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→ November 29th, 2020

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Travel Vaccine Breaking News

Harvard Confirms How to Fly Safe From Coronavirus

In order to provide evidence-based recommendations on strategies and practices to reduce the public health risks of flying during the COVID-19 pandemic, faculty at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health conducted research to improve understanding of measures that reduce risks of SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission in the aviation system.

The phase 1 Aviation Public Health Initiative report, “Gate-to-Gate” Report of SARS CoV-2 Transmission and Risk Mitigation While Flying, was published on October 27, 2020.

Hawaii's Quarantine Policy Continues Confusing Travelers

Hawai'i Governor David Ige confirmed that starting on November 24, 2020, travelers wishing to bypass the state's14-day mandatory quarantine must have a valid COVID-19 test result prior to departure for Hawaiʻi. And, If test results are not available before boarding the final leg of the trip, the traveler must quarantine for 14-days or the length of the stay, whichever is shorter.

“We’re taking this added safety precaution now in response to the dramatically increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the continental United States and around the world. The health of our residents and visitors is our primary concern, especially as more people travel to Hawaiʻi to celebrate the holidays,” said Gov. Ige in a press statement.

Gov. Ige also announced that beginning in mid-December 2020, travelers flying from Canada to Hawaiʻi may bypass the state’s mandatory 14-day quarantine if they take a COVID-19 test from labs identified by Air Canada and WestJet.

During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, Hawai'i, with a population of about 1.3 million, has reported 238 fatalities related to coronavirus infections.

The UK Launches Flyer-Friendly Coronavirus Testing Strategy

As of December 15, 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) Global Travel Taskforce, which includes officials from the Scottish and Welsh Governments, and Northern Ireland Executive, will implement a revised coronavirus testing strategy for air travelers who arrive in the UK from a 'non-travel corridor country'.

Travelers will have the option of booking and paying for a test from a list of private sector providers. They can take the test 5-days after they depart a destination, not on the travel corridors list, which for most international arrivals will be after 5-days of self-isolation.

If the test result is negative, they will be free to go about their daily lives. Individuals who opt-in will be required to self-isolate until they receive a negative test result.

If a traveler tests positive for COVID-19, they will move into the UK’s existing system for positive cases, meaning that they will self-isolate for a further 10 days from the day of the test and their contacts will be traced and notified as normal, stated the UK on November 24, 2020.

Travel Advisory Issued For The Bahamas

The US Department of State issued a high-level Travel Advisory for The Bahamas on November 23, 2020. This Level 3 Advisory, says 'Reconsider travel to The Bahamas due to health and safety measures and COVID-related conditions. And if you do visit The Bahamas, 'exercise caution in some areas due to crime, which occurs on New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) islands' says the State Department.

Americans can find the U.S. Embassy Nassau at #42 Queen Street, Nassau, The Bahamas.

Germany Cancels This Ski Season

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said 'Germany wants European countries in the Alpine region to keep ski resorts closed to combat the spread of the coronavirus, according to Reuters reporting on November 26, 2020. Previously, Germany issued travel warnings on October 22, 2020, for ski regions in Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. '

We will be trying to coordinate in Europe whether we could close all ski resorts,' Merkel said.