Travel Vaccine Breaking News

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation spokesman Mr. Ibrahim Al-Rwosa said on September 16, 2020, that in accordance with the royal approval we have started international flights for the exceptional categories published in an updated guide on its official website.

According to the regulations, non-Saudis will not be permitted to enter the airport except after submitting evidence that the traveler is free of COVID-19, based on a recent and approved certificate, as well as a 3-day home quarantine for those coming from outside the Kingdom.

These new requirements are in addition to the previous measures, including medical disclosure during the quarantine period, arriving at the airport 4 hours before the departure time for international flights, wearing cloth face masks, and keeping safe social distances while at the airport.

We all need something to look forward to again and nothing is more exciting than planning that next winter getaway. Since most travelers are wearing a protective face mask, the Epic Pass organization, which represents about 20 ski resorts, says 'Face-masks will be required to access the mountain this ski season.'

And to fly to a US based ski resort, American Airlines is offering special air fares, which are listed on this webpage.

Six countries—Afghanistan, Pakistan, and four African nations reported additional poliovirus cases to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), as of September 17, 2020. The GPEI established a novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) Working Group to manage and coordinate the rapid and effective rollout of nOPV2.

The vaccine is a modified version of the existing type 2 monovalent OPV (mOPV2), that clinical trials have shown provides comparable protection against poliovirus while being more genetically stable and less likely to revert into a form which can cause paralysis. The vaccine’s increased genetic stability means there is a reduced risk of seeding new cVDPV2 outbreaks compared to mOPV2.

The U.S. CDC recommends that before traveling to these countries, adults who completed their routine polio vaccine series as children should receive a single poliovirus vaccine (IPV) booster dose. There are various IPV vaccines available in the USA, such as Kinrix and Pediarix.

Rome Fiumicino Airport is the first in the world to be Certified with the COVID-19 5-Star Airport Rating, announced rating agency Skytrax on September 10, 2020. Skytrax's rating is based on a combination of procedural efficiency checks, visual observation analysis, and ATP sampling tests, with the consistency of standards being a key determinant.

In high movement areas of the terminal, the airport has an in-house Bio-Safety Team of 40 staff that facilitate social distancing and ensure compliance with face mask usage. And, Rome Airport has consolidated operations to use Terminal 3 for check-in and arrival, and Concourse Gates E for departure and transfer flights.

The previous rating announced include London Heathrow Airport (3-Star), Malaga Airport in Spain (3-Star), and Nice Cote d’Azur Airport (3-Star).

Dallas based Southwest Airlines announced on September 16, 2020, it will continue to block middle seats on flights through November 2020. Southwest stated it 'hopes by extending these booking caps, travelers will have confidence in the safety measures of the airline.'

Additionally, Southwest says it has 'employed stringent cleaning and physical-distancing practices such as using electrostatic and anti-microbial spray treatments in the cabin, implemented physical-distancing measures, limited the number of passengers onboard, modified boarding procedures, and provided masks for its employees.

As air travel begins to climb from the depths of April 2020, Airlines for America published records stating that air travel is down 70% when compared to 2019.

The Islands of The Bahamas Minister of Tourism & Aviation Dionisio D'Aguilar announced on September 7, 2020, additional details of the reopening plan and commitment to revitalizing the country's tourism industry, while emphasizing that the health and wellbeing of citizens, residents, and visitors.

Beginning October 15th, The Bahamas will enter Phase 3 of the Tourism Readiness & Recovery Plan which will include the reopening of beaches and major hotels. Furthermore, all hotel guests must abide by a 14-day Vacation-In-Place, which will allow guests access to all amenities, including hotel spas, gyms, bars, and more.

More details on the Minister's address and the Tourism Readiness & Recovery Plan may also be found at Bahamas.com/travelupdates.

'All travelers to Africa, including infants and pre-school aged children, should be fully vaccinated against measles,' stated the U.S. CDC's Level 1 Travel Alert, which was issued on September 15, 2020. Vaccination with a measles-containing vaccine is the best way to make sure that you are protected.

There are 2 measles-containing vaccines available in the USA: MMR-II and ProQuad.

The CDC says 'Caused by a highly contagious virus, measles spreads from person to person by breathing, coughing, or sneezing, measles can also spread in airports, on public transportation, and at tourist attractions.'

Qantas Airways said a seven-hour scenic flight over Australia's Outback and Great Barrier Reef had sold out in 10 minutes, as it joined a growing trend in Asia offering "flights to nowhere" that take off and land at the same airport, reported Reuters on September 17, 2020.

The Qantas flight, in a Boeing Co 787 typically used for long-haul international journeys, will fly at low levels over Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef, and Sydney Harbour before landing back in Sydney.

As soon as the Irish health minister showed signs of coronavirus, all cabinet members have been ordered to self-isolate. Additionally, the Dail, Ireland's parliament, will be suspended for a week.

Previously, on August 6, 2020, the U.S. CDC issued a Level 3 warning, advising travelers to avoid nonessential travel Ireland as the health risk is high.

Singapore's Prime Minister’s Office announced on September 11, 2020, that the Government will begin nation-wide distribution of TraceTogether (TT) Tokens at communities with higher concentrations of the elderly. It consists of the TT app on smartphones and the physical TT Token, with both services based on individuals’ SafeEntry record. This Self-Check service and SMS service alerts people if they have visited the same venues at the same time as COVID-19 cases.

The TT program is Singapore’s national-level initiative to supplement contact tracing efforts to reduce the community spread of COVID-19. Currently, anyone who is entering a public venue in Singapore is required to scan a QR code or their identity cards upon entry of a public place.

The U.S. CDC's Travel Health Notices are published to inform international travelers about current health issues that impact travelers’ health, like disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, and natural disasters, in specific international destinations. The CDC's Travel Alerts include:

• Warning Level 3 (Red): Avoid all non-essential travel to this destination. The outbreak is of high risk to travelers and no precautions are available to protect against the identified increased risk.
• Alert Level 2 (Yellow): Practice enhanced precautions for this destination. The Travel Health Notice describes additional precautions added or defines a specific at-risk population.
• Watch Level 1 (Green): Practice usual precautions for this destination, as described in the Travel Health Notice and/or on the destination page. This includes being up-to-date on all recommended vaccines and practicing appropriate mosquito avoidance.

As of September 10, 2020, the CDC updated its COVID-19 Travel Recommendations, which are found at this link. 

The WHO's African Region Tweeted the latest Situation Report from the 11th Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Mbandaka, Équateur Province, the DRC. As of September 10, 2020, there have been 118 cases (112 confirmed, 6 probable) with 48 related fatalities.

Recently, two Ebola treatments Regeneron (REGN-EB3) and mAb114 were found to be highly effective when treating the disease.

Ebola preventive vaccines include replication-deficient adenovirus vectors, replication-competent vesicular stomatitis, human parainfluenza vectors, and virus-like nanoparticle preparations.

A new emergency rule takes effect across New York City's subways and buses, Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road beginning on September 14, 2020. Executive Order 202.18, directs the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) to issue $50 dollar fines to transit riders who are not appropriately wearing a face-mask during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mask compliance will be enforced by various Officers, however, MTA frontline employees are not responsible for enforcement, announced New York Governor Cuomo recent press statement.

To assist unprepared travelers, the MTA has deployed vending machines at various stations allowing customers to buy reusable face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes. Additionally, the MTA has installed free surgical mask dispensers inside 360 buses across 15 routes, to help further protect customers while on board.

According to the NYC website data, the city of New York has experienced a significant decrease in the number of SARS-CoV-2 cases, and COVID-19 related fatalities, as of September 11, 2020.

British start-up company iAbra said it has developed a 20-second COVID-19 test which has undergone a successful 3-week trial at Heathrow Airport. Virolens is based on microscopic holographic imaging and artificial intelligence, the screening device uses a digital camera attached to a microscope to analyze saliva samples.

The data are run through a computer which is able to count individual active virus cells in any sample. The Virolens system has a 99.8% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity, based on the results of an internal in-vitro validation study by the University of Bristol.

The end result is given within 20 seconds, reported BusinessCloud on September 10, 2020. 

The speed of tests conducted using the screening device, combined with its portability, could provide a major boost to transport hubs, offices, and sporting and cultural events venues reopening after lockdown. 

“Testing for COVID-19 is the lifeline that the UK economy needs to get back on its feet,” added John Holland Kaye, CEO at Heathrow Airport. “We urge the government to fast-track this technology to protect the economy and help save millions of jobs in this country.” 

The comedian Amy Schumer announced on Instagram on September 8, 2020, that she is being treated for Lyme Disease, and she may have contracted the tick-borne illness "years" ago. Schumer, 39, asked her followers to weigh in if they've also battled Lyme disease, which can lead to debilitating symptoms if left untreated. 

"I also want to say that I feel good and am excited to get rid of it," she concluded her post.

The number of US residents afflicted with Lyme disease was found to be 10 times greater than what the U.S. CDC reports each year, according to a clinical presentation on August 17, 2020.

Recently, a France based vaccine company announced positive initial results for the first Phase 2 study of Lyme disease vaccine candidate VLA15. In a press statement published on July 22nd, Valneva SE stated the 'VLA15 vaccine candidate was found immunogenic across all dose groups tested.' However, the VLA15 vaccine is not authorized for distribution in the USA.

Vietnam's National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control announced on September 9, 2020, that there are five more imported COVID-19 cases. These international travelers had their samples tested by Ho Chi Minh City-based Pasteur Institute and the outcomes showed that they were positive for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

All of them are passengers onboard the flight VN28 returning from Ukraine, on September 1st and were immediately quarantined in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province upon their arrival.

According to the Republic of Vietnam's newspaper, the nation is placing 37,474 people under quarantine and medical surveillance, including 834 at hospitals, 13,365 at centralized quarantine camps, and 23,274 at places of residence. At present, there are 35 fatalities related to COVID-19 pneumonia during 2020.

On August 6, 2020, the U.S. CDC issued a Level 3 Travel Alert, which said 'Travelers at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should consider postponing all travel, including essential travel, to Vietnam.'

Germany announced on September 9, 2020, it will extend until September 30th its travel warning for countries outside of Europe due to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic, a spokesman of the German foreign ministry confirmed to Reuters. The timing of this extension is unrelated to Germany's annual Oktoberfest since it has been postponed for 2020.

On August 28, 2020, travel restrictions are for entry into Germany were updated. Moreover, persons arriving from many countries are obliged to self-isolate for a period of 14 days. More details are available here.

Separately, the U.S. Mission announced the German Warning Day event will take place on September 10th, at 11:00 a.m. The goal of this exercise is to familiarize citizens with the emergency alert system used by German federal or local authorities to notify the public during major incidents, such as natural disasters, bomb disposals, and other security incidents.

As the Maldives continue to reopen resorts, hotels, and transit facilities, the U.S. CDC has not revised its Level 3 Alert, Avoid Non-Essential Travel, which was last updated on September 1, 2020. The CDC recommends travelers avoid all non-essential international travel to the Maldives, as travelers are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, and should consider postponing all travel, including essential travel.

Separately, the Maldives Ministry of Tourism stated effective September 10, 2020, all tourists and short term visitors must present a Negative PCR certificate on arrival. The test must be conducted within 72-hours of the departure to the Maldives.

As of September 8, 2020, the Maldives Ministry of Health confirmed 29 fatalities related to COVID-19 have been reported this year. This data indicates a 0.33% mortality rate.

Airlines around the world are trying to find ways to stimulate consumer demand that has been shattered by the coronavirus pandemic. To address this issue, Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, introduced the COVID-19 global wellness insurance coverage as part of Etihad Wellness, the airline's new health and hygiene program, on September 7, 2020.

Guests who are diagnosed with COVID-19 during their trip won’t have to worry about medical expenses or quarantine costs when they fly with Etihad. The insurance is valid worldwide for 31 days from the first day of travel. 

All Etihad tickets regardless of the date of the booking, traveling between now and December 31, 2020, will include COVID-19 insurance. Guests with existing bookings don’t need to do anything – they are automatically enrolled in the program.

Duncan Bureau, Senior Vice President at Etihad Airways, said: “The safety, health, and wellbeing of our guests and employees is our top priority, during and beyond the flight. This additional cover will not only instill confidence to travel but also reassure our guests that we are doing all we can to keep them safe and protected. As more countries start opening their borders, we are making it as easy as possible for our guests to plan their next trip, hassle-free.”

On September 6, 2020, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, stated: 'There have been 131,495 cases of COVID-19 in Canada during the 2020 pandemic.' New data indicates the city of Montreal continues to lead Canada's hot-spots, with 68 new SARS-CoV-2 cases confirmed on September 6th.

Dr. Tam added: 'In terms of age, people under 40 years of age account for over 62% of new cases in the latest data.'

This news increases Montreal's total to 30,029 during 2020. Based on Montreal's population of 4.2 million, this data indicates a city-wide infection rate of less than 1%.

Despite travel restrictions imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus at Canada's border through September 21st, about 18,431 foreign nationals — mostly American citizens — have been turned back after trying to enter Canada to shop, sightsee, or visit people because their trips were deemed 'discretionary' by Canada's Border Services Agency, reported CBC.ca.

"With travel restrictions currently in place, any travelers attempting to enter Canada for discretionary reasons will not be permitted to enter Canada," said the agency's spokesperson Mark Stuart.

There is an ongoing outbreak of Ebola virus disease in the Équateur province in the western part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), says the U.S. CDC. Additionally, the CDC issued a Level 2 Travel Alert on August 31, 2020, which informs visitors to this area in Africa that they could be infected with Ebola if they come into contact with an infected person’s blood or other body fluids.

Furthermore, international travelers should seek medical care immediately if they develop fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising during or after travel, says the CDC.

Regarding the current outbreak, the WHO African Region Tweeted on September 4, 2020, the latest Situation Report from the 11th Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Mbandaka, Équateur Province, DRC ... there have been 110 Ebola confirmed cases and 48 related-fatalities.... which indicates a case-fatality-rate exceeding 43%.

Across France, the number of COVID-19 disease-related fatalities has reached 30,706, as of September 4, 2020. According to the latest reports of the Agence régionale de Santé, the Ile-de-France region has reported 7,746 related-fatalities during 2020.

As of August 28, 2020, and until further notice, wearing a face mask is compulsory in public areas and enclosed spaces, throughout the city of Paris and in the Inner Suburbs of Seine-Saint-Denis, Hauts-de-Seine, and Val-de-Marne, under penalty of a fine of 135 euros.

This trend may disrupt the French Open which is scheduled to be played at Roland-Garros tournament from September 21 to October 11, 2020. This tennis Grand Slam will host patrons, unlike the US Open in New York City. However, to ensure social distancing, Roland-Garros 2020 will open its doors to a limited number of spectators. But, tickets for the main tennis courts will be sold without seat numbers.

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is piloting a new touchless “self-service” technology that matches a traveler’s live photo with the photo on their ID. The initiative automatically authenticates a traveler’s ID, matches the live photo with the image on their ID, and confirms their flight information in near real-time.

The current pilot at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) follows a previous 30-day test of the credential authentication technology with a camera in September 2019 at McCarran International Airport with volunteer TSA PreCheck™ passengers. Following that pilot, TSA refined the technology in partnership with the vendor and industry experts.

The pilot at DCA also includes volunteer TSA PreCheck travelers, who generally have the shortest wait times and the least amount of physical contact while at a TSA checkpoint. Travelers at the DCA airport are now able to voluntarily participate in the pilot program.

TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a press statement: “At the conclusion of the pilot, we expect to be able to determine how positioning the new technology will allow passengers to use it themselves thereby providing a safer checkpoint experience while adding significant security benefits.”

Photographs of travelers taken as part of the program are not saved, as there is no capacity to do so. The photographs are only used for identity verification to confirm that the photo matches the image on the traveler’s ID and ensure the passenger is the true bearer of an authentic ID, says the TSA.

Most air travelers know that TSA PreCheck provides expedited security screening benefits for flights departing from U.S. Airports, says the Transportation Services Administration (TSA). But this is different from Global Entry, which enables the TSA PreCheck benefit, plus expedited US customs screening for international air travelers when entering the USA.

Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI are programs of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. These programs offer travel benefits to pre-screened members. If you join Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, use your membership number as a “known traveler number” in airline reservations to receive TSA PreCheck.

Domestic and international travelers interested in Global Entry must apply through the Trusted Traveler Program website. TSA PreCheck™ costs $85 and Global Entry costs $100 for a 5-year membership.

Recently, the TSA launched the “Stay Healthy. Stay Secure.” campaign, which details proactive and protective measures at security checkpoints to make the screening process safer for passengers and reduce the potential of exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.