast-of-second-quarter-2020-financial-results-2646357927.html

And then, United Airlines scaled back those plans:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/united-airlines-scales-back-august-schedule-on-resurgent-coronavirus-travel-restrictions/amp/

Artisttyp

07-08-20, 18:34

I have been reading Trip Advisor Forums depending on the location. I find the information to be relative and up to date. Some posts are just a few hours old from people with boots on the ground.

Quagmire1974

07-08-20, 19:04

I have been reading Trip Advisor Forums depending on the location. I find the information to be relative and up to date. Some posts are just a few hours old from people with boots on the ground.Agreed. For example, in the Antigua and Barbuda forum on TripAdvisor, there's a thread titled "what are the protocols for arriving in Antigua from the US?" In that thread, there are several reports from people detailing what they experienced when they arrived at the airport.

The only downside to TripAdvisor (similar to ISG) that I've encountered is that too many folks ask the same mindnumbing questions over and over again before RTFF and / or spout incorrect information without checking sources. So it's definitely suggested to double-check any claims folks make there before making your own decisions.

Quagmire1974

07-15-20, 23:57

American Airlines resumes service to Aruba and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/airlines/american-airlines-relaunches-service-to-key-caribbean-destinations.html

United States, Canada, and Mexico to extended border closures another month:

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/impacting-travel/us-canada-mexico-plan-another-extension-of-border-restrictions.html

Croatia opening for Americans:

https://travelnoire.com/croatia-opening-its-borders

Zeos1

07-24-20, 13:51

Zeos1

07-24-20, 14:12

Costa Rica has announced that flights or people from Canada, the European Union, and Great Britain, will be able to enter the country via air from August 1. It seems they are expected to go to the "yellow" zones, areas with lower Covid 19 cases. That would not include San Jose at the moment.

Some of this is a bit unclear. But the announcement from yesterday can be found on various Costa Rica news sites if you want to look for the original announcement.Checked again. My comment about being expected to go to yellow zones is not applicable. There is no such restriction. Currently San Jose and surrounding areas, as well as other parts of the country, are under "Orange" alert. Basically this means that only essential businesses are open. Bars, restaurants, casinos, etc. Are all closed. Hotels can operate at 50% capacity only, but without restaurants and bars. There are various other restrictions on driving, etc.

In addition to accepting tourists from only those countries indicated, visitors must have a covid19 test less than 48 hours old when the arrive, and also must have medical insurance plus insurance for an extended stay in a hotel. Whatever that is. This is to cover the situation where you, or some contact you have had, has Covid. In which case you will have to quarantine for at least 2 weeks, and if you were to have a return flight home during that time you would have to delay that until you get out of quarantine.

Zeos1

07-31-20, 05:17

Costa Rica has added a bit more detail to it's plan to start opening up to some flights from August 1st on. So the initial announcement was that flights from the European Union, Great Britain, and Canada would be allowed after August 1st. But there was no detail on who would be allowed to be on those flights. There were also some details on other measures. People had to have a recent negative Covid-19 test, they had to have medical and hotel stay insurance, and they had to fill out a medical form beforehand.

Now they have clarified who can fly on these flights. Citizens or permanent residents of those countries need to follow the measures above. People from other countries, such as the USA, can fly in on those flights provided they have quarantined for 14 days in the country where they are flying from. Immediately before flying. Plus follow the other measures. So, for example, when flights from Canada start going to Costa Rica, an American could fly into Canada, quarantine for 14 days (which everyone coming into Canada has to do anyway), then get a Covid 19 test. Somehow, get on the plane, fly to Costa Rica, buy the Covid 19 insurance and hotel stay insurance from INS (the Costa Rica insurance company), and carry on.

So, not making it easy for anyone. As a Canadian at least I don't have to quarantine for 14 days before getting on the plane. But I'm in a place that almost has the virus beat, why would I want to expose myself to a much higher risk in Costa Rica? I know the answer, but I still don't think I'll be on that plane.

Quagmire1974

07-31-20, 17:32

Jordan reopening its borders for visitors:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/jordan-reopening-august-5

Bahamas reverses its decision and slams the door on Americans:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/us-travel-to-bahamas-coronavirus

Artisttyp

08-02-20, 21:05

World.

Is international travel allowed? See reopening dates for Canada, Mexico, Bahamas and other spots.

Jayme Deerwester, Rasha Ali and Curtis Tate, USA TODAY.

USA TODAYJuly 31,2020, 4:15 PM.

Americans with a bad case of wanderlust may have to wait to vacation abroad – and while some countries have reopened or announced target dates to reopen, the pickings may be slim for a while.

Parts of the Caribbean and Europe have reopened from coronavirus restrictions, but the European Union extended its travel ban on Americans.

The EU first started lifting international travel restrictions on July 1, welcoming visitors from 14 countries, including Canada, South Korea and Australia. The USA Was left off that initial list, and Americans remain barred from visiting the bloc.

It's worth noting that the USA State Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not rescinded or downgraded their travel warnings. The State Department's global travel alert, first issued in March, is still in effect. For its part, the CDC still has its highest travel warning in effect for the United Kingdom, Ireland and much of Europe as well as China, Brazil and Iran.

While this is by no means an exhaustive list, here's an update on some of the countries that are most popular with American travelers:

Canada.

When will the border open? Americans and Canadians won't be able to cross the border in either direction for nonessential travel until Aug. 21, according to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

What can travelers expect once they're allowed in? There's a major loophole in the border-closure policy: The USA Embassy in Ottawa said the order does not apply to "air, rail, or sea travel at this time, but does apply to commuter rail and ferry travel. ".

According to the Canadian Border Services Agency, anyone who is not a citizen or permanent resident of that country must prove they are traveling for an essential purpose, are only transiting or are an immediate family member of a citizen or permanent resident. They must also have a plan to quarantine for 14 days, unless exempted.

'It was the right thing': Trudeau announces extension of US-Canada border closure.

Mexico.

When will the border open? Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf announced that theland border with Mexico would remain closed until at least Aug. 20.

But like the USA -Canadian closure order, the Mexican version does not apply to air, rail or sea travel, except for commuter rail and ferry travel.

Costa Rica.

When will it reopen its borders? According to the USA Embassy in Costa Rica, the country announced on July 23 that it will will welcome tourists from flights originating from Frankfurt, Germany and Madrid starting Aug. 1. The country has yet to announce when it will welcome commercial flights again from the United States.

What can tourists expect? Passengers entering Costa Rica from an approved flight must present negative COVID-19 test results taken within the last 48 hours and purchase insurance covering accommodations for quarantine and hospitalization, should they get sick. Passengers must also complete digital epidemiological forms, available in multiple languages.

Caribbean.

Anguilla.

When will it reopen its borders? Borders are closed for general travel until at least Oct. 31.

According to the you. K. Government, those allowed in may be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival in Anguilla, and those allowed in will have to self-quarantine for 14 days in a government-run or government-approved quarantine facility. This rule applies to Anguillans, people with Anguilla resident status or holders of valid work permits.

As of July 31, however, visitors from regions with active cases of less than 0. 2% of their population can travel to Anguilla, though they must follow protocols and quarantine rules.

Other exceptions to this rule are for medical emergencies and evacuations, which must be approved by the Chief Medical Officer; people looking to leave the country; and repatriation of Anguillians from areas with active cases of less than 0. 2% of their populations. These people also need to follow protocols and quarantine rules.

Aruba.

When will it reopen its borders? Sometime between June 15 and July 1, according to a "tentative" estimate by the Aruba Tourism Authority. "The aforementioned reopening target date is subject to change as we may consider additional precautionary measures as needed," it cautioned.

Bahamas.

When will it reopen its borders? After barring Americans from entry earlier this month as COVID-19 cases resurged, the Bahamas issued an update online on July 31 saying travelers from the United States are once again welcome, so long as they follow strict protocol, including a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival.

What can tourists expect? Travelers can quarantine in a private residence or rented accommodation, such as an Airbnb, where it's possible to isolate in a bedroom with a connected bathroom; in a hotel room with a connected bathroom; or on a private boat. If travelers don't have access to an approved quarantine location, then they will have to spend two weeks in a government-mandated quarantine facility, at their own expense.

Travelers will also have to download an app on their phones to assist with contact tracing. Refusing to download the app is a deportable offense. They must also apply for a Bahamas health visa and have a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from an accredited lab that was taken within 10 days.

After the 14-day quarantine, travelers will need to test negative on another COVID-19 test in order to leave quarantine. They'll find beaches open, other than during weekend lockdowns when everyone except essential workers must stay inside. However, all beaches in Nassau and Grand Bahama are closed.

Barbados.

When will it reopen its borders? Prime Minister Mia Motley announced in a news conference June 26 that borders will reopen on July 1 and the airport will resume normal operations on July 12. Travelers from outside the Caribbean are required to take a COVID-19 PCR Antigen test 72 hours before arrival.

Cayman Islands.

When will it reopen its borders? According to a press release published July 22, the Cayman Islands will begin a phased reopening to tourists starting Sept. 1.

What can tourists expect? The British Overseas Territory is collaborating with BioIntelliSense, a USA -based biotech company that produces medical-grade sensors for continuous health screenings. These sensors, called BioButtons, can passively monitor arriving passengers' heart rates, respiratory rates and skin temperature for symptoms of COVID-19.

In the first phase of reopening, visitors and returning residents must register for permission to travel on a government-arranged repatriation flight or by private air. All passengers over the age of 10 must provide results of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of traveling.

Eligible travelers can choose to wear a BioButton and self-isolate in their choice of residence for five days, before taking a second PCR test. If negative, they must continue wearing a BioButton for nine more days, but they will not be required to self-isolate. Those who choose not to wear a BioButton must quarantine in a government-managed facility for 14 days.

Dominica.

When will it reopen its borders? According to a press release issued July 21, Dominica will reopen its borders to international travelers Aug. 7 — so long as travelers comply with a lengthy list of health and safety protocols.

What can tourists expect? All passengers must submit a health questionnaire at least 24 hours prior to their arrival in Dominica and show notification of clearance to travel. They must also submit a negative PCR test result recorded within 24 to 72 hours before their arrival. Upon arriving, passengers must wear face masks at all times up to and including departure from the airport, follow physical-distancing guidelines, practice good respiratory and personal sanitization, and obey the instructions of health care staff and officials.

As part of the disembarkation process, arriving passengers must also sanitize their hands, undergo a health assessment that includes a temperature check, provide confirmation of their health questionnaires and negative PCR test results, and undergo test screening with a negative result.

Grenada.

When will it reopen its borders? According to a government statement on July 7, Grenada will accept commercial flights from other Caribbean countries deemed low-risk starting July 15. On Aug. 1, the country will accept international flights from medium-risk countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom and other countries in the European Union. It has not indicated when it will welcome Americans.

For countries not mentioned in the statement, only chartered flights will be accommodated until further notice.

Jamaica.

When will it reopen its borders? Jamaica's tourism board said the Caribbean island began welcoming back international tourists beginning July 15.

What can tourists expect? While all tourists must complete an online travel authorization form and undergo a health screening, those coming from high-risk states such as Arizona, Florida, New York, and Texas must also upload a negative COVID-19 PCR test result taken within 10 days of arrival in Jamaica.

In a press release, Jamaica's Tourist Board also warned that travelers from areas deemed not to be high-risk may still be subject to testing. In addition, it said, "Those with negative results – as well as those who do not require testing – must adhere to the Stay in Zone order, which requires persons to remain at their hotel or resort within the Resilient Corridor for the duration of their stay. Those who are screened and assessed and show symptoms upon arrival will be subject to swab testing and must quarantine in their hotel room until test results are available. ".

Puerto Rico.

When will it reopen its borders? Tourists are already being welcomed back in this USA Territory.

What can tourists expect? Starting July 15, all passengers have to wear a mask and must take a molecular test 72 hours prior to their arrival. The test results must be submitted to officials at the airport. Travelers who test positive for the virus or refuse to hand over results or do not yet have results available will be forced into a two-week quarantine. During that time, they have to undergo a molecular test and share the results if they want to be released from quarantine, said Puerto Rico Health Secretary Lorenzo González.

St. Barts.

The French territory will reopen to international tourists beginning June 22, according to its Facebook page. However, in order to enter the island, visitors will need to schedule a RT-PCR Covid-19 test and provide a negative result within 72 hours of arrival. Alternately, they can opt to be tested within 24 hours upon arrival and maintain strict quarantine for until their test comes back negative. Visitors who stay beyond seven days must undergo a second test. Anyone who tests positive will be moved to the quarantine center near the Stade de St Jean for monitoring.

St. Lucia.

When will it reopen its borders? Flights from the USA Were allowed back into the Eastern Caribbean island as of June 4, its government said in its reopening plan. American Airlines confirmed it sent its first plane there on July 9.

Visitors must present certified proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours of boarding their flight. Once there, they must wear face masks and practice social distancing.

If you're headed for St. Lucia, pack your hiking boots because the UNESCO-listed Pitons are not to be missed.

If you're headed for St. Lucia, pack your hiking boots because the UNESCO-listed Pitons are not to be missed.

St. Maarten.

When will it reopen its borders? St. Maarten has extended its ban on Americans another two weeks, meaning USA Citizens won't be able to visit until at least Aug 1. Travelers from Canada and Europe are already welcome.

What can tourists expect? All passengers must take a COVID-19 test with proof of a negative result no more than 72 hours before arrival. Children who are 10 or younger do not need to take a COVID-19 test. Travelers also must fill out a health declaration form.

Additionally, all arriving and departing passengers must wear a face mask inside the airport at all times, and all travelers will be subject to a mandatory temperature check on arrival. Passengers showing symptoms will have to take a COVID-19 test, at additional cost to the traveler.

Turks & Caicos.

When will it reopen its borders? According to its official tourism site, the British territory will reopen its borders to international visitors beginning July 22. At that point, Providenciales International Airport and private jet terminals will reopen and partner airlines will resume commercial service from the USA, Canada and Europe. However, the Grand Turk Cruise Center will remain closed until August 31, subject to guidance from relevant health authorities.

USA Virgin Islands.

When will it reopen its borders? Hopefully, by June 1, according to a May 18 press conference by Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. , who said he'd been working on a rollout plan with the departments of tourism and health and other groups.

Europe.

Although European Union countries reopened to international travelers on July 1, it has barred Americans from entering for the time being due to this country's high COVID-19 infection rate. However, Canadian and Mexican citizens are being allowed in.

EU officials determined which countries' visitors will be allowed by looking at the trend in new infections, testing capacity, contact tracing and other steps countries have taken to contain the virus outbreak inside their borders, Kasper Zeuthen, a senior media adviser for the EU's delegation to the USA, told USA TODAY last week.

European Union: Bloc bars Americans as bloc reopens to international visitors July 1.

Adalbert Jahnz, a spokesman for the European Commission in Brussels, the EU's executive branch, told USA TODAY this week that lists would likely be reviewed every two weeks as new information about coronavirus trends in different countries becomes apparent.

Here are more details about specific countries' plans:

Austria.

When will it reopen its borders? Austria plans to accept visitors from European countries except Sweden, Britain, Portugal and Spain on June 16.

According to the country's official tourism site, visitors entering Austria from other Schengen treaty countries must submit a medical certificate showing a negative COVID-19 test that was issued in the last four days. Tourists from outside the EU still may not fly into Austria for the time being.

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg also said Wednesday that the border with Italy to the south would be open without conditions, but warned Austrian citizens not to travel to Lombardy. The northern Italian region has been the epicenter of Italy's epidemic, showing triple-digit growth in daily infections while much of the rest of the country counts a handful or fewer.

Austria's reluctance to open its shared border with Italy, which opened its borders on June 3, has been a sore spot between the neighbors, especially as the summer tourism season gets underway.

Greece.

Greek authorities say incoming travelers arriving at the country's land border with Bulgaria will have to carry a negative COVID-19 test results issued within the previous 72 hours.

The measure will take effect on July 14 following an increase in cases involving tourists traveling by land to Greece from mostly Balkan countries.

Greece started its tourism season on June 15 and expanded international flights to its regional airports on July 1.

Iceland.

When will it reopen its borders? Tourism minister Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir announced earlier this month that Iceland, which is part of the European Economic Area but not an EU member country, will begin easing restrictions on foreign tourists no later than June 15.

One condition of admission is that visitors must either be tested for coronavirus or spend two weeks in quarantine. However, citizens of countries that provide government records documenting a clean bill of health can opt to submit those instead, Reuters reported.

Regardless of which option visitors choose, they will be asked to download a contact-tracing app.

"Iceland's strategy of large-scale testing, tracing and isolating have proven effective so far," Gylfadottir told Reuters, explaining the country's relatively low rate of infection and death as well as its quick rebound.

Spain.

When will it reopen its borders? On Saturday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that the country would be open to international tourism starting in July, Madrid-based newspaper El Pais and Reuters reported.

"Spain needs tourism and tourism needs security," Sanchez said.

According to The Financial Times, tourism accounts for 12% of Spain's gross domestic product. It welcomes 80 millions tourists each year.

Italy.

When will it reopen its borders? Italy, which is one of the European countries hit hardest by the coronavirus, will relax its border restrictions on June 3. At that time, Italians can travel between regions or to other European Union countries and the United Kingdom, and citizens of those countries can travel to Italy.

France.

When will it reopen its borders? French citizens can travel within a 100-kilometer (62 mile) radius of where they live, but for now, its borders remain closed.

Germany.

When will it reopen its borders? Germany continues to restrict entry to non-European Union citizens through at least June 15.

When will the rest of Europe reopen its borders? Not until after June 15 and probably later than that for non-EU citizens.

Earlier this month, the European Union proposed that Schengen Area members and associated countries keep their borders closed to non-EU nationals until June 15 so they could continue to coordinate the continent's response to the pandemic. Nearly all of the 30 countries involved have adopted the proposal.

In mid-April, the European Union Commission presented a phased roadmap that will first restore free movement between member countries and then relax external border restrictions during the second stage.

Good news for British citizens yearning to travel: The EU also said that citizens of the United Kingdom will continue to be treated as EU citizens until the end of the transition period and would be able to travel once internal borders are relaxed.

Croatia.

Much of Europe may not be welcoming Americans, but Croatia allows American tourists as of July 1.

"As of July 1, 2020, all EU / EEA nationals and individuals holding permanent residence in the EU / EEA countries can enter Croatia freely, without restrictions," according to the USA Embassy in Croatia. "All other foreign nationals, including USA Citizens, may enter Croatia for business, tourism, or other pressing personal reasons, if they provide relevant proof. ".

United Kingdom.

Beginning June 8, travelers can enter the UK, but they must provide contact information and self-isolate for 14 days, or face fines.

Asia and the South Pacific.

Australia.

When will the border open? Not for at least three more months, according to an April 23 statement by the country's chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy. And the only mention of international travel in Prime Minister Scott Morrison's reopening plan comes in the final stage, when the country will consider allowing in other Pacific islanders and international students.

Bali.

Bali started putting together its reopening plan for tourism, including allowing foreign tourists beginning Sept. 11.

Cambodia.

Foreign travelers arriving in Cambodia need to pay a $3,000 deposit after getting to the airport to cover COVID-19 testing in addition to potential treatment (with more specifics on the financial details here).

China.

When will the border open? The country where the pandemic began in December briefly reopened its borders to non-citizens before closing them again in late March due to an influx of new cases. It has not said when it plans to relax those restrictions.

India.

When will the border open? The Government of India passed a new order June 26, stating that air travel to and from India will be suspended until July 15,2020 at midnight India Standard Time.

Jordan.

When will the border open? The Jordanian government says it will begin reopening airports to international travelers in August after sealing its borders in March.

Travelers from a list of approved, low-risk countries must pass a coronavirus test at least 72 hours before departure and will get a second test upon arrival in Jordan, Transportation Minister Khaled Saif says.

What can tourists expect? Jordan will require incoming tourists to download Aman, the government's contact-tracing mobile application, for the duration of their stay in the country.

The Maldives.

When will the border open? The island, located off the southern tip of India, reopened on July 15.

What can tourists expect? According to the Maldives' official tourism site, visitors need:

A confirmed booking at a registered lodging establishment.

Proof of sufficient funds.

Confirmed return ticket.

Completed Health Declaration Form to be filled out twice: 24 hours before your flight to the Maldives and once more before you depart from the Maldives.

On-arrival visas (free for 30 days).

Their website also notes that all tourists will undergo a temperature check upon arrival and may be chosen for a random, voluntary and free COVID-19 PCR test. And while quarantine is not required for anyone who does not display COVID-19 symptoms, masks are mandatory at the airport, during domestic travel and in all enclosed public spaces.

Singapore.

When will the border open? National Development Minister Lawrence Wong announced that travelers to Singapore must be tested for COVID-19 starting on June 18.

"We will now put in place a new requirement to test all incoming travelers on top of the stay-at-home notice requirement that is already in place," he said on June 15.

Wong saidtravelers must bear the cost of their own tests, stating "up to now, the cost of tests and the cost of stay-home notice facilities have been borne by the government. But looking ahead, as we reopen for more travel, we will want to move to a more sustainable position. ".

Africa.

Morocco.

When will it reopen its borders? Morocco announced earlier this month that it would start gradually reopening its air and maritime borders after one of the world's strictest border lockdowns, which trapped tourists inside the country and left thousands of Moroccans stranded abroad and unable to come home.

Only Moroccan citizens and expatriates living in Morocco will be allowed to travel in the first stage of the reopening starting July 14, according to a government statement on July 9. Passengers are required to present both a PCR virus test taken within fewer than 48 hours of the flight, as well as an antibody test, before boarding planes heading for Morocco.

Rwanda.

When will it reopen its borders? Commercial flights will be allowed again in Rwanda on August 1.

As of June 17, Rwanda has been open for tourism and international travel can resume for charter flights. However, passengers entering Rwanda must present two negative COVID-19 RT-PCR tests. According to the Rwanda Development Board, one test must be taken within 72 hours of departure, and they must take a second COVID-19 test before visiting tourist attractions. Those who can't test in their origin countries can get tested twice in Rwanda.

"If the passenger has performed the 1st test within 72 hours before arrival and has a COVID-19 PCR valid negative testing certificate, he / she will stay in the designated hotel for 24 hours waiting for the PCR results of the 2nd test that is performed upon arrival," Rwanda's Ministry of Infrastructure tweeted Monday.

"Rwanda's tourism industry is adapting to create a safe environment for travelers and operators, in order to thrive in these unprecedented times," Belise Kariza, the Chief Tourism Officer at Rwanda Development Board said in a statement. "We encourage all travel enthusiasts and nature explorers to take advantage of this unique opportunity to venture out and experience the beauty and adventure that our country has to offer. ".

Senegal.

When will it reopen its borders? The USA Embassy in Dakar has confirmed that the west African nation will reopen to international travel on July 15. However, the country's land and sea borders will remain closed until future notice.

What can tourists expect? "Despite the end of the State of Emergency in Senegal, some leisure facilities will remain closed indefinitely due to social distancing measures, and markets will remain closed once per week for cleaning," the embassy website advised. "Use of facial coverings remains mandatory in public and private offices, public places and markets, and on public transportation. ".

Middle East.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

When will it reopen its borders? Dubai opened its borders to international travelers on July 7.

What can tourists expect? In order to travel, tourists must take a COVID-19 test within 96 hours of their flight and show the airline a negative result, according to its official tourism site. Otherwise, they will be tested on arrival and required to isolate while awaiting the results, which travelers say typically takes a few hours.

Travelers must also have health insurance covering COVID-19 or sign a declaration agreeing to cover the costs of treatment and isolation. They are also required to register their travel details in an app.

Contributing: Jenna Ryu, Charles Trepany and David Oliver, USA TODAY; Associated Press.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus travel: Reopening info for Bahamas, Canada, Mexico.

Quagmire1974

08-07-20, 04:22

The Cane

08-07-20, 12:41

News is beginning to emerge about how much it will cost to be vaccinated against COVID 19:

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/08/06/899869278/prices-for-covid-19-vaccines-are-starting-to-come-into-focus

The question I have for mongers here on ISG is, how do you think the COVID 19 vaccine will factor into international travel? Personally, I think what will happen is that if you want to get on an airplane and travel to an international destination, you'll have to provide proof of having been vaccinated against COVID 19. For example, many countries (especially in Africa) require proof of a yellow fever vaccine. Proof of the vaccine is demonstrated by a traveler when he or she presents their "yellow card:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/yellow-fever#text=You%20 should%20 receive%20 a%20 yellow, they%20 can%20 enter%20 the%20 countryI said exactly this several months ago. That if a safe and effective vaccine was found, then I could absolutely see international travelers having to show proof of vaccination, like for the yellow fever shot. In principle, I'm not against vaccinations. I've pretty much had all of the most common ones that people get. But I am concerned about how fast a COVID-19 vaccine is being rushed to market. I won't be quick to take it. I'll wait for a little bit. See how it goes. Then I'll see. I do know that I very much want to travel internationally again. So, keeping my fingers crossed that they do come up with a vaccine that is safe and efficacious. If so, then I will get a COVID-19 shot for sure! But not until I'm 100% convinced that it's safe.

Quagmire1974

08-08-20, 21:06

I said exactly this several months ago. That if a safe and effective vaccine was found, then I could absolutely see international travelers having to show proof of vaccination, like for the yellow fever shot. In principle, I'm not against vaccinations. I've pretty much had all of the most common ones that people get. But I am concerned about how fast a COVID-19 vaccine is being rushed to market. I won't be quick to take it. I'll wait for a little bit. See how it goes. Then I'll see. I do know that I very much want to travel internationally again. So, keeping my fingers crossed that they do come up with a vaccine that is safe and efficacious. If so, then I will get a COVID-19 shot for sure! But not until I'm 100% convinced that it's safe.You and I are in the same boat, as I've also had many of the common vaccines international travelers usually opt to receive.

Where we differ is the amount of willingness that we have to get a COVID vaccine once it's available. You prefer to wait a while, and that's perfectly fine because it's your body and you have the right to do whatever you want with it. For me, I'm going to be one of the first people in line for the vaccine. Then again, that might not even be allowed because I can see the vaccine being made available exclusively for the elderly or public school and university students for a time after it's released. Developing vaccines is a very transparent process where pharmaceutical companies are required to keep meticulous records. What the Trump Administration and other governments have simply done is drop the bureaucratic barriers that normally exist that result in vaccines taking years to be available to the public. From what I've read, I'm confident the pharmaceutical companies like Moderna have done the proper research and passed the required benchmarks to develop their COVID vaccine.

Here is a good example of what happens when governments rush vaccines and don't have the proper research performed. I'll gladly reject any COVID vaccine where "Made in Moscow" is stamped on the outside of the vial:

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-08-07/russia-race-coronavirus-vaccine-raises-ethical-concerns

Now that we know how much a COVID vaccine will cost per dose, I'm keeping an eye out to see what documentation (example, the "yellow card" for the yellow fever vaccine), if any, will be provided for the COVID vaccine.

On an unrelated note, I'm a fan of your Brazil reports. Judging by the pictures you attach to them, you're tearing through the country pretty well.

Quagmire1974

08-09-20, 21:19

An article from Conde Nast Traveler listing countries where international health insurance for COVID is required for entry:

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/these-countries-now-require-international-health-insurance-for-entry

ShoesAndSocks

08-10-20, 08:42

The question I have for mongers here on ISG is, how do you think the COVID 19 vaccine will factor into international travel? Personally, I think what will happen is that if you want to get on an airplane and travel to an international destination, you'll have to provide proof of having been vaccinated against COVID 19.Without a vaccine, the only other development I could see allowing international travel is a Covid-19 test that is rapid, reliable and inexpensive. Then it might be possible to turn the travel system of international terminals, transit lounges, aircraft, etc. into a "bubble" where everyone let inside has tested negative. Destination countries could re-test on arrival if they wanted to before releasing passengers into their general population.

But, that won't remove the risk of catching it while away from home, and facing consequences including very costly medical expenses and quarantine periods at best. So, I'd only be comfortable with that system if I was travelling to a very low-risk destination, and we don't seem to have very many choices at the moment that fall into that category.

So, I think a vaccine is what is needed for me to travel overseas again. Some form of proof (say, stamp in passport) seems a good idea. But, I read the other day that even if a vaccine was proven today it would be 18 months before you could go to your doctor and get it. If this proves to be the case, what will be left of the international travel system in say 2 years time?

The Cane

08-10-20, 12:35

So, I think a vaccine is what is needed for me to travel overseas again. Some form of proof (say, stamp in passport) seems a good idea. But, I read the other day that even if a vaccine was proven today it would be 18 months before you could go to your doctor and get it. If this proves to be the case, what will be left of the international travel system in say 2 years time?It wouldn't be in a passport. It would most likely be in a vaccination record like the attached. And international travel is going to come roaring back with a vengeance! All of the pent up demand all over the world. It's going to come roaring back. It's just a matter of who can survive from now until then, and who will be in the position to take advantage when people are free to travel worldwide again.

Elvis 2008

08-10-20, 19:11

Without a vaccine, the only other development I could see allowing international travel is a Covid-19 test that is rapid, reliable and inexpensive.I understand why you would say this S and S, but vaccines against RNA viruses like Corona are never 100% effective. At best, they are around 50% effective, and the people touting vaccines as the answer likely are looking to profit handsomely off of it.

They have covid 19 testing now that is rapid and is about 85% accurate. Some are up to 95% accurate but that is on the positive end. The false negatives are very problematic, and I doubt they will be solved. The antibody testing is even worse.

The real development about Covid and air travel have been these two anecdotal reports:

Here is someone with Covid who wore a mask and didn't infect anyone on his flight because he wore a mask: https://www.cmaj.ca/content/192/15/E410.

Then you have the opposite here, a guy who kept his mask off for over an hour and did get infected when people who wore masks did not: https://fortune.com/2020/07/28/unmasked-airline-passenger-rules-masks/.

Personally, I think the decision to ban air travel was made in haste and is silly now that all areas of the world are showing signs of Covid spreading domestically. Even banning people from high risk areas makes little sense to me unless your native population is Covid free or near Covid free.

Given that Peru and Colombia completely banned international travel and cases are going through the roof there right now, I see no evidence that banning air travel has had any positive effect while the ban has certainly had enormous negative ones to those working in the airline industries.

Elvis 2008

08-10-20, 19:38

I think where testing will have more of a role or should have more of a role is about whether there is a need for isolation. If you test negative and are afebrile and without viral symptoms, I see no need to isolate for 10 to 14 days.

ShoesAndSocks

08-11-20, 01:27

I feel at the moment all countries are hoping & praying for a vaccine to make it all better. How sensible this is will probably be known by the end of the year. My worry as an over 60 yo is will any vaccine be effective for my age group, as it seems an accepted fact that older bodies simply don't respond as well to vaccines in general.

And, a lot of people seem to have the strange mindset that 2021 has to be better simply because it won't be 2020!

I wrote off any chance of o/s travel in 2020 months ago, and I'd be happy now with any time in 2021. Like our moderator, my sex life in retirement revolved around travelling abroad, and without those trips to look forward to, it sucks.

The Cane

08-11-20, 15:13

Who will take the Ruskie COVID-19 vaccine? Not me!

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/11/europe/russia-coronavirus-vaccine-putin-intl/index.html

Rocky V

08-11-20, 19:31

Who will take the Ruskie COVID-19 vaccine? Not me!

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/11/europe/russia-coronavirus-vaccine-putin-intl/index.htmlPutin says it is safe and yet he hasn't taken it himself. He preferred to give it to one of his daughters and see what happens. The dad everyone would love to have! LOL.

Zeos1

08-11-20, 20:29

Who will take the Ruskie COVID-19 vaccine? Not me!

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/11/europe/russia-coronavirus-vaccine-putin-intl/index.htmlApparently just starting Phase 3 testing. So people will be taking it as part of that testing. Same as a couple of others already in Phase 3. But. Apparently they have certified it based on very early results before Phase 3 testing. So, may be good for them, may be bad. Time will tell. If it gets through Phase 3 well, and is effective, certainly I would consider it.

Quagmire1974

08-14-20, 22:19

Quagmire1974

08-16-20, 04:25

Conditions beginning to improve in Mexico, with many states dropping from Maximum Alert (Red) to High Alert (Orange):

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/campeche-first-state-to-go-yellow-on-covid-risk-map/

Closure of border between Canada and United States extended to September 21:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sandramacgregor/2020/08/14/what-you-need-to-know-about--canada-us-border-closure-september-extension/#be058 dc4909 d.

Quagmire1974

08-16-20, 19:19

Fresh spread of COVID on Trinidad and Tobago. New shutdowns announced and a second lockdown possible:

https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/caribbean-breaking-news-featured/trinidad-introduces-new-covid-19-measures-closes-schools-until-december/

Artisttyp

08-16-20, 20:21

Conditions beginning to improve in Mexico, with many states dropping from Maximum Alert (Red) to High Alert (Orange):

Don't believe the hype. Try any Mexico Trip Advisor forum. Red Flags all over the place. Mexico is lying. Numbers are skewed everywhere.

Quagmire1974

08-17-20, 00:06

Don't believe the hype. Try any Mexico Trip Advisor forum. Red Flags all over the place. Mexico is lying. Numbers are skewed everywhere.Apologies. Some clarification is needed. When I said "conditions beginning to improve in Mexico," I was referring to the change in "stoplights" from red to orange. With the change, it means more activities and opening of public spaces is allowed, which is something most mongers like us welcome:

https://www.vallartadaily.com/new-normal-mexico-reveals-traffic-light-scheme-to-easing-covid-19-restrictions/

There's no doubt in my mind that numbers are being skewed, not only in Mexico but in other countries as well. What's that lyric from Don Henley's song, The Garden of Allah? "Because there are no facts, there is no truth. Just data to be manipulated."

Lucky Nuts

08-17-20, 03:39

Thailand reopening for tourism in 2021:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/thailand-reopening-plan

Tourism booming in Aruba since reopening:

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/island-vacations/aruba-tourism-reopening-coronavirusThanks for the link Quagmire but it's a misleadilng headline. The content is more about how Thailand is NOT opening to tourism. They have no idea when they will be opening anyhow.

"Speaking at a webinar this week, the deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, said it's likely that tourism won't resume until 2021. "The Christmas period, usually the high season, is in jeopardy and I'm looking horribly even to Chinese New Year in 2021," he said of a proposed date to opening borders but stressed that even that date is "iffy" as the government is taking a "very, very cautious approach. ".

Quagmire1974

08-17-20, 21:56

COVID spiking in Aruba. Only 4 active cases of COVID in early July but now over 900:

https://www.visitaruba.com/news/general/corona-virus-and-travel-to-aruba/

Anguilla opening for tourism:

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/anguilla-reopening-plans-covid-19

Dominica opens its borders, airlines schedule flights to island:

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/destinations/airlines-return-to-dominica-as-borders-reopen.html

Zeos1

08-19-20, 22:25

The Cane

08-19-20, 23:06

Quoting from today's Tico Times, saying that sometime in September the following.

"USA Tourists will only be welcomed if they are residents of the following states: New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Connecticut. Passengers must prove their residency in one of those states using their driver's license.

"We have included the license-plate requirement to minimize the likelihood that someone from a non-authorized state be allowed to enter," Segura said. "We are minimizing our epidemiological risk. ".

Tourists must obtain a negative PCR-RT test within 48 hours of their flight and purchase a travel-insurance plan that covers COVID-19. (This can be a pre-approved Costa Rican plan, or a foreign one that meets a series of requirements.).

In addition, all arriving passengers must complete an online health form. ".

End quote.

By "license-plate requirement" I think they mean driver's license.

These are the same requirements as for country / residents currently allowed.I don't see how this minimizes "epidemiological risk". I mean, how do they know whether or not say maybe somebody from New York traveled down to the hot zone of Florida, came back to New York, then caught a plane down to Costa Rica? I mean this is just stupid. They should either be letting all Americans in, or don't let any Americans in. Or if you do, then require a quarantine upon arrival if coming from anywhere in the continental United States. This strikes me as just some dumb "banana republic" public health management that exposes Costa Rica to unnecessary risk versus minimizing the risk. To go by State in a country where people are moving around all over the place all of the time makes zero sense.

Zeos1

08-20-20, 22:07

I don't see how this minimizes "epidemiological risk". I mean, how do they know whether or not say maybe somebody from New York traveled down to the hot zone of Florida, came back to New York, then caught a plane down to Costa Rica? I mean this is just stupid. They should either be letting all Americans in, or don't let any Americans in. Or if you do, then require a quarantine upon arrival if coming from anywhere in the continental United States. This strikes me as just some dumb "banana republic" public health management that exposes Costa Rica to unnecessary risk versus minimizing the risk. To go by State in a country where people are moving around all over the place all of the time makes zero sense.With the other countries they approved earlier they had the rule that you have to have been in the country where the flight originates for at least 2 weeks. But, at least so far, they have not made that rule for the US flights (on a state basis). Perhaps that is still to come.

Quagmire1974

09-07-20, 00:24

An excellent article from USA Today detailing the distribution and administration of the COVID vaccines in the United States once they're approved:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/09/06/covid-vaccine-complex-distribution-supply-chain-follow-approval/5712053002/

IMHO, the vaccination card discussed in the article is going to be critical, as I believe that card will ultimately be the proof you need to get on airplanes to fly domestically and internationally. Hopefully, with that vaccination card in hand, you won't have to get a COVID test and show your negative COVID test result when you land in a foreign country.

The Cane

09-12-20, 12:51

Outstanding info on travel to the UAE at this time:

https://apple.news/AzEBn2iMcTsGHJSbVZB0mfg

Quagmire1974

09-14-20, 05:07

Mexico's "COVID Stoplight" map updated. More States improve to the "Yellow stoplight":

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus-stoplight-risk-map-paints-8-states-yellow/

Mexico Deputy Health Minister predicts vast majority of States in Mexico will improve to "Green stoplight" in October:

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/most-states-could-turn-green-by-october/

Russia to provide Mexico with 32 million doses of the "Sputnik-5" vaccine in November:

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/russia-to-send-mexico-32-million-doses-of-covid-vaccine-in-november/

Hang in there, guys, we're going to make it to 2021!

Artisttyp

09-20-20, 07:51

Health.

Even more evidence shows the coronavirus spreads easily on long plane flights.

insider@insider.com (Susie Neilson).

Business InsiderSat, September 19,2020, 4:12 AM PDT.

<p class="copyright" United Airlines</ p .

United Airlines.

A CDC study offers even more evidence that the coronavirus spreads on airplanes.

Epidemiologists traced 16 coronavirus cases back to a single 10-hour flight where one symptomatic passenger was seated in business class.

The case study showed that 92% of passengers sitting two seats or fewer away from the passenger contracted the coronavirus.

It's unlikely most of the passengers on the flight were wearing masks.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

On March 1, 217 people boarded a plane in London, England, bound for Hanoi, Vietnam.

Healthcare workers had already examined each passenger, asking them to report any potential COVID-19 symptoms and doing temperature scans.

But a 27-year-old businesswoman didn't report that she had a sore throat and a cough. And her temperature scan was normal.

However, the woman's symptoms progressed over the following days; she tested positive for COVID-19 on March 6.

Subsequent contact tracing revealed that on that 10-hour flight alone, the woman had passed the virus to 15 other passengers.

The case study, described in a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offers even stronger evidence that the coronavirus can spread on planes – particularly when passengers aren't wearing masks. In early March, face masks weren't yet mandatory on flights, so it's likely most passengers weren't wearing them.

92% of passengers within 2 seats of the infected woman got sick.

Upon learning of the businesswoman's infection, researchers at Vietnam's National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology contact traced the people on the flight — passengers and crew members. Local health staff interviewed everyone they could reach (184 people), and told anyone with a suspected COVID-19 case to self-quarantine, along with their close contacts.

The 15 cases health workers identified were all considered "flight-associated," meaning they could be reliably traced back to the flight and not another event. None of the other infected passengers had displayed COVID-19 symptoms before or during the flight. And nobody had been around anyone else with a confirmed case of coronavirus except the businesswoman, who'd traveled to Italy with her sister (who later tested positive in London).

Twelve of the infected passengers were in business class, and all but one of those were sitting two or fewer seats away from the woman – 92% of all the passengers sitting that close got sick. The virus also spread to two passengers in economy class and one crew member.

A diagram showing the seating locations of passengers on Vietnam Airlines flight 54 from London to Hanoi on March 2, 2020. <p class="copyright" Nguyen et al / CDC</ p .

A diagram showing the seating locations of passengers on Vietnam Airlines flight 54 from London to Hanoi on March 2, 2020.

Nguyen et al / CDC.

The researchers concluded that the woman most likely spread the coronavirus to other business-class passengers and the crew member via infected droplets or aerosols (tiny particles that get expelled from the mouth when someone breathes, talks, or yells).

The two economy-class passengers could have been infected in the airport during customs or at baggage claim, by touching a contaminated surface or standing near the woman for an extended period of time.

Although the researchers said they couldn't completely rule out the possibility that the passengers got infected in other ways, they noted that on March 1, the UK had only 23 recorded COVID-19 cases. Likewise, at the time the passengers arrived in Vietnam, the country had only recorded 16 cases – making it unlikely they'd contracted the disease after they left the airport.

Plus, most of the cases were clustered together in business class – which would be unlikely if they'd come from different sources.

Airlines may need stricter rules to stop the coronavirus' spread.

Based on their findings, the researchers think airlines might be downplaying the risks of coronavirus transmission on flights.

Passengers wear masks on a plane at Geneva Airport, March 1, 2020. <p class="copyright" Valery Sharifulin\TASS via Getty Images</ p .

Passengers wear masks on a plane at Geneva Airport, March 1, 2020.

Valery Sharifulin\TASS via Getty Images.

"The latest guidance from the international air-travel industry classifies the in-flight transmission risk as very low, and recommends only the use of face masks without additional measures to increase physical distance on board, such as blocking the middle seats," the authors wrote. "Our findings challenge these recommendations. ".

However, MIT researchers calculated in a July paper that filling middle seats could double the risk of COVID-19 transmission on a plane flight. (That study has not yet been peer-reviewed, however.).

The epidemiologists behind the new CDC study said even blocking off middle seats can't fully prevent super-spreader events on planes, though, given that the sick passenger on the flight studied spread the virus to those two seats away. Plus, those people were in business class, where seats are larger and more spread out than in economy.

So the researchers suggested that airlines and government officials = implement stricter screening policies for travelers, test everyone who gets off a flight, and make all newly arrived passengers quarantine for 14 days.

Currently, every major US airline requires passengers to wear masks for their entire flight, except while eating or drinking. But not all passengers cooperate, and getting everyone to wear masks for the entirety of a long flight, like the 10-hour one from London to Hanoi, can be even more difficult.

The Cane

11-23-20, 17:55

Artisttyp

11-23-20, 19:37

And so it begins. Anybody who thought they were going to be able to return to wide international travel without taking a COVID shot is sadly mistaken. This is just an early salvo. Other carriers are going to follow suit, and governments too. So, if you're an international traveler who is anti-vaccine, or if you have concerns about these vaccines that have been rushed to market, you definitely have something to think about here.

https://apple.news/Arp3QKZRCTUCys4d77e9s9wObviously.

There is no way you or anyone else is doing anything going forward without a vaccine.

You don't have to take it if you don't want to but just like you say NOTHING will be accessible without it.

https://nypost.com/2020/11/23/chaos-erupts-at-shanghai-airport-after-mass-covid-19-testing-ordered/

The Cane

11-26-20, 00:35

I thought you might like to know: https://www.businessinsider.com/countries-open-us-travelers-during-covid-19-2020-9.

FiddyCent

11-27-20, 06:35

I thought you might like to know: https://www.businessinsider.com/countries-open-us-travelers-during-covid-19-2020-9.So, it is decided! Brazil it is! No testing requirements is a definite plus. Happy Thanksgiving TC.

FiddyCent.

The Cane

12-04-20, 20:40

There has been plenty of speculation about this. Here is how it will be handled in the United States: https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/heres-covid-19-vaccines-tracked-174759426.html.

Zeos1

12-04-20, 22:51

There has been plenty of speculation about this. Here is how it will be handled in the United States: https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/heres-covid-19-vaccines-tracked-174759426.html.Mostly about the logistics of administering a 2 dose vaccine, plus follow up. And I suppose the card will end up being used as proof of vaccination, although it doesn't look like that is the purpose for it. I'm assuming every country using these vaccines will have to do something similar.

Quagmire1974

12-05-20, 04:12

Mostly about the logistics of administering a 2 dose vaccine, plus follow up. And I suppose the card will end up being used as proof of vaccination, although it doesn't look like that is the purpose for it. I'm assuming every country using these vaccines will have to do something similar.It looks like the "COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card" will also exist on a mobile app called CommonPass. Major airlines are already on board (no pun intended):

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/commonpass-digital-health-pass

However, it also appears that the International Air Transport Association is creating a digital health pass named Travel Pass, which might be similar to CommonPass:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/qantas-vaccine

Bottom line, in my humble opinion, I don't see the "COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card" being accepted internationally for entry into foreign nations since they can probably be forged and not everyone reads English. I could be wrong, it's happened before.

SoberHans69

12-07-20, 13:23

Does anyone know any travel insurance companies that will cover me as a UK citizen travelling to Brazil if I live in a tier 3 area?

Thanks.

Quagmire1974

12-07-20, 23:24

Does anyone know any travel insurance companies that will cover me as a UK citizen travelling to Brazil if I live in a tier 3 area?

Thanks.I found this:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-insurance

I believe that Lonely Planet is a United Kingdom-based company, so they're probably pushing something that applies to residents of the United Kingdom like you.

I also found this from Conde Nast:

https://www.cntraveller.com/article/travel-insurance-uk

Zeos1

12-08-20, 01:39

It looks like the "COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card" will also exist on a mobile app called CommonPass. Major airlines are already on board (no pun intended):

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/commonpass-digital-health-pass

However, it also appears that the International Air Transport Association is creating a digital health pass named Travel Pass, which might be similar to CommonPass:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/qantas-vaccine

Bottom line, in my humble opinion, I don't see the "COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card" being accepted internationally for entry into foreign nations since they can probably be forged and not everyone reads English. I could be wrong, it's happened before.It could be similar to existing things. Many countries now require proof of various vaccinations to allow you in. Many require yellow fever vaccinations, for example. Anyway, no doubt something will be done along these lines, whether through IATA or some other organization.

The Cane

12-08-20, 02:00

It could be similar to existing things. Many countries now require proof of various vaccinations to allow you in. Many require yellow fever vaccinations, for example. Anyway, no doubt something will be done along these lines, whether through IATA or some other organization.As I noted in a post roughly 4 months ago, the attached is an image of the kind of vaccination record that has been used and accepted internationally for decades and decades. I've had a shot record like this since I was a child. I suppose it could easily be forged too, but it's been the standard forever. Will it be sufficient for establishing that you've had your COVID shot, like for yellow fever for example? I don't know, but they're going to have to come up with some kind of international standard.

SoberHans69

12-08-20, 07:37

I found this:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-insurance

I believe that Lonely Planet is a United Kingdom-based company, so they're probably pushing something that applies to residents of the United Kingdom like you.

I also found this from Conde Nast:

https://www.cntraveller.com/article/travel-insurance-ukThat's brilliant, thanks for your help.

The Cane

12-09-20, 23:29

Are vaccine passport apps the next thing?

https://abc7.com/covid-19-vaccine-coroanvirus-covid-passport-coronavirus/8616764/

The Cane

12-09-20, 23:39

This is the video I had intended to post:

https://www.today.com/health/covid-vaccine-passport-apps-could-show-immunity-health-status-t203011.

Surfer500

12-10-20, 00:38

So, it is decided! Brazil it is! No testing requirements is a definite plus. Happy Thanksgiving TC.

FiddyCent.You might want to consider Colombia, it's wide open right now. I was there last month, and no complaints, and it will cost you about a quarter of what you've been spending in Prague, albeit I had some great experiences there, even getting to bang a "Gypsy".

Artisttyp

01-16-21, 05:54

https://www.yahoo.com/news/covid-19-exposure-flights-more-135608632.html

Xpartan

01-29-21, 05:07

The new CDC Covid testing requirement is a bummer, but there is a way to make things easier. Delta Vacations just announced that it will only sell hotels that offer on-site testing.

https://www.delta.com/us/en/delta-vacations/vacation-now

As of January 26,2021, the USA Requires all air travelers, 2 years old and older, entering the USA To present a negative COVID-19 test result 3 days prior to departure. Your safety and convenience is our top priority, so through March 31, Delta Vacations will only sell international hotels that offer in-hotel COVID-19 testing because vacation should feel like vacation.No, you do NOT have to buy a Delta vacation, LOL. Just use their site to find a hotel with in-house testing.

Golfinho

01-29-21, 14:38

The new CDC Covid testing requirement is a bummer, but there is a way to make things easier. Delta Vacations just announced that it will only sell hotels that offer on-site testing.

https://www.delta.com/us/en/delta-vacations/vacation-now
No, you do NOT have to buy a Delta vacation, LOL. Just use their site to find a hotel with in-house testing.Hotels (resorts) in Cancun provide free testing. For guests with 4-night stay minimum. There will certainly be conditions for 'free testing' wherever it is being advertised.

Meanwhile for exiting Brazil at GRU, there is testing available right there at departures: 4-hour turnaround time. Get there early.

Quagmire1974

01-29-21, 17:33

The new CDC Covid testing requirement is a bummer, but there is a way to make things easier. Delta Vacations just announced that it will only sell hotels that offer on-site testing.

https://www.delta.com/us/en/delta-vacations/vacation-now

No, you do NOT have to buy a Delta vacation, LOL. Just use their site to find a hotel with in-house testing.Excellent reference, Xpartan. Another source is the forums on TripAdvisor. Travelers are rapidly and frequently posting locations (hotels, clinics, etc) and costs for COVID testing overseas.

Zeos1

01-30-21, 00:17

Elvis 2008

01-30-21, 01:23

The hindrances to travel seem to be increasing worldwide. Canada basically is shutting down non-essential travel by grounding all flights to "sun" destinations, and requiring a lot of tests to get back into the country. In total you need 3 tests, you need a few days in a quarantine facility at your own expense, and a 14 day policed quarantine at the end.That is the reality, but cases in Canada and the USA are down 50% off their peak so I do not get this new aversion.

Anyway, such is the reaction to the new strains of Covid, plus a general idea that people coming in are bringing Covid.As I have documented before, there were always new strains of Covid. The reason countries like Colombia and Peru got hit so hard even though they locked down hard was they had the more contagious strains.

And other countries are doing similar things. Except the US, which is talking about a quarantine, and has a test requirement but is not creating these impossible barriers.The quarantines in the USA even after a positive test are a joke. Shutting down the Mexican border, something Trump would have loved to do come election time, is just not possible with the amount of people crossing every day. Mexico is not cooperating with doing any Covid testing, and the idea that you test air travelers and not travelers by land or sea to me is a sick joke.

I have talked to other mongers and the cost of the Covid test is more than a bus ticket across the border so I expect guys to be flying into Monterrey or Tijuana and going by bus across the border into the USA. Again, it kills me that temperatures are taken when you go to Mexico but not into the USA.

The mRNA vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna, cause the body to form antibodies against the spike proteins that give the Corona virus (king as in crown) its name. If the virus mutates and loses its spikes, it becomes far less contagious but then the vaccines would not work, and it would no longer really be a Corona virus. On the other hand as long as the spikes are there, the vaccines will work.

That the Pfizer vaccine lost a little bit of its effectiveness against the newer, more contagious South African variant made little sense to me. How is that known? The clinical trials took months and now you are doing something in the lab to show whether it works? Like what?

I do not know about the non mRNA vaccines. I have not studied how they work. All I know is the data on them has not shown them to be as effective.

You get the vaccine and have a positive antibody test and a negative Covid test, and that should be good enough for any country. There is a lot of jockeying over what to accept with the vaccines and what not to. The Moderna booster really only helps at most one in 10 people and has a lot more side effects than the first shot so is one shot good enough?

Then just the other day, I read someone saying that antibody testing is no good, and I wondered why. The money involved in this is unreal.

Maybe it is not advantageous to a Canadian with the way that country is shutting down but a monger who does get a vaccine and waits 2 weeks and can travel is going to strike gold. I am in Monterrey now and the response from the women here has been out of control.

Kafka

01-30-21, 02:46

People may find this humorous, in South Africa they ever concerned about a new Covid strain from the UK.

TomJackin

01-30-21, 02:53

People may find this humorous, in South Africa they ever concerned about a new Covid strain from the UK.Nothing about the virus is humorous.

Quagmire1974

01-30-21, 16:40

Xpartan

01-31-21, 08:03

The New York Post recently published a story about something mongers here on ISG have been discussing for many weeks: faking COVID tests in order to travel.

https://nypost.com/2021/01/22/these-travelers-faked-negative-covid-tests-got-away-with-it/I was actually surprised to find that CDC allows the rapid antigen test, since most countries don't -- due to many false negatives. But seriously, getting a rapid test isn't a big deal. It's not like PCR where you're left hanging, not knowing if you're going to get your results in time.

The Cane

02-12-21, 14:45

There's so much pent up demand out there! When we get on the other side of this virus, there's going to be an explosion of economic activity, especially in the travel, hospitality, restaurant, and live entertainment sectors. Get ready to get your shots my mongers! Here's a useful tool for those living in the United States:

https://www.nbcnews.com/specials/plan-your-vaccine/

TonyMontanaaO7

02-12-21, 16:02

The Cane

02-12-21, 16:54

I'm in the process of compiling a list of countries with no entry / travel restrictions (quarantines, negative PCR test, etc) and that haven't banned Americans. So far I only have Mexico, Croatia, Albania, Costa Rica, Tanzania, and a few that have flip flopped. Are there any others I'm missing that anyone here has had experience with traveling to recently?I believe the United Arab Emirates is also on the list. At least that country used to be. Think it still is. A pussy haven for traveling mongers. Expensive, but not as expensive as Switzerland. And a pussy haven I say to you!

The Cane

02-12-21, 20:23

I believe the United Arab Emirates is also on the list. At least that country used to be. Think it still is. A pussy haven for traveling mongers. Expensive, but not as expensive as Switzerland. And a pussy haven I say to you!I should clarify that by saying that it was only Dubai that was open. The rest of the Emirates were closed to tourists.

Xpartan

02-13-21, 05:49

I'm in the process of compiling a list of countries with no entry / travel restrictions (quarantines, negative PCR test, etc) and that haven't banned Americans. So far I only have Mexico, Croatia, Albania, Costa Rica, Tanzania, and a few that have flip flopped. Are there any others I'm missing that anyone here has had experience with traveling to recently?If memory serves me, the DR doesn't require anything.

Xpartan

02-19-21, 07:16

If true, that might make things much faster and easier.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2036242

Questner

02-20-21, 02:57

If true, that might make things much faster and easier.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2036242Not true. Reading is basic.

Artisttyp

02-20-21, 04:12

Fairly comprehensive from what I see:

https://travel.usnews.com/features/where-can-americans-travel-right-now

TonyMontanaaO7

02-20-21, 12:58

Fairly comprehensive from what I see:

https://travel.usnews.com/features/where-can-americans-travel-right-nowThanks' for sharing this useful information.

Xpartan

02-21-21, 06:45

Not true. Reading is basic."Even before the second dose, BNT162 b2 was highly efficacious, with a vaccine efficacy of 92.6%, a finding similar to the first-dose efficacy of 92.1% reported for the mRNA-1273 vaccine (Moderna). ".

I'll enclose the link one more time for the sake of convenience.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2036242

Expat American

02-21-21, 08:02

Obviously.

There is no way you or anyone else is doing anything going forward without a vaccine.

You don't have to take it if you don't want to but just like you say NOTHING will be accessible without it.

https://nypost.com/2020/11/23/chaos-erupts-at-shanghai-airport-after-mass-covid-19-testing-ordered/And this is exactly as it should be. ID like to see vaccine cards needed to go to the grocery store! There is no need for stupid anti science anti vaxxers to increase the risk to the rest of us and prolong the time to herd immunity and eventual return to normalcy. Sure you can refuse to take the vaccine. And be excluded from all public places.

Zeos1

02-22-21, 00:52

"Even before the second dose, BNT162 b2 was highly efficacious, with a vaccine efficacy of 92.6%, a finding similar to the first-dose efficacy of 92.1% reported for the mRNA-1273 vaccine (Moderna). ".

I'll enclose the link one more time for the sake of convenience.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2036242That level appears to be achieved around the 4 week mark. But even if it does confer a similar immunity in the short term my understanding is that the second dose (for those vaccines for which a second dose is recommended) should provide a longer period of protection. It does strengthen the measures of immune response, and this is why it is part of the recommended process.

But there might be reasons for delaying the second shot in order to give more first shots where vaccines are in limited supply. A tradeoff.

Questner

02-22-21, 01:55

"Even before the second dose, BNT162 b2 was highly efficacious, with a vaccine efficacy of 92.6%, a finding similar to the first-dose efficacy of 92.1% reported for the mRNA-1273 vaccine (Moderna). ".

I'll enclose the link one more time for the sake of convenience.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2036242The premise was to make things faster and easier. Read from the following sentence: 'This trial and its preliminary report have several limitations'.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2034577

To make things easier and faster, in my opinion, the malady should be viewed as a malady only, three times more dangerous than a flu. Every other response is nonsense. Reminds me of a stupid leftist comment that 'half of a bridge is better than no bridge at all'.

Elvis 2008

02-22-21, 02:57

'This trial and its preliminary report have several limitations'.Questner, every study says that.

'Reminds me of a stupid leftist comment that 'half of a bridge is better than no bridge at all'.While I like mocking the leftists, that is not what is going on here. There is limited data on whether one shot can be as good as two, but the thing I hate with the percentages is they are talking about how well the vaccine protects against Covid but the real issue is how sick you get with Covid. As far as I have seen, even with the vaccinated do (and it rarely happens) get Covid, it is no worse than a common cold so for all in intents and purpose, the vaccine is close to 100% effective against someone getting severe illness.

But even if it does confer a similar immunity in the short term my understanding is that the second dose (for those vaccines for which a second dose is recommended) should provide a longer period of protection.That is not known. What is known is the antibodies go up markedly after the second shot but with the surge of antibodies, you are seeing a marked increase in side effects with the second shot.

But there might be reasons for delaying the second shot in order to give more first shots where vaccines are in limited supply. A tradeoff.I see the benefit of giving more people one injection versus fewer having two, but I am not sure how much of a benefit or if there is any benefit unless you are a vaccine manufacturer. That is why I keep seeing the percentages with regards to the vaccinated getting Covid being pushed over people getting the vaccine and having severe Covid.

That data is not as well known but if one shot prevents 99 or 100% from having severe Covid then we should be doing a lot more first shots and a lot less second shots. So what if people get the vaccine and have a cold for a few days as long as they do not spread it?

GeneHickman

02-22-21, 06:36

The premise was to make things faster and easier. Read from the following sentence: 'This trial and its preliminary report have several limitations'.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2034577

To make things easier and faster, in my opinion, the malady should be viewed as a malady only, three times more dangerous than a flu. Every other response is nonsense. Reminds me of a stupid leftist comment that 'half of a bridge is better than no bridge at all'.Data out of Israel in real world where they have mostly given Pfizer BioNtech is showing 90% protection v getting the disease, with over 80% being the much ballyhooed British variant, and a 99% improvement in death (including the old frails) and negligible transmission and certainly no more than the false negativity rate of the stupid tests we have. So why the heck are we not immediately using vaccine passports? We are acting like bumbling idiots with this thing, and ideology is at work. Not science. Fauci is talking about masks in 2022 today! Can you beleive that shit? My prediction, We will be having single digit thousands of cases and 100-200 deaths a day by mid April this year. What we will see is small outbreaks in areas yet to have had widespread disease. Our gov't should be working on mobile vaccination vans for such developments right now. And on an updated vaccine for 2022. As far as national disease burden is concerned, we will be looking at a very different situation in April. Mostly via innate immunity from the 1/3 or so people that I think have got exposure to the disease already augmented by the currently 13% who have got a shot, that number will be closer 25% by then. 35+25 =60% but adjusting for the infected who got vaccinated, At those levels where perhaps ~1/2 the population has some sort of immunity, the spread will be minimal even if we aren't quite at herd. The countries that really have te be cautious are those that have had minimal disease burden to date and yet to be fully vaccinated, like Australia and NZ and other Asian Countries.

Zeos1

03-02-21, 03:08

I'm not deleting any of the current posts, to be honest I find them interesting and have commented myself on at least one of them. But lets try to find, and share, information to help us to find where we can travel, and what the restrictions and / or opportunities may be.

I'm really hoping that some of the restrictions that I face where I live (basically no international travel is tolerated) will be reduced by the time I have my vaccine and the appropriate time after. But I'm not sure that is going to happen.

Artisttyp

03-04-21, 05:08

Anyone "UP" for a trip to China?

https://nypost.com/2021/03/03/china-makes-covid-19-anal-swabs-mandatory-for-foreigners/

Quagmire1974

03-15-21, 04:10

Fully-vaccinated travelers welcome to visit Belize:

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/vaccinated-travelers-welcome-belize-without-covid-test

Mexico COVID "stoplight map" steadily improving:

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/sonora-to-go-green-on-coronavirus-risk-map/

British Airways gives "thumbs down" to vaccine as requirement for air travel:

https://au.news.yahoo.com/travel-vaccine-not-needed-british-005443292.html

European Union rolling out "vaccine passport" for travelers:

https://www.seattletimes.com/life/travel/eu-announces-plans-for-digital-covid-19-vaccine-passport/

Biden Administration asked to develop "vaccine passport" for Americans:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-vaccine-passport-travel-development/

Increasing number of countries allowing fully-vaccinated travelers:

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/country-by-country-guide-to-where-you-can-go-if-youre-vaccinated/

On a side note, I recently received the first dose of the Moderna COVID vaccine. I was able to get it through my doctor's office, so I didn't have to go through one of the "big box" national pharmacies or a FEMA vaccination site or stand for hours in any ridiculous lines.

For what it's worth, I made sure that the name and date of birth written on my COVID vaccination card exactly matched what's in my passport. I also requested that the nurse enter my full name in the online vaccination registry. I took those actions because I read on TripAdvisor recently that some travelers heading overseas were denied boarding because the name on their negative COVID test did not exactly match the name in their passport. I don't have proof that travelers will be denied boarding if the name on their vaccination card doesn't match what's in their passport, but I decided not to take the chance.

Quagmire1974

03-16-21, 17:04

Chaos in Europe regarding AstraZeneca COVID vaccine. Vaccination schedule thrown into doubt:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/merkels-government-war-over-astrazeneca-115706682.html

Quagmire1974

03-17-21, 05:32

"Vaccine passports" discussed by Biden Administration:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/vaccine-passports-free-private-secure-001424782.html

Protests in Paraguay over COVID spike and slow vaccine arrival:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-paraguay-usa-idUSKBN2B7023

Increasing number of cruise ship operators requiring vaccine for cruises:

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/p-o-cruises-says-travellers-001421769.html

Turkey to allow British travelers; Vaccine certificate not required:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/you-wont-need-a-vaccination-certificate-to-visit-turkey-this-summer-heres-why-it-will-still-be-safe-134634544.html

COVID's effect on Latina America tourism:

https://www.as-coa.org/articles/covid-check-latin-americas-tourism-sector-looks-toward-long-recovery

The Cane

03-17-21, 11:40

Chaos in Europe regarding AstraZeneca COVID vaccine. Vaccination schedule thrown into doubt:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/merkels-government-war-over-astrazeneca-115706682.htmlEurope is definitely moving in the wrong direction. I stick with my projection that international travel doesn't return strong until 2022.

Quagmire1974

03-17-21, 17:38

Europe is definitely moving in the wrong direction. I stick with my projection that international travel doesn't return strong until 2022.And it may even be later than 2022. From Bloomberg:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-04/put-away-the-suitcase-vaccines-won-t-bring-back-overseas-travel

I think what you're going to see from now through the end of 2021 is a few select areas opening or remaining open for tourism while larger areas (Europe) remain closed. Mexico, Dominican Republic, and certain Caribbean islands (Aruba) are all on my travel radar right now. We still have 9 and a half months of 2021 left, so we'll see what happens. But I definitely have a lot more optimism now than I did a year ago.

ShoesAndSocks

03-18-21, 13:51

I think what you're going to see from now through the end of 2021 is a few select areas opening or remaining open for tourism while larger areas (Europe) remain closed.It will be interesting to see how travel "bubbles" evolve between countries.

Australia and NZ have been trying it stop-start for a while now (easy between two island nations where Covid is practically eliminated), and now Singapore wants "in" as well.
How will they manage this in an international travel hub like Changi Airport? Allocate say Terminal 1 to the bubble so only Aussies, Kiwis and locals can come & go as well as enter Singapore?
If this works OK, I can see other countries like Japan, South Korea, Thailand, etc. being very eager to join the party.

But Europe, with its open borders - how would an EU country be able to join into such a bubble?

The Cane

03-18-21, 18:21

Something like this is probably in our futures: https://apple.news/Ahdi4FXZjQ1iQx9uD17cegA.

Quagmire1974

03-19-21, 17:47

Vietnam could allow tourists beginning in July; Updates on Thailand and Indonesia, too:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/visit-south-east-asia-latest-094734787.html

Vietnam developing "homegrown" COVID vaccines in addition to buying others:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/vietnam-says-homegrown-covid-19-051332460.html

Kazakhstan hits "pause button" on AstraZeneca COVID vaccine due to reported side effects:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/kazakhstan-suspends-talks-buying-astrazeneca-122504467.html

Biden Administration loans 4 million AstraZeneca COVID vaccine doses to Canada and Mexico:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/u-send-millions-astrazeneca-vaccine-161919018.html

Quagmire1974

03-20-21, 07:19

COVID spike, new lockdowns, and bungled vaccine rollout threaten summer travel for Europe:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/analysis-europes-covid-setbacks-risk-164915244.html

Information regarding lockdowns in various European countries:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/italy-lockdown-europe-countries-strictest-covid-restrictions-140023306.html

Caribbean cruises returning in June:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/celebrity-cruises-end-yearlong-pandemic-172826880.html

Thailand shortens mandatory quarantine period for visitors:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/thailand-shorten-quarantine-visitors-revive-045940235.html

Massive surge in travel by Americans anticipated; Beaches, Mexico, and Caribbean favored:

https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/revenge-travel-future-161747319.html

"Digital passports" with COVID vaccination and test results tested:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/airlines-test-digital-passports-proof-125856292.html

United States, United Kingdom, and Israel winning the vaccination race; "Fourth wave" of COVID menacing remainder of world:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/covid-vaccines-might-stop-a-4th-wave-in-the-us-but-the-rest-of-the-world-isnt-so-lucky-090020655.html

Biden Administration suggesting international travel restrictions to be adjusted in middle of May:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/biden-administration-optimistic-may-travel-142003920.html

Quagmire1974

03-22-21, 18:43

COVID one of several factors for population decline in Russia:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/people-die-leave-putin-fails-131834351.html

China considering tailoring visas for countries based on their COVID situation:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/china-steps-covid-19-vaccination-093815514.html

Portugal primed for tourism due to fast pace of vaccinations:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/8-reasons-why-portugal-top-101840216.html

CommonPass pairs with JetBlue for Aruba tourism:

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005265/en/JetBlue-and-CommonPass-Begin-Launch-of-Digital-Health-Pass-with-Boston-Customers-Bound-For-Aruba

Jamaica receives COVID vaccine from Covax; 15 other Caribbean countries will, too:

https://www.paho.org/en/news/15-3-2021-jamaica-becomes-first-country-caribbean-receive-covid-19-vaccines-through-covax

Cuba developing several "homegrown" COVID vaccines:

https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-cuba-vaccine/cuba-approves-second-homegrown-covid-vaccine-for-late-phase-trials-idINKBN2BB0KL

European Union shuns Russia "Sputnik 5" vaccine:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/eus-breton-eu-absolutely-no-193919845.html

Timeline for United Kingdom return to travel and tourism:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/european-summer-hols-could-off-195404491.html

Fresh lockdowns in Germany due to COVID surge:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/german-covid-19-numbers-surge-104551473.html

Confusion over whether United States will supply Brazil with surplus COVID vaccine:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/brazil-talks-united-states-excess-172433073.html

Quagmire1974

03-29-21, 04:08

COVID vaccinations beginning in Uzbekistan on April 1:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/uzbekistan-start-mass-coronavirus-vaccination-064007517.html

COVID vaccinations in Hong Kong creeping along at a snail's pace:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/hong-kong-vaccination-drive-struggles-032346627.html

COVID on the rampage in Brazil; Neighboring countries worried:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/alarm-bells-brazils-covid-19-101803341.html

COVID variants quickly spreading through central and eastern Europe:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/pandemic-rages-eastern-europe-leaving-154218902.html

Fresh restrictions in Iceland due to COVID variant:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/iceland-introduces-restrictions-uk-variant-142353077.html

Brazil COVID variant spreads through Peru:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/peru-probing-fresh-allegations-preferential-223116567.html

Caribbean nations request COVID vaccine help from Biden Administration:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/caribbean-appeals-biden-share-vaccines-185413170.html

Virgin Atlantic partners with TrustAssure to create digital travel "health pass:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/virgin-unveils-digital-travel-pass-112921722.html

United Kingdom already discussing COVID booster shots:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-over-70s-booster-covid-205453613.html

First-hand account of an American who traveled to Iceland recently:

https://www.businessinsider.com/iceland-open-to-vaccinated-americans-what-to-expect-when-entering-2021-3

Mexico COVID "stoplight map" continues to improve:

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/7-states-will-be-green-on-coronavirus-stoplight-risk-map-starting-monday/

Airline travel credits extended into 2022 for several airlines:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/airlines-giving-travelers-another-travel-124500525.html

Quagmire1974

03-31-21, 03:52

Japan creates digital vaccine passport:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/japan-becomes-latest-country-issue-143126893.html

Biden Administration says vaccine passport creation up to private sector:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/white-house-sees-no-federal-171028946.html

Lengthier story regarding Biden Administration and private sector vaccine passport creation:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/white-house-leaves-vaccine-passports-204553408.html

Tips regarding care of COVID vaccination card:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/dont-laminate-your-covid-vaccination-card-before-doing-these-5-things-11617134471?siteid=yhoof2

Caution against laminating COVID vaccination cards:

https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/vaccination-card-do-s-and-don-ts/19602848/

Thailand opens Phuket for fully vaccinated travelers:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/vaccinated-travelers-looking-beach-getaway-163027774.html

Quagmire1974

04-01-21, 19:03

IATA travel pass app launching for Apple and Android:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/iata-says-travel-pass-app-095225306.html

Ecuador now open for fully-vaccinated travelers:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/ecuador-galapagos-vaccinated-tourists

Europe reboots COVID vaccine efforts:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/europe-recasts-covid-19-vaccine-175001202.html

Possibly 12 countries open for Britons by June, including United States:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/just-12-countries-could-safely-182600122.html

Naysayers doubt creation of COVID vaccine passport:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/experts-unlikely-covid-19-passports-144521240.html

Quagmire1974

04-09-21, 05:50

Ten countries where vaccinated Americans can travel:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/these-are-the-countries-where-vaccinated-americans-can-travel-and-why-it-might-not-come-cheap-11617820556?siteid=yhoof2

Vaccine failure in Canada results in COVID surge and fresh lockdowns:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/millions-locked-down-again-canada-124453116.html

Vaccinated Americans warned not to travel to Canada:

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/americans-being-warned-not-travel-212553410.html

Canada jealous of vaccine success in United States:

https://nypost.com/2021/04/05/heres-why-canadians-are-jealous-of-us-amid-covid-19/

Biden Administration to provide airlines with technical guidance for vaccine passports:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/biden-white-house-talks-airlines-155358500.html

Advice to protect your COVID vaccination card:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/instead-laminating-covid-vaccine-card-173414714.html

Vaccine booster shots coming in the future:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/covid-vaccine-booster-shots-coming-174117589.html

Europe COVID vaccine misery continues:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/europes-covid-19-vaccine-fiasco-continues-090013030.html

Travel industry indicates where people want to visit as COVID pandemic wanes:

https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/destinations-people-visit-first-safe-travel-211834095.html

Brazil being decimated by COVID:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/covid-brazil-more-4-000-020252274.html

On a personal note, I recently received the second dose of the Moderna COVID vaccine. The worst that I had happen was "COVID arm" (Google it) at the injection site.

Thanks to my employer, I've got a boatload of vacation time to use this year. I'd like to visit some new countries, but with the COVID vaccine rollout a complete mess in Europe and very slow in many other parts of the world, I'm strongly considering visiting different portions of places where I've already traveled (United Kingdom, Mexico, Dominican Republic) and also focusing on the Caribbean. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have more hope now than I did at this time last year. Stay safe, stay healthy, keep working, and keep stacking cash for future travel, guys!

Zeos1

04-10-21, 01:57

Some interesting articles on Covid in Canada. We (speaking as a Canadian) do / did not have access to the quantity of vaccines that the US has had. Many reasons among which is no manufacture of any of the leading contenders for vaccines in Canada. We have a strong third wave going on now. Most of the most vulnerable seniors are vaccinated now, but younger people are getting the various variants, and intensive care units are pretty much full in many places. We still do not have the new cases / per million that the US has, but we're getting up there. And in many places the variants make up the majority of the new infections.

As far as travel. The point of this forum blog. Don't bother trying to come to Canada. First, its not easy to get in. Second Canadians do not yet want visitors. And third, you don't want any of the variants. The UK one, the South African one, or the Brazilian one. Vaccines still provide some protection, or even very good protection. Depending on the variant and the vaccine. But no need to take a chance.

We are in full swing with vaccinations now as supply is finally coming in, and pretty much everyone should have at least one shot by the end of June. But generally everyone or most are getting the first shot, with the second delayed until everyone has at least the first. To save as many lives as possible, but not necessarily the way some of the vaccines should be administered.

Quagmire1974

04-10-21, 06:45

We have a strong third wave going on now. Most of the most vulnerable seniors are vaccinated now, but younger people are getting the various variants, and intensive care units are pretty much full in many places. We still do not have the new cases / per million that the US has, but we're getting up there. And in many places the variants make up the majority of the new infections.I don't wish any ill will on Canada or Canadians. I've visited both Vancouver and Montreal (as has one of my coworkers), and during my time in those cities, the people were gracious, the food was fantastic, and there were plenty of touristy sights to see and things to do. I'm glad that the Biden Administration is loaning Canada one and a half million doses of COVID vaccine, and I wish that we could do more to help.

As far as travel. The point of this forum blog. Don't bother trying to come to Canada. First, its not easy to get in. Second Canadians do not yet want visitors.Well, when Canada and Canadians are ready to receive visitors, I'll be ready to arrive and spend money. I'm itching to go to Nova Scotia; my coworker and I are actually in an unofficial race to see who gets up there first.

Quagmire1974

04-11-21, 06:47

More states in Mexico improve to green "COVID stoplight:

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/for-8-states-covid-stoplight-is-green-nuevo-leon-oaxaca-rated-low-risk/

Increasing number of sex workers in Mexico due to economy weakened by pandemic:

https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-global-trade-mexico-coronavirus-pandemic-caribbean-69ed9611a08b8973e59841c7120cc9e8

New interactive map to help plan travel during pandemic:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/world-travel-isnt-simple-even-090059693.html

Another travel tool created by Expedia:

https://www.businessinsider.com/expedia-travel-covid-restrictions-tool-travelers-2021-4

The Cane

04-13-21, 19:09

Well, that didn't take long. Jerks!

https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/fake-covid-19-certificates-hit-airlines-which-now-have-to-police-them-11618330621

Quagmire1974

04-21-21, 00:35

Europe COVID vaccination campaign accelerating:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/whisper-quietly-europes-vaccination-programme-133826482.html

Countries currently projected to be on United Kingdom "Green List" for travel:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/only-eight-countries-green-list-093659319.html

United Airlines and Delta Airlines restarting flights to Iceland, Greece, and Croatia:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/united-delta-offer-daily-flights-204116273.html

State Department of United States updates "Do Not Travel" advisory:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/u-put-more-countries-under-200458935.html

Greece modifies quarantine requirement:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/greece-lifts-quarantine-requirement-us-122958551.html

France signals vaccinated travelers welcome beginning May:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/macron-says-france-begin-lifting-163015763.html

American Airlines trimming service to South America due to surging COVID:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/american-airlines-cutting-flights-south-191503179.html

Quagmire1974

04-25-21, 04:49

Current projections for United Kingdom's "Green List" for travel:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/30-countries-could-green-list-121650813.html

New features of United Airlines' "Travel Ready" app:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/united-customers-now-schedule-covid-143319546.html

Fresh lockdowns and restrictions in Laos due to COVID cluster:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/laos-locks-down-capital-over-080201373.html

COVID pandemic improves to COVID endemic in Britain:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/covid-pandemic-over-britain-144132492.html

Minor changes to Mexico COVID "stoplight map":

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/coronavirus-stoplight/

ShinyCrazy

04-25-21, 21:57

These posts are the flicker of light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks for scouring the Internet for relevant news. I just posted in the Israel forum about tentative trip planning, for anyone who may be interested. In my estimation, Israel and the UK will be the first mongering destinations to emerge from the pandemic, simply because they have a high percentage of vaccinated adults. Once the vaccines are approved for children, those two countries will crush the disease and things will start returning to normal. I would love to fantasize about travel to Thailand (or even Germany or Spain), but Europe is 6 months behind Israel in vaccinations and Thailand and Colombia and Brazil haven't even really started. I've given some thought to Dubai, but it is insanely hot until much later in the year, and the non-mongering tourist appeal is pretty much meaningless conspicuous consumption, which is boring after a day or two. Anyone else have any grand plans as the vaccine effect starts to re-open the world?

ShinyCrazy

04-25-21, 22:25

Here is my overall summary of where low risk mongering is headed over the next 6-12 months:

Unfortunately, the vaccines are not 100% effective. If you are double vaccinated with one of the mRNA vaccines and two weeks have passed, your risk of contracting the disease and suffering life threatening effects will be extremely low in countries with high vaccination rates. If, on the other hand, you are surrounded by a high density of infected (and frequently asymptomatic) individuals, your risk will still be very high.

Mongering countries that you COULD visit without a quarantine right now, but have very high risk of disease and have a poor to non-existent vaccine rollout (and remember that second and third world countries usually have minimal head room for a surge of need for ICU / oxygen): Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Sint Maarten, Dominican Republic, Greece, Peru, Curacao, Panama.

Mongering countries that are open right now and have good vaccine rollout: Dubai. Dubai still has high numbers of infections today, but those numbers should drop in the next few weeks, as the vaccination rate gets higher. Israel got the high quality Pfizer mRNA vaccine, Dubai mostly got the lower quality Chinese vaccine, so they will need higher vaccination rates in order to achieve the same success as Israel.

Mongering countries planning to open soon and have good vaccine rollout: Israel and UK. Due to the vaccine, Israel now has only around 100 cases per day, compared to 10,000 per day in January. The UK should see similar results in a few weeks.

Mongering countries planning to open soon and have very poor vaccine rollout: Thailand. Thailand was incredibly lucky to keep their case numbers down for the past year, but look at India. Without a robust vaccine campaign, Thailand could easily follow India only a few weeks after you book your flight.

UPDATE: 10 minutes ago, European officials announced that fully vaccinated Americans will be welcome in Europe this summer. Stay tuned. Will Germany reopen FKKs? Spanish brothels?

Quagmire1974

04-25-21, 23:59

These posts are the flicker of light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks for scouring the Internet for relevant news. Anyone else have any grand plans as the vaccine effect starts to re-open the world?You're welcome. Part of the benefit of jockeying a workstation at my job 40 hours a week is that I get to sit on my ass and scour the internet for COVID-related travel stories. I post any and all stories that I find that I think might be relevant and of interest to the ISG mongering community.

I will be traveling in May and will announce my plans in the relevant ISG forum soon. Beyond that, I likely won't be traveling again until the final few months of the year for two reasons: first, because my employer is going to keep me hopping all summer, and two, because I'm also waiting to see which countries decide to open to fully-vaccinated travelers, of which, I am one.

I don't know about anyone else, but I actually have more hope now than I did at this time last year. The vaccines are here, people are getting their jabs, and countries are reopening to vaccinated travelers. Oh, and I can find toilet paper on the store shelves without having to wait in any fucking lines for an hour, LOL.

Artisttyp

04-26-21, 00:05

NRandom940

04-26-21, 00:12

https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/7377054002

Now we need clarification on when "summer" actually begins in the eyes of the EU. Google tells me "summer" begins June 20th, but maybe EU has a different thought

Quagmire1974

04-26-21, 00:16

Obviously mongering is never a safe hobby for several reasons but these days even more so. To feel somewhat secure myself and the girl would have to be vaccinated and like you say the virus would need to be controlled to a certain extent wherever I was. For a second I wondered if certain sex acts would be safer than other.Very respectfully, take a look at my November trip report in the Monterrey (Mexico) forum. I went to a COVID hotspot that, at the time, was redder than a baboon's ass. As an unvaccinated mongerer, I had sessions with multiple WGs and practiced DFK, DATY, and other fluid-swapping activities. And still, I didn't get sick. I'll never know if I can chalk that up to luck or my immune system.

Its a quagmire I tell you.Thanks, that made me chuckle!

Artisttyp

04-26-21, 01:08

Very respectfully, take a look at my November trip report in the Monterrey (Mexico) forum. I went to a COVID hotspot that, at the time, was redder than a baboon's ass. As an unvaccinated mongerer, I had sessions with multiple WGs and practiced DFK, DATY, and other fluid-swapping activities. And still, I didn't get sick. I'll never know if I can chalk that up to luck or my immune system.
I have known people to do the same in Tijuana but you never know with this thing. I wouldn't want to be holed up in a hospital in MTY by myself if I needed ER facilities.

Glad you got through it ok.

ShinyCrazy

04-26-21, 01:40

To be honest, I'm not worried about the possibility of COVID19 from a working girl, especially if we are talking about a low volume escort who sees 1-2 clients per day. If you are double vaccinated and she is not, the risk is still pretty small. I am more concerned about the risk of a restaurant or bar where many dozens of people are maskless.

For the next 6 months, I think our hobby will be safest in the UK, Israel, and Dubai. And other countries in Europe will join that list soon. The last venues to safely reopen will be the FKK or GoGo bars, where one bad apple could infect dozens of innocents.

Looking at London and Israel soon, Spain and Germany later, followed by Thailand or Colombia much later. As you mentioned, you do not want to be gasping for breath in a third world hospital.

Artisttyp

04-26-21, 02:48

To be honest, I'm not worried about the possibility of COVID19 from a working girl, especially if we are talking about a low volume escort who sees 1-2 clients per day..How can escorts be low volume if they do 1 or 2 guys everyday and have been so during this whole pandemic? I am somewhat pulling your leg but serious at the same time. Sure they aren't doing 20 guys but all it takes is that ONE.

I don't think it is unreasonable to ask of yourself and the girl to be vaccinated. I think at the very least it would be a sensible way of going about things right now. There is still a risk but to minimize it when humanly possible makes the most sense. We are all wanting to control this virus but we must also control what we can ourselves.

Not doing so would be unnecessarily reckless.

After all you cannot put a condom on air droplets. I wish you could.

Xpartan

04-26-21, 04:57

How can escorts be low volume if they do 1 or 2 guys everyday and have been so during this whole pandemic? I am somewhat pulling your leg but serious at the same time. Sure they aren't doing 20 guys but all it takes is that ONE.

I don't think it is unreasonable to ask of yourself and the girl to be vaccinated. I think at the very least it would be a sensible way of going about things right now. There is still a risk but to minimize it when humanly possible makes the most sense. We are all wanting to control this virus but we must also control what we can ourselves.

Not doing so would be unnecessarily reckless.

After all you cannot put a condom on air droplets. I wish you could.The OP mentions he's fully vaccinated. There is still risk, but it's in the 5% range, so now it's more in line with other risks all of us have to mitigate somehow.

And asking a girl to vaccinate is a no-go since it takes at least 2 weeks before she builds some immunity.

ShinyCrazy

04-26-21, 16:53

I was comparing low volume escorts in a country where 85% of all adults have been vaccinated (which very likely includes the escort) to countries where the vaccination rate is low, the disease is rampant, and the girl may be servicing 10+ clients a day (FKK, for example).

Also, if she was exposed 3 months ago, that is actually a good thing. She would have some natural immunity. So, I don't worry about what she's been doing for the last year. I only concern myself with the last 2 weeks. This is why Spain might be a better option than Thailand. Girls there may have already recovered and have some immunity. The girls in Thailand are like dry tinder waiting for an outbreak. Again, look how quickly India is going up in smoke right now.

Has anyone been mongering in Israel? Am I kidding myself that I can have a decent (but expensive) trip there? I would have considered Dubai, but the summer is insanely hot and the low quality Chinese vaccine means their caseload is still fairly high.

Xpartan

04-26-21, 19:45

The Cane

04-26-21, 20:09

EU just announced that it would allow vaccinated travelers to go to EU in summer.

https://skift.com/2021/04/25/europe-to-allow-vaccinated-americans-to-travel-to-continent-this-summer/?utm_source=milesfeed.com&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=MilesFeed.com

Not my cup of tea, though. I love old Europe, but not for mongering. Costly.Being able to go to Europe does us FKK lovers no good if the sauna clubs aren't open. No guarantee they will be just because we can travel across the pond over there.

Quagmire1974

04-29-21, 23:51

European Union to allow vaccinated Americans in Europe this summer:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/eu-finalizing-plans-allow-us-130332027.html

United Airlines ramping up operations:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/united-airlines-gets-summer-ready-130439163.html

Travel-related sectors make preparations:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/global-travel-braces-vaccine-powered-131853424.html

Biden Administration to give other nations 60 million vaccine doses:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ap-exclusive-us-share-astrazeneca-164900439-210848096.html

The vaccine you received determines where you can travel:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/vaccine-travel-rules-widen-rift-210000451.html

Europe and United States discussing vaccine passport specifics:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/europe-set-global-vaccine-passport-093044024.html

Grenada adjusts entry requirements for fully vaccinated travelers:

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/grenada-reduces-covid-quarantine-restrictions-vaccinated-tourists

Barbados adjusts entry requirements for fully vaccinated travelers:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/caribbean/barbados-easing-quarantine-rules-only-23968079

Anguilla adjusts entry requirements for fully vaccinated travelers:

https://www.caribjournal.com/2021/04/17/anguilla-travelers-vaccinated-protocols/

British Virgin Islands adjusts entry requirements for fully vaccinated travelers:

https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/british-virgin-islands-easing-restrictions-american-tourists

Fresh lockdowns in Turkey due to COVID surge:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/turkeys-erdogan-adopts-full-closure-171642965.html

Spain welcoming travelers in June:

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/spain-welcome-international-travelers-covid-153817881.html

Hargow20

05-12-21, 10:07

The EU is currently implementing "Digital green certificates". These are biological passports. The US is also trying to develop a version of biological passport as well. It is quite probable that Europe will open up by late summer possibly. Personally I am planning a trip to Europe if work is slow.

(https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/03/28/vaccine-passports-for-work/).

European Union to allow vaccinated Americans in Europe this summer:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/eu-finalizing-plans-allow-us-130332027.html

United Airlines ramping up operations:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/united-airlines-gets-summer-ready-130439163.html

Travel-related sectors make preparations:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/global-travel-braces-vaccine-powered-131853424.html

Biden Administration to give other nations 60 million vaccine doses:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ap-exclusive-us-share-astrazeneca-164900439-210848096.html

The vaccine you received determines where you can travel:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/vaccine-travel-rules-widen-rift-210000451.html

Europe and United States discussing vaccine passport specifics:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/europe-set-global-vaccine-passport-093044024.html

Grenada adjusts entry requirements for fully vaccinated travelers:

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/grenada-reduces-covid-quarantine-restrictions-vaccinated-tourists

Barbados adjusts entry requirements for fully vaccinated travelers:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/caribbean/barbados-easing-quarantine-rules-only-23968079

Anguilla adjusts entry requirements for fully vaccinated travelers:

https://www.caribjournal.com/2021/04/17/anguilla-travelers-vaccinated-protocols/

British Virgin Islands adjusts entry requirements for fully vaccinated travelers:

https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/british-virgin-islands-easing-restrictions-american-tourists

Fresh lockdowns in Turkey due to COVID surge:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/turkeys-erdogan-adopts-full-closure-171642965.html

Spain welcoming travelers in June:

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/spain-welcome-international-travelers-covid-153817881.html

CenTexCrash

05-29-21, 16:20

Info I extracted from talent (When does that ever backfire?

As of May 28 2021.

Mexico: vaccinations for senior citizens only. General public still another 8-10 weeks before they get added to vaccine list.

The Philippines: PH is receiving vaccine supplies from a pharmaceutical group out of China. Instructions given to general public still unclear.

Quagmire1974

06-07-21, 05:03

Apologies for not posting in this forum for over a month. The following articles are the latest that have caught my eye.

COVID in Mexico improves in some areas, worsens in others:

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/3-states-regress-from-yellow-to-orange-on-coronavirus-stoplight-19-are-now-green/

Digital COVID vaccine passport begins debut in Europe:

https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/06/02/1025633/seven-eu-countries-just-got-a-digital-vaccine-passport/

Travel to Europe for Americans in time of COVID:

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/europe-summer-travel-covid/

What rules apply to transit through airports in Europe?

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/transiting-european-airports-covid/

Travel to Saint Lucia gets easier for fully vaccinate travelers:

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/st-lucia-eases-covid-19-restrictions-for-vaccinated-visitors

Hang in there, guys, it's getting better every day!

Quagmire1974

06-11-21, 21:36

What travel restrictions exist for Central and South America?

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-central-and-south-american-countries-are-reopening?mbid=synd_yahoo_rss

Guidance for traveling to Europe:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/europe-tells-tourists-welcome-back-063620093.html

European Union discussing summer travel:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/eu-agree-easier-travel-more-154725499.html

Curacao reopening for tourism:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/cura-ao-loosening-covid-19-155336606.html

Detailed description on European Union COVID vaccine passport:

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/all-details-on-eu-covid-19-passport-revealed-heres-what-you-need-to-know/

Quagmire1974

06-12-21, 22:46

Kayak's updated Travel Restrictions Map:

https://www.kayak.com/travel-restrictions

Lengthy article from USAToday regarding countries open to fully vaccinated Americans:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/covid-vaccine-travel-countries-open-195555577.html

Quagmire1974

06-13-21, 21:43

Common sense article from Motley Fool about summer travel:

https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/personal-finance/articles/7-things-to-know-about-international-travel-this-summer/?source=eptyholnk0000202&utm_source=yahoo-host&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=article

United Kingdom to reopen later due to COVID Delta variant:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/june-21-unlocking-called-off-194517837.html

Switzerland preparing to reopen to fully vaccinated travelers:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-11/swiss-plan-to-reopen-border-for-vaccinated-overseas-travelers

Life improving in Switzerland as COVID situation improves:

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/switzerland-plans-to-further-phase-out-covid-restrictions-before-summer/46698244

Another article regarding Switzerland reopening plan:

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/destinations/switzerland-set-to-reopen-its-borders-to-vaccinated-north-americans.html

Quagmire1974

06-16-21, 04:50

Perspective on covid vaccine passports in the United States:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/covid-vaccine-passports-u-heres-120039001.html

Travel from United Kingdom likely stalled until August:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/uk-unlikely-reopen-foreign-travel-165222973.html

Thailand reopening for fully vaccinated visitors:

https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/personal-finance/articles/phuket-thailand-opens-doors-to-vaccinated-tourists/?source=eptyholnk0000202&utm_source=yahoo-host&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=article

Another article regarding Switzerland reopening in late June:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/switzerland-plans-welcome-vaccinated-u-181511801.html

Canada and United States discussing easing border restrictions:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/canada-border-rules-restrictions-covid19-us-181502658.html

Portugal reopening for Americans who test negative for COVID:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/europe-travel-portugal-reopens-us-163918614.html

Israel emerges from COVID pandemic:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/freedom-israelis-government-scraps-face-101953312.html

Quagmire1974

06-17-21, 05:01

European Union throws open doors to American travelers:

https://www.businessinsider.com/eu-dropping-restrictions-all-us-travelers-reports-2021-6

When will you need a COVID booster shot? Will you even need one?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/one-5-doctors-drug-companies-184450537.html

Aeromar expanding service from McAllen Miller International Airport in southern Texas:

https://www.krgv.com/news/aeromar-announces-extended-flight-services-to-mexico

Mexico border area receives COVID vaccines:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/donated-us-vaccines-arrive-mexican-132645703.html

Biden Administration planning July 4th celebrations:

https://news.yahoo.com/biden-hosting-july-4th-independence-184457944.html

Regarding that last link, I've been telling friends and colleagues for awhile now that I believe Biden is going to say something to the effect of "we declare our independence from the COVID pandemic" on July 4th. If that happens, I wouldn't be surprised if numerous pandemic-related things are ended, such as having to wear face masks on airplanes and (more importantly) not having to take a COVID test if you're overseas and want to fly back to the United States. We'll see what happens, but regardless, I have more hope now than I did at this time last year!

Quagmire1974

06-22-21, 17:28

American tourists once again welcome in Germany:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/germany-eases-travel-restrictions-american-150622243.html

COVID situation worsening in parts of Mexico:

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/quintana-roo-leads-8-states-with-covid-outbreaks/

Italy eases travel restrictions for tourists:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/u-tourists-now-travel-italy-194147488.html

Quagmire1974

06-24-21, 22:22

COVID raging in Uruguay:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/uruguay-accused-squandering-early-covid-090052150.html

COVID "Delta" variant delays tourism to Israel:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/israel-delays-entry-vaccinated-tourists-191943483.html

Russia sees COVID death spike:

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-covid-19-deaths-hit-fresh-four-month-peak-2021-06-23/

China COVID vaccine proving unrealiable:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/22/business/economy/china-vaccines-covid-outbreak.html?s=09

Certain COVID vaccines effective against "Delta" variant:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/astrazeneca-pfizer-covid-19-vaccines-133857689.html

United States left off of United Kingdom "Green List:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/uk-24-june-traffic-light-changes/?utm_campaign=facebook&utm_term=Editorial&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=ADC5D1F2-D523-11EB-B097-B87C0EDC252D&fbclid=IwAR3K409wj7H8YOJjPjj-23dX1FAxd-PLCsMXl_LdY036vtJqaIhVY8vQhTc

ShinyCrazy

07-01-21, 01:59

So, talks about normalization of travel between the US and the UK may extend into September?! Should I just give up on a London trip?

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/lifestyle/travel/us-uk-travel-corridor-unlikely-before-end-of-summer/ar-AALzNaR

Trying to assess destinations based on: travel without quarantine, good mongering options, first world medical care in case of catching COVID19 despite being vaccinated. I'm looking at ditching London for 2021. Spain, Portugal, Germany are live options now, so maybe I should just firm up plans for those. Still have plans for Thailand at the end of the year, but that's looking unlikely. Anyone with a better idea?

Mongerer88

07-01-21, 03:11

Spain, Portugal and Germany were better options than the United Kingdom even before that guy in China decided to try that bowl of bat soup. Not only better mongering, but better tourism, too. If the Big Three stay open, Europe will once again be a mongering destination for non-Europeans.

So, talks about normalization of travel between the US and the UK may extend into September?! Should I just give up on a London trip?

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/lifestyle/travel/us-uk-travel-corridor-unlikely-before-end-of-summer/ar-AALzNaR

Trying to assess destinations based on: travel without quarantine, good mongering options, first world medical care in case of catching COVID19 despite being vaccinated. I'm looking at ditching London for 2021. Spain, Portugal, Germany are live options now, so maybe I should just firm up plans for those. Still have plans for Thailand at the end of the year, but that's looking unlikely. Anyone with a better idea?

Quagmire1974

07-01-21, 14:14

COVID delays Bali reopening for tourism:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/bali-reopening-foreign-tourists-delayed-044812989.html

Travel corridor between United States and United Kingdom delayed:

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/us-uk-travel-corridor-talks-increasingly-unlikely-conclude-end-july-ft-2021-06-28/

Biden Administration assists Paraguay with COVID vaccine:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-donate-1-mln-doses-205643104.html

Indonesia being decimated by COVID:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/indonesias-covid-19-situation-nears-054848499.html

Quagmire1974

07-03-21, 18:32

COVID vaccine not likely needed for visitors to United States:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/u-still-weighing-travel-curbs-190057638.html

Robust COVID vaccination effort in Germany:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/germany-catches-u-vaccination-drive-092621381.html

Colombia to receive millions of COVID vaccines from United States:

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-ship-25-million-doses-jj-vaccine-columbia-2021-06-30/

Dominican Republic giving third dose of COVID vaccine to citizens:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/dominican-republic-giving-third-covid-161808644.html

Status of travel for fully vaccinated people:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/fully-vaccinated-travel/?utm_source=facebook&utm_content=1A47D460-DB46-11EB-98E2-4CE2BDCD475E&utm_medium=social&utm_term=Editorial&utm_campaign=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2X8TiMxuX3SwmoODu7rjVbFiJPQMT9RYBBbpLTdxTQsa01eOLiz0x-F_0

Oversold flights resulting in huge rewards for some travelers:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/airlines-back-overselling-flights-one-202123613.html

Low desire for COVID vaccine in Russia resulting in COVID spike:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/russias-covid-19-daily-death-092537042.html

How Europe looks for summer travel:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mask-rules-open-venues-more-105713009.html

COVID Delta variant brings fresh lockdowns and shutdowns:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/delta-variant-causes-lockdowns-coronavirus-004241232.html

Massive article on reopening of Africa:

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/welcome-to-africa-country-by-country-guide-to-reopening/?utm_campaign=facebook&utm_term=Editorial&utm_medium=social&utm_content=C6A31DE0-DB56-11EB-965B-81E5BDCD475E&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0aAbdPjH6A7YZV464o9VUvS4fkl5EETL9D7C4dbxL377D3rZi8D3ONfX0

Quagmire1974

07-05-21, 22:10

COVID spiking in Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico:

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/coronavirus-stoplight-risk-map-remains-unchanged/

Norway exercising caution due to COVID Delta variant:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/norway-delays-reopening-delta-variant-105912570.html

United Kingdom charts course for July 19 and beyond:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/end-of-mask-mandate-johnson-to-update-u-k-on-plans-to-ease-pandemic-restrictions-01625435224?siteid=yhoof2

Will you be able to get a rental car in Europe?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/european-vacation-car-rentals-complicated-025219593.html

COVID tidbits from around the world:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-latest-news-more-half-221528035.html

Quagmire1974

07-10-21, 21:37

Massive article on status of traveling to Caribbean islands:

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/dreaming-of-a-sandy-beach-a-country-by-country-guide-to-caribbean-reopenings/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=95FB0048-E0FD-11EB-98CA-E41F16F31EAE&utm_term=Editorial&utm_campaign=facebook&fbclid=IwAR1suSLw5xWnfzs7yzKxXH8UP8xo1-K6ljuCcPHRGXijDMkhn0yo4xiEyV8

United Airlines readying for winter travel:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/united-winter-warm-weather-flights/?utm_source=facebook&utm_content=4E0A886C-E0F3-11EB-855A-6E1D16F31EAE&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=facebook&utm_term=Editorial&fbclid=IwAR3AaY9UGVwP9gspCZQGNU0lESOlI-WLnEBKzhjqMpzOhANfP-kpPrkw0Ss

COVID surging in Vietnam:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/vietnam-sets-covid-19-vaccination-053307004.html

Projected reopening of travel corridor between United States and United Kingdom:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/1-iata-airlines-head-sees-142903368.html

Tunisia in dire straits due to COVID:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/tunisia-says-health-care-system-135437817.html

Quagmire1974

07-14-21, 19:09

Chinese COVID vaccines proving unreliable:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/thailand-considering-western-booster-shots-101948060.html

Another article regarding Chinese vaccine difficulty in Thailand:

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/hundreds-thai-medical-workers-infected-despite-sinovac-vaccinations-2021-07-11/

United Kingdom "Freedom Day" will be July 19:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/uks-johnson-set-confirm-england-091053331.html

Will your COVID vaccine be recognized by the European Union?

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-eu-wont-let-travelers-in-who-got-certain-versions-of-these-covid-19-vaccines-01626195869?siteid=yhoof2

Inflation in United States results in stronger dollar:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/dollar-tiptoes-toward-inflation-powell-014127233.html

More COVID vaccinations equals more freedom in Germany:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/germany-wary-opening-england-prepares-085558754.html

More COVID vaccinations equals more freedom in France:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/more-900-000-people-france-055121627.html

More COVID vaccinations equals more freedom in Greece:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/greece-rolls-covid-19-vaccinations-161404753.html

Another article regarding new COVID measures in Greece:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/greece-require-vaccination-negative-test-114707499.html

Quagmire1974

07-16-21, 17:20

Impacts of COVID "Delta" variant on travelers:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2021/07/15/delta-variant-new-international-travel-restrictions-covid-spread/7986226002/

Qatar opens to vaccinated travelers:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/qatar-reopens-vaccinated-tourists/?navtid=More-1

Where can Americans travel in Europe?:

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-countries-in-europe-are-reopening?utm_social-type=owned&utm_brand=cnt&mbid=social_facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2YvOtcnBH1J4HODZPwki1rDHLF7G0BFEEVhhdmADKIFK6hxl6RdzdZ0Y8

Canada reopening for fully vaccinated Americans:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/fully-vaccinated-americans-enter-canada-020046950.html

Quagmire1974

07-24-21, 02:27

COVID surging in Mexico:

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/sinaloa-goes-red-several-states-regress-to-yellow-but-federal-stoplight-map-forgotten/

Airlines reporting steadily increasing demand:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-airlines-covid-19-variants-183838036.html

Continuing evidence Chinese produced inferior COVID vaccines:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/study-chinese-covid-shot-may-081538153.html

Israel bringing back requirements they originally dropped:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/israel-reimpose-coronavirus-green-pass-151642583.html

Booming demand causing chaos for airlines and passengers:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/flying-absolute-mess-summer-may-170915408.html

COVID dead being found on the streets of Bangkok:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/bangkok-closes-public-spaces-virus-075903433.html

Will you have to wear a facemask on an airplane after September 13?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mask-mandate-flights-extended-southwest-195404540.html

What hoops do you have to jump through to travel to Canada?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/canada-easing-travel-restrictions-vaccinated-193935361.html

Quagmire1974

07-25-21, 22:32

Updated guidance for traveling to the Caribbean:

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/dreaming-of-a-sandy-beach-a-country-by-country-guide-to-caribbean-reopenings/

COVID surging in Guatemala:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/people-dying-did-not-die-090048653.html

Lockdowns becoming commonplace in Vietnam:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/vietnam-locks-down-capital-hanoi-032426813.html

Easing of restrictions being discussed in Indonesia:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/explainer-indonesia-asias-covid-19-113027597.html

COVID surging in South Korea:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/south-korea-hailed-for-covid-response-now-struggling-to-contain-delta-surge-163951342.html

Quagmire1974

07-27-21, 17:06

Calls for United Kingdom to allow fully vaccinated Americans:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/heathrow-airport-calls-uk-open-062029616.html

Tourists behaving badly in Bali:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/american-crossfit-influencer-bali-berated-063011879.html

Record COVID cases in Vietnam:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/vietnam-reports-record-7-968-124501940.html

Conditions possibly improving in Moscow after recent death spike:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/russia-reports-23-947-covid-083630760.html

COVID rampaging across Southeast Asia:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/southeast-asia-covid-19-cases-052349642.html

United Kingdom "Green List" might add 77 nations:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/scientists-considering-77-countries-move-193030113.html

Should you plan to travel in autumn?

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/safe-plan-international-fall-travel-215624303.html

Biden administration maintains ban on travelers from Europe:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/u-s-to-keep-international-travel-restrictions-in-place-as-coronavirus-surges-01627335500?siteid=yhoof2

Quagmire1974

08-04-21, 16:52

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention raises red flags for other nations:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/cdc-says-travelers-avoid-greece-185602560.html

Reserve a "sleeper row" on Lufthansa:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/lufthansa-now-let-book-three-181047486.html

Hong Kong now allowing vaccinated tourists:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-03/hong-kong-eases-entry-rules-for-vaccinated-residents-tourists

United Kingdom now wide open for vaccinated Americans:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/england-relaxes-travel-restrictions-vaccinated-140755976.html

Morocco tightening restrictions due to COVID surge:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/morocco-tightens-restrictions-stem-covid-163057551.html

Hang in there, guys. The rise of the COVID "Delta" variant has caused a deterioration in conditions over the past week, but things are still a lot better now than they were this time last year.

Also, for all of you who have travel plans from now through the end of this year, be sure to keep a close eye on your flight itinerary. I logged into my airline a couple of days ago and discovered that the London Heathrow to Geneva segment of my trip was cancelled by Swiss Air, and my US-based airline didn't even send me an e-mail. I contacted my airline through text message, and after an hour of working with the agent, the London Heathrow to Geneva segment was re-booked and re-confirmed, but at a later time than I had originally selected. So what was once a busted trip to Switzerland is now full steam ahead again.

Quagmire1974

08-06-21, 17:42

Updated entry requirements for 110 countries and territories:

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/places-americans-can-travel-internationally/

Restrictions reimplemented in Israel:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/israel-vaccinated-fast-looked-had-113759148.html

Countries moving ahead with COVID booster shots:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/french-president-macron-third-covid-080543489.html

Mid-flight COVID testing being studied:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/israeli-airline-el-al-carry-131110345.html

COVID vaccine will be required for foreigners to enter United States:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-u-developing-plan-require-203337398.html

Quagmire1974

08-10-21, 00:21

Several states in Mexico slip into COVID "Maximo" risk:

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/daily-covid-infections-far-higher-than-official-counts-says-specialist/

European Union to consider tightening restrictions on Americans:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/could-the-european-union-really-ban-americans-again/

CDC adds several countries to "Avoid Travel" list:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/cdc-add-to-do-not-travel-list/

Will you need a COVID vaccine for domestic travel?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/08/06/white-house-early-conversations-new-vaccine-requirements/5515431001/

Fashionable and functional holders for your COVID vaccine card:

https://news.yahoo.com/yes-vaccine-card-holders-thing-220507234.html

Zeos1

08-10-21, 02:57

Canada has opened its land border to fully vaccinated Americans and US legal residents. There are requirements for Covid testing prior to hitting the border, as well as completing the ArriveCan app. So proof of 2 doses of vaccine, the last at least 15 days before, and a Covid PCR test within 72 hours of arrival at the border. Plus normal requirements. Passport, etc.

Quagmire1974

08-11-21, 02:53

European Union takes no action on Americans traveling to Europe:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/eu-leave-safe-travel-list-193242750.html

Moderna COVID vaccine winning against "Delta" variant:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/covid-science-moderna-may-superior-203636135.html

Quagmire1974

08-12-21, 21:55

In-depth article regarding future possible restrictions on Americans by European Union:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/10/us-europe-travel-ban/

United States sending millions of COVID vaccine doses to Mexico:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-send-8-5-million-171736992.html

Interactive website to determine percentage of COVID vaccinated in every country:

https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/coronavirus-data-explorer?zoomToSelection=true&facet=none&pickerSort=asc&pickerMetric=location&Interval=7-day+rolling+average&Relative+to+Population=true&Align+outbreaks=false&country=OWID_WRL USA DEU GBR FRA ITA ESP CHE AUT&Metric=People+vaccinated+%28 by+dose%29.

Passenger traffic increasing at London Heathrow Airport:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/1-travel-recovery-started-britains-062933823.html

New electronic travel authorization by South Korea:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/korea-adopts-electronic-travel-authorisation-083822722.html

Quagmire1974

08-16-21, 03:54

Freshly-updated list of where Americans can travel and requirements:

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/places-americans-can-travel-internationally/

Specialized facemasks required on certain airlines:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/surgical-masks-airlines-airports/

Avianca Airlines expands service in United States:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/avianca-new-nonstop-flights-usa/

Fresh lockdowns for certain Caribbean and Pacific islands:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/martinique-closed-delta-variant/

Fresh information on Switzerland COVID vaccinations and restrictions:

https://lenews.ch/2021/08/13/covid-swiss-cases-and-hospitalisations-up-sharply-as-holiday-makers-return-home/

Switzerland adopting "live and let live" COVID stance:

https://lenews.ch/2021/08/13/covid-no-change-to-measures-as-swiss-government-accepts-rising-numbers/

Germany tightens restrictions on unvaccinated Americans wishing to enter:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2021/08/14/germany-travel-restrictions-unvaccinated-tourists-u-s-quarantine/8138478002/

On a side note, thanks to Zeos1 for keeping this forum streamlined and free of clutter.

Quagmire1974

08-19-21, 12:58

Hong Kong tightening entry restrictions:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/asia-today-hong-kong-lengthens-052025657.html

Biden Administration announces COVID booster shots:

https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-vaccine-booster-plan-for-us-announced-extra-shot-2021-8

Facemasks required on United States public transportation until 18 January 2022:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/traveling-holidays-mask-mandate-extended-202947366.html

Quagmire1974

08-21-21, 18:15

Evacuation service available if you contract COVID while on vacation:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/got-covid-overseas-send-speed-101547227.html

Biden Administration keeps Mexico and Canada borders closed:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/biden-keep-canada-mexico-borders-183600836.html

Jamaica goes into lockdown:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/jamaica-days-lockdown-tame-coronavirus-135238930.html

Dire COVID situation in Vietnam:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/vietnams-biggest-city-issues-stay-064806458.html

Sri Lanka goes into lockdown:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/sri-lankans-seek-full-covid-082601822.html

COVID situation worsening in Mexico:

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/covid-roundup-21897-new-cases-7-states-now-red-on-stoplight-risk-map/

Quagmire1974

08-25-21, 07:01

Tourism to Paris way down:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/dark-days-tourism-city-light-024433583.html

Africa faring well during COVID:

https://qz.com/africa/2049407/why-has-covid-19-had-less-of-an-impact-in-africa/?utm_source=YPL

Is the worst of the Delta variant over for the United States?

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/covid-optimists-see-u-nearing-155250892.html

Keep your COVID vaccination card handy if visiting Germany:

https://www.thelocal.de/20210823/germanys-16-states-bring-in-uniform-covid-health-pass-system/

Keep your COVID vaccination card safe and readily-available with these options:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/reviewed/2021/08/20/stylish-vaccine-card-holders-protect-your-covid-vaccination-record/8199393002/

COVID situation rapidly improving in Jakarta, Indonesia:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/indonesia-official-says-vaccines-help-062807845.html

Quagmire1974

08-27-21, 23:59

European Union to tighten restrictions against unvaccinated Americans. Details coming Monday 30 August:

https://www.reuters.com/world/eu-moves-reintroduce-covid-travel-curbs-us-diplomats-2021-08-27/

Xpartan

08-28-21, 07:16

Just wanted to thank Quagmire for keeping up these important updates.

Zeos1

08-28-21, 16:58

Just wanted to thank Quagmire for keeping up these important updates.Second that motion. Thanks.

Quagmire1974

08-31-21, 03:38

Thank you, Zeos1 and Xpartan, for your kind words.

High rate of COVID vaccination in Singapore:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/singapore-fully-vaccinates-80-population-043109320.html

Update on Japan COVID vaccinations for citizens:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/latest-tokyo-apologizes-vaccine-rollout-091302411.html

Switzerland approves COVID certificate for indoor spaces:

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/switzerland-plans-on-making-covid-19-certificate-mandatory-for-accessing-indoor-public-spaces-even-for-tourists/

Booming tourism in Croatia:

https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-business-europe-travel-coronavirus-pandemic-d008ced44d6c3f7d162d356e7981ef63

European Union yanks United States from "safe list":

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/european-union-planning-to-recommend-reinstating-restrictions-on-u-s-travelers

Regarding that last link, I have trips to Switzerland and Berlin scheduled for October. As someone who is fully vaxxed against COVID, I have every intention of taking those trips. The only way that I will cancel one or both of them is if Switzerland and / or Germany require that all arriving Americans, vaxxed or not, to quarantine for several days upon arrival. All of the chatter, though, about the European Union's announcement almost unanimously mentions that their decision will affect unvaccinated Americans. It's still a developing situation, though, and we'll see what the individual European countries decide over the next few days.

ShoesAndSocks

09-01-21, 02:48

I have trips to Switzerland and Berlin scheduled for October. As someone who is fully vaxxed against COVID, I have every intention of taking those trips. The only way that I will cancel one or both of them is if Switzerland and / or Germany require that all arriving Americans, vaxxed or not, to quarantine for several days upon arrival.I thank you too for your updates, and I hope you can travel as planned.

Another factor to consider is, will travel health insurance exclude Covid (because it's a "known event"), meaning some risk of the cost of ICU-level hospitalization in a foregin land?

Xpartan

09-01-21, 07:07

I thank you too for your updates, and I hope you can travel as planned.

Another factor to consider is, will travel health insurance exclude Covid (because it's a "known event"), meaning some risk of the cost of ICU-level hospitalization in a foregin land?There are policies designed especially to cover Covid, quite a few actually.

I think anyone who travels without a really good insurance right now is playing with fire. It's not just a risk of hospitalization, I mean, even if you catch a mild case and simply have to quarantine in a decent enough European hotel for 10 days. Even that is pricey.

SoberHans69

09-01-21, 16:12

There are policies designed especially to cover Covid, quite a few actually.

I think anyone who travels without a really good insurance right now is playing with fire. It's not just a risk of hospitalization, I mean, even if you catch a mild case and simply have to quarantine in a decent enough European hotel for 10 days. Even that is pricey.Safety Wing is one of them. Using them for my upcoming trip.

Quagmire1974

09-02-21, 06:54

Safety Wing is one of them. Using them for my upcoming trip.For my trip to Monterrey (Mexico) in November 2020 (read my report in that forum), I wasn't yet vaxxed for COVID and the city was a COVID hotspot. I chose GeoBlue:

https://www.geo-blue.com/

I think the policy was about $27 USD and covered illness due to COVID. When I returned to Monterrey in May 2021 (read my report in that forum) I was fully vaxxed and didn't buy a policy.

Since I'm not due for a COVID booster shot until December 2021 (per the CDC 8-month rule), I probably won't buy a policy for Switzerland or Berlin. But, I might change my mind, too, we'll see.

Quagmire1974

09-02-21, 07:25

Caribbean and Latin America winners of American Airlines expanded service:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/american-airlines-widebody-jet-route-expansion/

Fiji aims for November opening for tourism:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/fiji-reopens-for-travel-november/

European Union gives "thumbs down" to United States:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/eu-recommendation-on-travel/

Ireland dropping COVID restrictions in late October:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ireland-drop-almost-covid-19-204743938.html

COVID situation improving in Indonesia:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/indonesias-president-says-covid-19-142101203.html

Italy toughens entry procedures for Americans:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/italy-tightens-entry-requirements-us-184537899.html

Will you get your COVID booster shot at Walmart?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/walmart-says-ready-administer-millions-213258386.html

Your COVID vaccine is only good for 270 days in these two countries:

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/travel-expiration-dates-covid-vaccines?fbclid=IwAR3t_3erlpbVusD8RE7bkTpLJCB1H8j9s8Hxk8C5kNE5i_xnTHe2Gf5oVkk

Bulgaria bans all Americans from entry:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/following-eu-guidance-bulgaria-prohibits-174300082.html

COVID situation improving in Mexico:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mexico-sees-easing-third-covid-184811523.html

New COVID variant, Mu, now in 39 countries:

https://www.barrons.com/articles/who-variant-of-interest-mu-51630499402?siteid=yhoof2

Spain tourism improving, but still lower than normal:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/tourists-back-spain-far-fewer-160359565.html

COVID situation improving in Thailand:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/restaurants-malls-reopen-thai-virus-094332498.html

Portugal eases entry procedures for Britons:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/portugal-changes-vaccine-rules-uk-173623009.html

Common-sense COVID approach from Australia:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/covid-19-cases-rise-australias-001633556.html

Quagmire1974

09-03-21, 23:48

Cayman Islands looks to reopen in mid-October:

https://www.caymancompass.com/2021/09/02/bryan-5-airlines-confirm-readiness-to-return-to-cayman/

Switzerland holds off on tighter restrictions for now:

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/switzerland-holds-off-tighter-coronavirus-restrictions-cases-rise-2021-09-01/

Vietnam's HCMC aims to reopen in mid-September:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/living-covid-19-vietnams-biggest-053545630.html

Netherlands implements quarantine for all arriving Americans:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/eu-covid-travel-restrictions-for-americans

Delta variant complicating tourism for Caribbean counties:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/caribbean-tourism-recovery-punctured-coronavirus-101026588.html

Quagmire1974

09-05-21, 21:41

COVID situation improving in Mexico:

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/estimated-active-cases-down-9-5-mexico-city-goes-to-medium-risk-yellow/

COVID testing proving challenging for Americans:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/two-states-four-walgreens-sense-192059570.html

Denmark tightens restrictions on certain Americans:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/denmark-bans-unvaccinated-us-tourists-185735462.html

Spain adjusts entry requirements for Americans:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/spain-entry-requirements/

Quagmire1974

09-08-21, 06:56

Going on a cruise? Here's some news:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/cdc-shortens-covid-testing-time-170557632.html

Which countries in Europe recently followed European Union suggestion?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/spain-denmark-european-union-countries-202022776.html

Conditions improving in Sweden:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/sweden-remove-most-remaining-pandemic-134931175.html

Mixed messages from the Philippines:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/philippines-defers-covid-19-plan-123655743.html

Cuba aims to open in mid-November:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/cuba-reopen-borders-november-hoping-182437724.html

Quagmire1974

09-09-21, 17:44

Updated country COVID entry requirements:

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/reopening-soon-a-country-by-country-guide-to-coronavirus-recovery/

Will Qantas allow you on board if you're not vaccinated?

https://thepointsguy.com/news/qantas-will-ban-unvaccinated-travelers/

Exciting new travel option for Vietnam:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/vietnamese-airline-starting-nonstop-commercial-181249228.html

Canada adjusts requirements for entry:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/canada-drops-entry-requirements-for-international-visitors

More information regarding entry into Canada:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/covid-rules-for-traveling-to-canada

Quagmire1974

09-18-21, 23:59

Vietnam opens an island for tourism:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/vietnam-reopen-resort-island-foreign-044145708.html

Portions of Thailand to be reopened:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/thailand-hopes-welcome-tourists-bangkok-112131855.html

Unvaccinated Americans not welcome in France:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/frances-travel-restriction-bans-unvaccinated-141951788.html

United Kingdom Prime Minister gives middle finger to more lockdowns:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/no-more-national-lockdowns-boris-171918976.html

Steady vaccination progress in Japan:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/japan-passes-50-vaccination-rate-055345522.html

American? These 7 European nations just made it harder to visit:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/going-europe-7-countries-tightened-173355112.html

Which airlines will not let you wear a cloth facemask on board?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/more-international-airlines-banning-cloth-125500276.html

Travel to United Kingdom just got easier for Americans:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/travel-uk-england-dropping-pre-181027847.html

Vaccine passports coming to the Netherlands:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/dutch-introduce-corona-pass-despite-054411104.html

Switzerland tightens entry restrictions:

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/switzerland-imposes-new-covid-19-entry-rules-for-some-travellers/46956108

Full details regarding Switzerland COVID certificate for bars, museums, and restaurants:

https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/planning/transport-accommodation/travel-to-switzerland/covid-19-what-is-opening-and-when/

Latest COVID "stoplight map" for Mexico:

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/coronavirus-stoplight-map-takes-on-softer-hues/

On a personal note, apologies for not posting for over a week. Work got hectic and I was busier than a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest.

Quagmire1974

10-01-21, 04:02

Just writing to let you all know that I won't be posting in this forum again until probably November, as I'll be traveling in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Germany for much of October.

Thanks to all of you who have expressed appreciation for the many links that I've posted in this forum. Hopefully, I've helped at least one of you with the information that I've passed along.

Stay safe and stay healthy. Happy mongering to all of you as we close out 2021 and roll into 2022. Please look for my Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Germany reports in the appropriate forums in November.

Quagmire1974

11-19-21, 07:32

Covid situation massively improved in Mexico:

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/covid-roundup/

Covid situation rapidly deteriorating in Europe:

https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/11/15/1040097/europe-covid-surge-vaccinations/

Cambodia improves requirements for vaccinated tourists:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/no-quarantine-for-covid-vaccinated-arrivals-cambodia

Myanmar (Burma) looks to reopen:

https://www.ttgasia.com/2021/11/17/myanmar-eyes-international-border-reopening-in-early-2022/

On a personal note, I'm back from Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Germany, and am hoping to have trip reports for Geneva, Zurich, and Berlin posted here on ISG in those forums very soon. It was nice to see people enjoying themselves at museums and restaurants in the aforementioned countries. If it wasn't for all of the facemasks and having to show my CDC Covid vax card and passport to get into restaurants and museums, you'd think nothing was going on, Covid-wise. But that was before Covid started roaring back in Europe, as discussed in one of the links above.

Quagmire1974

12-22-21, 16:08

Get ready to pay another fee and fill out more paperwork:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-travelers-eu-face-fee-000312721.html

Booming tourism in Dubai:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/tourists-flock-dubai-despite-global-125720139.html

Americans gun-shy about traveling right now:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/u-travelers-stay-closer-home-120502286.html

Covid situation still favorable in Mexico:

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/27-states-green-coronavirus-stoplight-map/

Quagmire1974

12-23-21, 17:16

How is the Covid Omicron variant affecting restrictions in Europe?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/europe-tightens-covid-restrictions-amid-170816464.html

Anger in South Korea:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/south-korean-businesses-protest-against-113314145.html

Nearly eight dozen countries at "Very High" Covid risk per CDC:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/cdc-says-avoid-travel-spain-174313802.html

Your United States passport will cost more:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/passports-more-expensive-heres-travelers-201907430.html

Quagmire1974

12-29-21, 03:28

How are European Union nations adjusting for the Covid omicron variant?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/eu-countries-open-us-tourists-100119578.html

How can you keep more of your money in your pocket as you travel in 2022?

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/top-money-saving-tips-planning-230103296.html

Planning on visiting Istanbul? Eat this!

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/12-amazing-foods-try-istanbul-054603246.html

Updated entry requirements for nations around the world:

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/reopening-soon-a-country-by-country-guide-to-coronavirus-recovery/?utm_content=1D4EDD8A-66A5-11EC-9D41-55130EDC252D&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_term=Editorial&utm_campaign=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2QdrMj14cDwsgiGS9CEwjHWc8u6nWdPC4u35sFI2NKP7PNHiZMJNznPOc

Quagmire1974

12-31-21, 23:32

Booming tourism in the Dominican Republic:

https://news.yahoo.com/tourists-flocking-back-dominican-republic-140000948.html

Morocco tourism at a standstill:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/moroccos-tough-covid-restrictions-hammer-110716266.html

On a personal note, Happy New Year to all, especially those of you who regularly feed ISG with trip reports, pictures, and funny on-the-road stories. Stay safe, sane, and healthy, and may your mongering adventures in 2022 greatly surpass those of 2021.

Quagmire1974

01-23-22, 03:45

Sorry for not posting in this forum for almost a month!

Money a little tight? Consider a cheaper vacation for 2022:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/12-cheap-worldwide-travel-destinations-204724322.html

The benefits of traveling in "shoulder season:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/5-reasons-why-shoulder-season-095523942.html

Denmark dropping restrictions:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/denmark-lifts-covid-restrictions-opens-121227267.html

Ireland dropping restrictions:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ireland-set-rapidly-drop-almost-100213192.html

The conflict between certain airlines and 5 G:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/airlines-scramble-rejig-schedules-amid-231115643.html

When will tourism truly return to normal?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/world-tourism-wont-return-pre-190427662.html

Tired of Covid tests? Travel to these locations:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/37-countries-enter-without-swab-085520135.html

Travel insurance soon needed for Belize:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/belize-require-travel-insurance-visitors-193937275.html

On a personal note, I'm getting plans together for travel in April and June (details forthcoming in the future). Here's hoping many of you are already on the road and enjoying your mongering adventures (and misadventures).

ShoesAndSocks

01-23-22, 14:15

Univelton

01-23-22, 23:37

Pfizer CEO reckons things will be back to "near-normal" within the next few months.

https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/coronavirus/1642885997-return-to-near-normalcy-is-imminent-pfizer-ceo-says

Do we dare believe him and start making travel plans?For me, now the question is whether the COVID 19 pandemic is almost over. News trending now is that the UK (its constituent states) have decided to remove all restrictions for instance mask and public gathering mandates, France, Germany, Spain, . Almost the EU are all loosening COVID-19 restrictions. And the World Health Organization has recommended the end of travel restrictions.

We have to live with it as endemic from now. Then back to normal.

What is happening in your respective locations? Do not hesitate to share your insights and experiences.

ShoesAndSocks

01-24-22, 02:34

What is happening in your respective locations? Do not hesitate to share your insights and experiences.Here in Melbourne, we seem to have just about reached our Omicron peak. Mask wearing is mandatory indoors (eg supermarkets), sports events like Aus Open tennis have limited crowds. Interesting that our hot summer weather doesn't seem to have slowed the spread.

Talk for months here from our federal govt (about to face an election) that we must live with Covid, and no more lockdowns or restrictions on businesses. But then Omicron came along and pretty much scuppered that (and State govts make the calls on lockdowns and restrictions here), and the emphasis went to getting booster shots ASAP. Rapid Antigen Tests are in high demand, with long queues outside chemists whenever they get stock. Due to high numbers of infections amongst workers, there have been shortages recently of some products in supermarkets (like fresh chicken) but it's far from a serious situation.

Re international travel, if I wanted to visit the EU currently I would be required to get tested before each flight. I'm not prepared to risk being stranded in a foreign city after a positive test, and having to self-isolate in a hotel, never mind any hospital expenses that may be necessary. No problems showing proof of vaccination (triple-vacced) which I imagine may be required for some time, or wearing maks on planes, but not making travel plans until the pre-flight testing requirements are lifted.

Artisttyp

01-24-22, 03:32

Stuck in California 30 minutes from Tijuana but won't risk crossing the border. 74 % positivity reading in Tijuana. Meaning 3 out of 4 people testing are Covid positive. As someone in the high risk category it doesn't make sense right now. Hoping the Omicron wave dies down or some kind of miracle / treatment happens.

If you ask me COVID is the new Aids. I said it two years ago that it will wreck havoc on the mongering world "duh! I wish the outcome was different. SURE it's available even now but it ain't the same.

Hoping for a Hail Mary pass down by the 1 yard line.

Quagmire1974

01-28-22, 18:16

Loosening of Covid requirements for England and Scotland:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-travel-testing-rules-england-121415766.html

Facemask frenzy in Thailand:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/land-smiles-thailand-may-more-114353086.html

Philippines reopening to foreigners:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/philippines-lifts-ban-foreign-tourists-093909536.html

Finland loosens Covid restrictions:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/finland-speed-scaling-back-covid-194328458.html

Protests in Morocco over Covid closure:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/morocco-tourism-workers-protest-against-211117647.html

Quagmire1974

02-11-22, 05:04

Morocco reopening for tourism:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/morocco-reopening-2022

Will your trip require a Covid booster shot?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2022/01/31/no-booster-no-travel/

Covid spike in certain parts of Indonesia:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/indonesia-bans-foreign-tourist-arrivals-052616948.html

Australia says "G'Day, Mate!" to tourists after two years:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/australia-fully-reopen-borders-vaccinated-035828003.html

While the world rolls-back restrictions, the CDC drags its feet:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/were-not-quite-ready-to-roll-back-travel-testing-guidance-cd-cs-walensky-030317418.html

Will you need a Covid booster for your trip to French Polynesia?

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/news/french-polynesia-tahitia-moorea-bora-bora-travel-entry-requirements

Aruba loosens restrictions:

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/aruba-reopening-guide/

Vietnam reopening for tourism:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/vietnam-reopening-to-tourists/

Hang in there, guys. The "tourism door" is opening a little more each day.

Xpartan

02-11-22, 06:41

Zeos1

02-11-22, 06:56

I really hope they, scientists, know what they're talking about, but what's changed exactly? Why is the pandemic phase over? From what I'm seeing a day won't pass without yet another mutant variant being found.

So what am I missing? OK, Omicron won't kill you as easily as Delta, but unlike Delta it doesn't seem to give a shit about you being vaxxed (I mean infection-wise). Who knows what's the next variant will be like?

Of course, I'll be delighted if they're proven right. We'll see.I think it is some hope, but not certainty. Widespread infection with Omicron plus vaccinations could lead to a higher level of immunity, hopefully choking off the run of new variants. The variants are a numbers game. The more people that are infected the more chance of new variants developing. So countries with low vaccination rates and high Omicron infections could end up with similar immunity levels as countries with higher vaccination rates. And overall put the world on the road to some level of herd immunity.

Xpartan

02-11-22, 19:47

I think it is some hope, but not certainty. Widespread infection with Omicron plus vaccinations could lead to a higher level of immunity, hopefully choking off the run of new variants. The variants are a numbers game. The more people that are infected the more chance of new variants developing. So countries with low vaccination rates and high Omicron infections could end up with similar immunity levels as countries with higher vaccination rates. And overall put the world on the road to some level of herd immunity.Hope. Yes, as to herd immunity, well, I don't know. This virus is different.

Remember Manaus (or google, it's a fascinating story, really).

Manaus was hit especially hard during the first wave. They estimated over 75% were infected back in 2020 IIRC.

Then in Jan 2021, the second wave hit even worse despite the herd immunity.

Then a month ago Omicron hit even harder than the second wave.

So I don't know about the herd immunity. Maybe it doesn't work, or doesn't work everywhere, or doesn't work the way we think it should.

OJeito

02-12-22, 06:12

Hope. Yes, as to herd immunity, well, I don't know. This virus is different.

Remember Manaus (or google, it's a fascinating story, really).

Manaus was hit especially hard during the first wave. They estimated over 75% were infected back in 2020 IIRC.

Then in Jan 2021, the second wave hit even worse despite the herd immunity.

Then a month ago Omicron hit even harder than the second wave.

So I don't know about the herd immunity. Maybe it doesn't work, or doesn't work everywhere, or doesn't work the way we think it should.I'm currently in Manaus and feel obligated to reply to your comment. As I look around I too wonder why this was the original epicenter of the covid epidemic when the evil novel virus first wrapped its hands around this region of Brazil and infected so many of the population. We all saw the images on the news of the countless deaths and mass graves of the dead Being laid to rest. It was quite alarming to say the least and then came the reports that Manaus had succeeded in attaining herd immunity and worries subsided and were put on the back burner for the time being. It turned out to be wishful thinking by the virology scientific community as well As the media but another wave of covid eventually returned and swept through the region and the herd immunity theory was proven to be false. Personally I feel so many of these residents perished because of the obesity epidemic that clouds the majority of people of Amazonas. So many of these residents are beyond out of shape. The majority of the population appear unhealthy for whatever reason, be it their diets or their genetic depositions. That Being said, every resident here has a personal story to tell about how covid has effected their lives. My sympathies and condolences to the people of Manaus and the surrounding communities who were greatly altered during these unprecedented times. Everyday Covid prevention is still on the minds of these residents and it dominates their everyday behaviors. I've traveled to many territories within Brazil during the pandemic and the Amazonians approach things a lot different than the rest of Brazil. Masks are always worn and persistent hand washing seems more common. These people have been scarred by covid and I worry things will take many years before everyday life returns to being normal once again.

Xpartan

02-12-22, 22:38

I'm currently in Manaus and feel obligated to reply to your comment. As I look around I too wonder why this was the original epicenter of the covid epidemic when the evil novel virus first wrapped its hands around this region of Brazil and infected so many of the population. We all saw the images on the news of the countless deaths and mass graves of the dead Being laid to rest. It was quite alarming to say the least and then came the reports that Manaus had succeeded in attaining herd immunity and worries subsided and were put on the back burner for the time being. It turned out to be wishful thinking by the virology scientific community as well As the media but another wave of covid eventually returned and swept through the region and the herd immunity theory was proven to be false. Personally I feel so many of these residents perished because of the obesity epidemic that clouds the majority of people of Amazonas. So many of these residents are beyond out of shape. The majority of the population appear unhealthy for whatever reason, be it their diets or their genetic depositions. That Being said, every resident here has a personal story to tell about how covid has effected their lives. My sympathies and condolences to the people of Manaus and the surrounding communities who were greatly altered during these unprecedented times. Everyday Covid prevention is still on the minds of these residents and it dominates their everyday behaviors. I've traveled to many territories within Brazil during the pandemic and the Amazonians approach things a lot different than the rest of Brazil. Masks are always worn and persistent hand washing seems more common. These people have been scarred by covid and I worry things will take many years before everyday life returns to being normal once again.Thank you for you thoughtful comment Ojeito. Yes, I also feel there are some still unresolved mysteries in terms of why this region was hit so hard. I've also read somewhere that Manaus has been almost fully vaccinated by now as there are no antivaxxers there (and very, very few in Brazil in general). Don't know if it's true, but I wouldn't be surprised.

Quagmire1974

02-12-22, 23:54

I also feel there are some still unresolved mysteries in terms of why this region was hit so hard. I've also read somewhere that Manaus has been almost fully vaccinated by now as there are no antivaxxers there...I think OJeito hit the nail on the head when he said:

Personally I feel so many of these residents perished because of the obesity epidemic that clouds the majority of people of Amazonas. So many of these residents are beyond out of shape. The majority of the population appear unhealthy for whatever reason, be it their diets or their genetic depositions.Relatedly, here's an interesting Covid article from The Weather Channel. I know, seriously, right? The Weather Channel?

https://weather.com/en-IN/india/coronavirus/news/2022-02-12-secere-covid-14-times-more-likely-in-people-with-vitamin-d

Not trying to troll or insult, just passing on some information.

The Q Man.

Quagmire1974

02-14-22, 03:50

Updated Covid entry requirements for Bermuda:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/bermuda-set-drop-quarantine-post-231524949.html

Pressure on Japan to adjust Covid entry requirements:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/japan-mulls-easing-covid-border-062833536.html

On a personal note, I got my Covid booster shot this weekend. I had pain at the injection site and a stiff upper arm after receiving the injection. The next morning, I still had upper arm discomfort, and as the day progressed, I got a weak headache, my entire body felt sore, I felt run-down, and I got a slight fever. I hit the bed at 835 PM and slept until 1045 AM the next morning. I woke up feeling like a million bucks, not 100 percent back to normal, but definitely a lot better than I felt the day before. I decided to get the booster because I have travel planned for April and June (details here on ISG as I move closer to departure). On the flip side, I have friends who got the Covid booster and didn't have any reaction at all.

Xpartan

02-14-22, 06:07

I think OJeito hit the nail on the head when he said:

Relatedly, here's an interesting Covid article from The Weather Channel. I know, seriously, right? The Weather Channel?

https://weather.com/en-IN/india/coronavirus/news/2022-02-12-secere-covid-14-times-more-likely-in-people-with-vitamin-d

Not trying to troll or insult, just passing on some information.

The Q Man.The predisposition theory is quite possible, I guess, but VitaminD? I mean, sunrays might be the only thing they have in abundance. The hottest place I've been to bar none if you count the humidity.

Updated Covid entry requirements for Bermuda:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/bermuda-set-drop-quarantine-post-231524949.html

Pressure on Japan to adjust Covid entry requirements:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/japan-mulls-easing-covid-border-062833536.html

On a personal note, I got my Covid booster shot this weekend. I had pain at the injection site and a stiff upper arm after receiving the injection. The next morning, I still had upper arm discomfort, and as the day progressed, I got a weak headache, my entire body felt sore, I felt run-down, and I got a slight fever. I hit the bed at 835 PM and slept until 1045 AM the next morning. I woke up feeling like a million bucks, not 100 percent back to normal, but definitely a lot better than I felt the day before. I decided to get the booster because I have travel planned for April and June (details here on ISG as I move closer to departure). On the flip side, I have friends who got the Covid booster and didn't have any reaction at all.My Moderna booster hit me hard, much harder than the second dose, which was considerable, too. I did the shot in the morning and was fine until late in the evening. At night my body was aching badly, my muscles were sore, joints hurt, comparable to a very bad flu, I got soaking wet. I was so weak it was difficult to go to the bathroom. Got much better the next morning, and almost fine by the second night, although some symptoms lingered till the second morning. So 48 hours for me.

And my 84-yo mother was totally fine. Well, a little headache. My older relative did fine too. Go figure.

No matter what, it was totally worth it.

Quagmire1974

02-26-22, 03:11

Israel throws open their doors to visitors:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/israel-allow-tourists-regardless-covid-142826422.html

Covid roaring in Hong Kong:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/pandemic-restrictions-may-tightened-amid-211302215.html

Enjoy your mamajuana in the DR with less restrictions:

https://tt.loopnews.com/content/dominican-republic-first-caribbean-country-drop-covid-restrictions

Covid restrictions dropping worldwide:

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/more-countries-drop-covid-restrictions_244286?profile=1400254

Tourism struggling in Cuba:

https://www.theyucatantimes.com/2022/02/cuba-is-struggling-to-reactivate-the-tourism-industry-on-the-island/

On a side note, let's please keep the people of Ukraine in our thoughts (and prayers, if you're religious) as they battle the invasion by Russian troops.

Sammon

03-27-22, 22:43

Mistake I made before covid was using Expedia for travel instead of booking directly with air Canada. Generally everything goes smoothly sticking to the booked flights. Then covid hit airlines cancelled flights. As usual some airlines including Air Canada issued travel credits. Because I booked through Expedia it came as Expedia travel credit. Called Expedia to book flights using travel credit and was shuffled agent to agent which by the way all are Philippine girls. They all came up with one reason or the other telling me this flight does not qualify and origin and destination does not qualify etc. After many calls I called Air Canada. They said call Expedia again and tell them to call Air Canada if they have problems booking. Called Expedia again few times and got the same runaround. They would not bother calling Air Canada.

Frustrated I called Air Canada again. Nice Canadian girl said I need to request credit on a form directly from Air Canada. She guided me through the form. After few days I got the credit number and passcode. Now I can use those to book on Air Canada website. Sent a scathing e mail to Expedia saying they need to train these Philippine girls well in order to give good customer service. I am a valued member of Expedia.

So if any of you have outstanding credit on Expedia call the airline directly.