UPDATED 12:30 EASTERN TIME MONDAY, 30AUG:
The U.S. has been removed from EU's safe list of nations for non-essential travel. Other banned countries include Israel, Montenegro, Lebanon, Kosovo and North Macedonia.
Last week, new COVID cases in the U.S. averaged over 152,000 per day, out of a population of about 330 million. The threshold for being on the EU's 'safe' list is not having more than 75 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the previous two weeks.
Reports note that the EU guidance to its member countries is non-binding, which means that each country is free to decide on its own whether to permit Americans entry. A total ban is one option. If EU countries do permit U.S. tourists, they could face mandatory quarantines or additional testing.
Open Jaw's original story:
In another blow to the recovery of international travel, reports from Brussels say the EU will remove the U.S. from its COVID ‘safe’ list of countries.
Reports from The Times, Reuters and others say that American travellers will be banned from non-essential trips to the EU. Arrivals will face quarantine restrictions.
The move is said to be announced today (Monday afternoon in local time in Europe) and reflects the surging case numbers in the U.S.
According to the Times’ report, “The decision is not automatically binding but it sets the framework for new European restrictions on transatlantic travel after a summer of eased rules.”
Reports also cite the issue of travel reciprocity as another factor in the move. The American government still has its border closed to Europeans for non-essential travel.
The ban of American travellers to Europe will be a significant blow to travel. Many travel companies and cruise lines focused restarts on European itineraries following the EU’s lifting of restrictions on American travellers in JUN. They may be forced to suspend operations in Europe if Americans are unable to enter the EU without quarantine.
There is no indication that Canada will removed from the EU’s ‘safe’ list. Beginning 07SEP, fully vaccinated travellers from international destinations will be allowed entry into Canada without quarantine and some testing restrictions.
Earlier this month, Canada began permitting fully vaccinated American travellers to enter the country.
The U.S. land border with Canada and Mexico remains unilaterally closed although Canadians may travel to the U.S. by air without restrictions.
The American government is said to be considering reopening its borders in a phased approach beginning with fully vaccinated travellers, but no dates have been set.
Some reports this weekend suggest U.S. border reopening may not take place until after American Thanksgiving in late NOV. British newspaper The Telegraph reported that at least one major airline is pushing back its plan to relaunch routes between London and New York until NOV.
why don’t you specify that this applies only to non vaccinated travelers? this is VERY misleading and not appreciated!
Hi Adriana, this does not apply only to non-vaccinated American travellers. The removal of the US from the EU list of ‘safe’ countries was based on high case numbers in the US, not vaccination rates or individual vaccination. As the article states, the EU has removed the US from the safe list and recommends reimposing travel restrictions on US arrivals for non-essential travel. EU states will establish new rules for arriving tourists and may or may not take individual vaccination status into account.
this is from the NY times:
BRUSSELS — The European Union on Monday recommended that its member countries reintroduce travel restrictions for visitors from the United States who are unvaccinated against the coronavirus, a fresh blow to the continent’s ailing tourism sector and a sign that potential measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus might remain in place for months.
The European Council, which comprises the leaders of the bloc’s 27 countries, removed the United States from a “safe list” of countries whose residents can travel without requirements such as quarantine and testing.
The change is not mandatory. Each E.U. member state imposes its own travel rules and can decide whether to follow the guidelines or not, so it was not immediately clear which countries, if any, would reintroduce restrictions or when they might begin.