While Australian borders are closed to all countries except New Zealand, the EU has said that vaccinated Americans should be able to cross the Atlantic for a summer holiday in Europe this year.
A top European Union official has announced that Americans who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 will most likely able to travel to Europe by summer, as the EU plans to ease existing travel restrictions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke to The New York Times and told them the union’s 27 members would accept travellers with no conditions or quarantine requirements if they have received vaccines that have been approved by the three European Medicines Agency
What’s going on?
Ursula von der Leyen said the move “will enable free movement and travel to the European Union,” which we can imagine is music to the ears of both Americans looking to leave the country, whether for a holiday or to be reunited with loved ones and for European countries who rely on tourism as their main form of income.
However, no dates were given for the resumption of international travel between the States and Europe. But ‘summer’ suggests it could be July or August this year.
Earlier this month, EU countries agreed to launch COVID-19 travel passes that would permit people to travel more easily if:
- They’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19
- They’ve recently recovered from an infection
- of if they’ve tested negative to a recent test.
Meanwhile, in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can safely travel at “low risk”.
However, it is still not fully advised because of high coronavirus cases nationwide.
Back in Australia, Aussies have been warned that if they use New Zealand as a port to escape the international border closures to other countries without a travel exemption they could face fines of up to $63,000 and even five years in prison if found guilty under newly changed laws when they return to Australia.
Source: ABC
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