Travel Vaccine Breaking News

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reissued its Level 4 Travel Alert for cruise ships, including those operating in The Bahamas. 

The CDC stated on April 2, 2021, 'all people avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide, because the risk of COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high. It is imperative that people with an increased risk of severe COVID-19 avoid travel on cruise ships.'

'Cruise passengers who decide to go on a cruise should get tested 3-5 days after your trip and stay home for seven days after travel. Even if you test negative, stay home for the full seven days.'

Additionally, the CDC's Level 3 Travel Alert says 'travelers should avoid all nonessential travel to the Bahamas. Because of the current situation in the Bahamas, even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants.'

If you do intend to visit The Bahamas, the CDC says, 'check with your healthcare provider at least one month before your trip to get travel vaccines or medicines you may need.'

'With the end of the Canadian academic year approaching for students attending universities and community colleges, the following rules go into effect for students and anyone helping them to move their belongings in and out of the New Brunswick province as of Friday, April 9, 2021,' stated a recent provincial government press statement.

Under the province’s government mandatory order:

• As part of New Brunswick’s COVID-19 recovery effort, travelers entering New Brunswick by land, air, or sea must register to collect information to support Public Health. Anyone traveling to pick up a student in New Brunswick must register their travel online.
• People may enter New Brunswick for a period of no more than 24 hours to transport a student and/or remove belongings from a student’s residence. They are expected to observe all public health rules and minimize contact with others, except the student they are picking up.
• Staying longer than 24 hours is considered remaining in the province, and the 14-day self-isolation period would then apply.

New Brunswickers may enter Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, or Newfoundland and Labrador, as long as those provinces permit them to do so, for no more than 24 hours to remove belongings from a student’s residence. They are expected to observe all public health rules and minimize contact with others while away but will not be required to self-isolate upon their return.

Anyone leaving New Brunswick to remove belongings from a student’s residence located outside the Atlantic provinces is ordered, upon their return, to self-isolate for 14 days and follow the directions of public health officials. Students entering from outside the Atlantic provinces are ordered to self-isolate for 14 days upon their return.

Students returning to New Brunswick from other Atlantic provinces will not need to self-isolate upon their return.

Furthermore, the Department of Health has expanded the use of the MyHealthNB website to enable eligible New Brunswickers to obtain access to their COVID-19 test results.

There have been over 28 million COVID-19 tests performed in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of these, 3.8% were positive. For information, visit this Canadian government webpage. Ontario and Quebec have reported the most COVID-19 cases (67.1%) and deaths (78.5%).

Costa Rica’s Ministry of Tourism has announced that Costa Rica’s land borders reopened to U.S. citizen tourists as of April 5, 2021.

However, U.S. citizen tourists wishing to enter Costa Rica via a designated land border crossing must purchase a medical insurance policy to cover any COVID-19 related medical treatment or quarantine lodging in Costa Rica for the duration of their stay, announced the US Department of State.

The policy must guarantee coverage for medical expenses in cases of COVID-19 related medical treatment in the amount of 50,000 USD and minimum coverage of 2,000 USD for extended lodging expenses due to COVID-19 related illness. 

It is possible to purchase an international policy or purchase a Costa Rican insurance policy through the National Insurance Institute or Sagicor of Costa Rica.  Visit this link for an unofficial English language translation of this announcement. 

The Ministry of Tourism has also announced that as of April 5th, U.S. citizens with temporary/permanent Costa Rican residency entering Costa Rica via a designated land border crossing will no longer be issued a 14-day sanitary order. 

Costa Rica’s Directorate for Migration has also announced that persons intending to cross from Costa Rica into Nicaragua via a designated land border crossing must present evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken with 72 hours of their intended border crossing.  For more information on this requirement, visit this link.  

Additionally, the Directorate of Migration announced that visas for tourists who entered Costa Rica between December 17, 2019, and November 30, 2020, have been extended until June 2, 2021. 

The Costa Rica National Emergency Commission has announced that the nationwide COVID-19 restrictions, which began on March 1, 2021, will continue during the month of April.  For an unofficial English language translation of these restrictions, follow this link.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an Executive Order on April 6, 2021, prohibiting state agencies or political subdivisions in Texas from creating a "vaccine passport" requirement or otherwise conditioning receipt of services on an individual’s COVID-19 vaccination status.

The new Order also prohibits organizations receiving public funds from requiring consumers to provide documentation of vaccine status in order to receive any service or enter any place. 

"Texans are returning to normal life as more people get the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. But, as I've said all along, these vaccines are always voluntary and never forced," said Governor Abbott in a related press statement.

"Government should not require any Texan to show proof of vaccination and reveal private health information to go about their daily lives. That is why I have issued an Executive Order that prohibits government-mandated vaccine passports in Texas."

"We will continue to vaccinate more Texans and protect public health — and we will do so without treading on Texans' personal freedoms."

As of March 29, 2021, anyone age 16 and older became eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas.

The new Texas Vaccine Scheduler helps Texans get scheduled for a COVID-19 vaccine at clinics hosted by participating Texas public health entities. Register online at GetTheVaccine.dshs.texas.gov. 

Hawaii Governor David Ige approved Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami’s request to rejoin the Safe Travels pre-travel testing program effective April 5, 2021. Visitors and residents traveling to Kauai have several options under the current COVID-19 emergency rules, which are posted at this link.

Currently, there are Hawaii Travel Restrictions in effect for all the major Hawaiian Islands, including the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Hawaii, Molokai, and Lanai.

There is a 10-day quarantine restriction for all in-bound visitors to the Hawaiian Islands. However, there is a pre-travel testing option that will allow travelers an alternative, allowing them to bypass Hawaii's quarantine restrictions, as long as they bring along proof of a negative COVID-19 test from a state-approved trusted lab testing partner.

Here are Quick Facts about bypassing quarantine in your travel to Hawai‘i and its counties.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised guidelines published on April 2, 2021, do not impact or change Hawaii's travel rules and restrictions, stated Hawaii Guide.

And, proof of COVID-19 vaccination is not a recognized exemption to the Hawaii travel quarantine.

However, the CDC says 'fully vaccinated people can travel within the USA and do not need COVID-19 testing or post-travel self-quarantine as long as they continue to take COVID-19 precautions while traveling – wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, socially distancing, and washing hands frequently.'

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky commented on April 2, 2021, “We continue to encourage every American to get vaccinated as soon as it’s their turn, so we can begin to take steps back to our everyday lives safely. Vaccines can help us return to the things we love about life, so we encourage every American to get vaccinated as soon as they have the opportunity.”

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Level 4: Very High Level of COVID-19 in Canada Alert, suggesting should avoid all travel to Canada.

Because of the current pandemic situation in Canada, even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants, stated this CDC Travel Alert published on April 2, 2021.

'If you must travel to Canada, get fully vaccinated before travel,' says the CDC.

If you are not fully vaccinated and must travel to Canada, get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before your trip.

Furthermore, every air passenger coming to the USA, including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated people, must have a negative COVID-19 test result, no more than 3 days before travel or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months before they board a flight to the USA.  

And after returning to the USA, travelers should get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after arrival.

If traveling by air, check if your airline requires any health information, test results, or other documents. Check with your destination's Office of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Health or the US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Country Information page for details about entry requirements and restrictions for arriving travelers.

Windstar Cruises confirmed on April 1, 2021, they will require proof of current COVID-19 vaccination for all guests sailing aboard Windstar’s yachts for the rest of 2021.

At the cruise terminal before embarkation, Windstar guests must provide proof of a completed vaccination course (one or two doses, depending on the vaccine brand) finished at least 14 days prior to the guest’s embarkation date.

Windstar also requires and will administer a free COVID-19 antigen test to passengers at the pier before boarding. A negative test result is required to board the cruise yacht.

Furthermore, Windstar's Beyond Ordinary Care program is a multi-layered strategy with key hospital-grade elements: HEPA filters and UV-C ultraviolet germicidal irradiation to filter and disinfect the air, plus electrostatic sprayers to sanitize all surfaces throughout the yacht.

'We are making a multi-million dollar investment in our fleet to provide a healthy environment while sailing on a Windstar yacht, stated the company.

Seattle, WA based Windstar Cruises operates a six-ship fleet of small sailing and all-suite ships visiting approximately 330 ports in 2020, sailing throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, and the Panama Canal, Asia, Alaska, Canada, and New England, Central America, Mexico, US West Coast and cruising year-round in Tahiti.