If you have postponed or avoided travel due to COVID-19 risks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recent update to travel health notices may ease your mind about visiting Canada and other tourist destinations. Last week the CDC dropped its recommendation that Americans avoid travel to Canada, and the warning Level 4 was lowered to a Level 3 for Canada as well as Antigua, Argentina, Belize, St. Lucia, and Panama. Jamaica and Morocco are now considered Level 1 countries with low COVID-19 rates.
According to a recent Washington Post report, Americans traveling should be up to date on their coronavirus vaccinations. Canada recently dropped its requirement for COVID testing for fully vaccinated visitors. As cases drop in other regions of the world, South Africa and the Dominican Republic shifted into a Level 2, or moderate, coronavirus risk from a high-risk level position.
Airline travelers to the United States over the age of 2 must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within one day of travel or provide documentation from a licensed health care provider of having recovered from COVID-19 within 90 days prior to travel. Fully vaccinated foreign travelers are able to enter the United States by land borders with Canada and Mexico.
Despite a rise in new coronavirus sub-variant cases, no new countries were added to the highest risk level by the CDC and the number of high-risk countries dropped from more than 130 to about 100, including the United Kingdom, Greece, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Hong Kong.
Data from Esri Canada indicates that 85.44 percent of Canadians over the age of 5 are fully vaccinated and 49.36 percent are boosted. Still, while visiting Canada, the US and other destinations, it’s important to check ahead with local mask mandates and testing requirements. The U.S. Department of Transportation has extended the requirements for masks on public transportation and in transportation hubs through April 18, 2022, after the mandate was set to expire at the end of March. Follow this link to the CDC to review a summary of recent face mask requirement changes on public transportation. Canadian provincial governments set health policies however regional health units may alter requirements depending on caseloads.
Are you packing your suitcase in the near future?
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