BACK to travel. Provided that the trend of Covid infections, which is rising, does not bring the state of alert to the horizon. We return to travel to the United States, which have reopened the borders since 8 November, as well as to Canada. Many states have opened their doors to tourists, who have thus returned to take the plane. Even if it is not yet completely the green light, because the rules established by each country for entry into its borders are different. This concerns the US such as Spain, and also the countries of the Covid free corridors. In the United Kingdom, for example, there is high confidence in being able to move again. Over 10 million people have taken the booster or the third anti-Covid dose (especially the immunosuppressed). And the health secretary, Sajid Javid, he urged the British to undergo the booster dose, calling it a “national mission” that would help the country “avoid a return to restrictions and enjoy Christmas”.
The United States opens its borders
The strongest signal at the moment comes from the United States, which, having reached an immunization rate equal to 70% of the adult population, after 18 months has reopened the land and air borders to passengers who have completed the anti-Covid vaccination cycle, placing thus ending the closure decreed in March 2020. The travel restrictions, introduced by former President Donald Trump, were maintained by the current president, Joe Biden. Now, the White House has announced, foreigners who want to enter the US for visits considered non-essential, such as tourism or most family reunions, will be able to do so both by plane and across the land borders of Mexico and Canada. No quarantine will be required upon arrival. But to be able to freely enter American soil, a complete vaccination certificate is required, with the drugs Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson (recognized by the Fda, Food and drugs administration), AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Sinopharm (not recognized). To travel, you will also need to undergo an anti – Covid swab within 72 hours of departure. While, to return to Italy, it will be necessary to fill in the Passenger Locator Form and carry out a new test in the three days prior to return.
Who can enter the US?
Vaccinated foreign travelers arriving from countries hitherto subject to travel restrictions due to the pandemic will also be able to enter the United States. A list that also included the 26 European states of the Schengen area, as well as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, China, Iran, South Africa and India. And that was all it took to make airline ticket bookings skyrocket. To meet the massive demand, Air France, British Airways, United Airlines, companies that are usually heavily dependent on transatlantic and transpacific routes, have added flights, selected larger planes and increased staff.
Canada has also opened its borders to tourists who have already completed the vaccination cycle. But, in addition to this, he also asks for the negative result of a molecular test carried out within the three days before the trip.
The green light from the UK
The Isle of the other side of the Channel has also reopened its borders. To enter the United Kingdom, a passport is required from 1 October last, while as regards the Covid rules, it is no longer required to observe a quarantine period. However, it is mandatory to undergo tests within 48 hours of entry, in addition to filling out the Passenger Locator Form.
The rules to be observed to move in Europe
But what are the rules, imposed by the pandemic, to be respected for those who want to move to Europe? The general condition for travel to member countries of the European Union and those of the Schengen Area is to be in possession of a Green pass, which is obtained after recovery from Covid-19, or with the result of a negative swab carried out in the previous 48 hours, or having completed the vaccination course. However, even within the European borders, each country can establish precise rules, even different from those established at the EU level. Therefore, before traveling, it is best to consult the Farnesina website traviaresicuri.it.
Lists of countries you can travel to
Italy has prepared five lists (A, B, C, D and E) which provide for different rules for travel into and out of the national territory. Except for decisions made at the last hour, it is also possible to travel for tourism in the countries of lists C and D. The first includes all the states of the European Union, the Schengen area and Israel. List D countries are: Albania, Saudi Arabia, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, Qatar, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (including Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, British bases on the island of Cyprus), Republic of Korea, Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia, Singapore, United States of America, Ukraine, Taiwan , Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions.
Here are the news for Spain, France and Germany
But for some states the rules change. For Spain, for example, which updates a list of states, or even individual regions, considered at risk every seven days. Anyone entering Spanish territory must in any case submit a downloadable form on the Spain Travel Health website.
France has chosen another path. Paris divides the countries into three risk bands: green, orange and red. Italy is included among the states in green, whose citizens for entry without limitations upon arrival are required a vaccination certificate, valid one week after the second dose of Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca and four weeks after the only dose of Johnson & Johnson. Otherwise, it is enough that a week has passed since the first dose for those who had already contracted Covid previously. Unvaccinated tourists, with the exception of children under 12, must present a certificate of “healing from Covid-19 for at least 12 days and no more than 6 months, or the negative result of a molecular or antigenic test performed less 72 hours before departure “.
And what do you need to enter Germany? There is currently no rule for risk zones. Anyone entering the country must present a certification attesting to vaccination or recovery from Covid, or the negative result of a swab (within 48 hours before if rapid and 72 if molecular), excluding children under 12 years of age. A single dose of vaccine is enough if you have already contracted Covid before
The tourist corridors
A novelty of autumn 2021 is the opening of the tourist corridors (Covid free). With an ordinance in force from 30 September 2021 and until 31 January 2022 (except for further extensions), it is possible to carry out controlled tourist trips, including staying in selected accommodation facilities, according to specific health safety measures suitable to guarantee compliance with the protocols. In essence, these are trips organized and managed exclusively by tour operators, who are also called upon to ensure compliance with the various security measures. The “Covid-free tourist corridors” are operational towards Aruba, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Dominican Republic, Egypt (limited to the tourist areas of Sharm el-Sheikh and Marsa Alam). Here it is necessary first of all the Green pass, followed by several tampons: the first in the 48 hours prior to departure; the second at the place of destination if the stay abroad exceeds 7 days; the third before returning to Italy, in the 48 hours prior to boarding; the last upon arrival at the airport in Italy. Travelers with negative results in all tests are exempted from compliance with health surveillance and fiduciary isolation obligations upon return.
Christmas around the corner
Meanwhile, we think about where to move for Christmas. But, due to the Covid pandemic and the state of emergency, until the end of the year (even if the government is considering an extension), we will have to deal with strict rules to be able to move. In this case too, the indispensable tool will be the Green pass, which will very likely be extended. So what can you do during the Christmas holidays? For those who want to stay in Italy, at the moment they will find all white areas and no travel restrictions. The Green pass is mandatory to board airplanes, ships, ferries for interregional transport (excluding connections in the Strait of Messina), Intercity and High Speed trains, buses for interregional transport and buses for rental services with driver. Also in this case, the green card must certify that they have been vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19, or the negative result of a swab carried out in the 48 hours prior to the trip. The same rules apply to the Vatican City and the Republic of San Marino.
What if you choose a hotel?
To stay in the hotel you do not need to have a Green pass, while, to have lunch and dinner inside, there are two possibilities: if the hotel offers a restaurant service reserved for customers, it is also possible to access without the Covid green card. even if it is an indoor room. If, on the other hand, the hotel offers a restaurant service that is also open to non-customers, the Green pass is essential. The pass is not required if the restaurant is located outside.
Everyone on the ski slope
And we come to the mountain. In Italy, the Green pass is mandatory in order to use the ski lifts: the law provides for it for “cable cars, gondola lifts and chair lifts, if used with the closure of the windbreak domes, for tourist-commercial purposes and also when located in ski areas, without limitations on the sale of travel tickets “. The “Protocol for the reopening of ski areas and for the use of ski lifts”, signed by the Italian Winter Sports Federation (Fisi), by the National Association of Cable Car Operators (Anef), by Federfuni, Amsi and Colnaz, already introduces the obligation Green pass to access the ski lifts, setting the capacity of the chairlifts at 100%, limited to 80% if used with the closing of the screen domes. The capacity is reduced to 80% also for gondola lifts and cable cars, and there is also the obligation of surgical masks or Ffp2 in the common areas and on the facilities. However, the situation in Switzerland is different, where the cable car association has announced that it will not be requested. But the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) intervened shortly after, speaking of a “hasty announcement”. And he made it known that the Green pass obligation remains for all restaurants, including mountain huts.
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