Travel Vaccine Breaking News

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will designate a health escort for every 20 pilgrims who will be performing Hajj this year, according to Hesham Saeed, a spokesman for the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

According to local media, these escorts will act as health leaders offering guidance and verify the implementation of precautionary measures during all movements of the pilgrims.”

Saudi Arabia had previously made Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for eligible pilgrims who must be free of chronic diseases.

The Hajj pilgrimage to Islamic holy sites in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is one of the world’s largest mass gatherings. Hajj will take place July 17-July 22, 2021.

On July 1, 2021, the U.S. CDC recommended that Americans in Saudi Arabia not make the pilgrimage. Mass gatherings, such as Hajj, can increase the risk of getting and spreading COVID-19 because it can be hard to practice physical distancing. In addition, even fully vaccinated people may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants.

An updated listing of travel vaccines is published on this webpage.

Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's government announced Tokyo prefecture's 13 million residents would be under a COVID-19 state of emergency throughout the 2020 Summer Olympics.

This action is related to Tokyo metropolitan government reporting 920 new coronavirus cases, the most since mid-May 2021.

"We must take stronger steps to prevent another nationwide outbreak, also considering the impact of coronavirus variants," Suga said after finalizing the decision to declare a state of emergency in Tokyo and extending one already in place in Okinawa prefecture at a task force meeting.

Olympic venues in Tokyo are likely to go without spectators, and the same may apply to those in nearby prefectures, news sources indicated.

The U.S. CDC Travel Alert for Japan is updated on this webpage.

The US Department of State issued an update on July 2, 2021, regarding the status of US passport operations. The list below highlights what to expect during July 2021:

• Mail delays are impacting when we receive passport applications for processing. Our processing times begin the day we receive your application, not the day you mail it.
• Routine service can take up to 18 weeks from when an application is submitted to the day a new passport is received. The 18-week timeframe includes up to 12 weeks for processing and up to 6 weeks for mailing times on the front and back end.
• Expedite service (for an additional $60) can take up to 12 weeks from the day an application is submitted to the day a new passport is received. The 12-week timeframe includes up to 6 weeks for processing and up to 6 weeks for mailing times on the front and back end.
• Our processing times (up to 12 weeks for routine; up to 6 weeks for expedite) do not include mailing times. Mail times vary, and delays have been significant. Plan ahead.

The State Department suggests you:

• Please send your application to us via trackable mail, so you can track your application before it enters our system. This can be done whether applying at an acceptance facility or by mail.
• Pay an extra $17.56 for 1-2 day delivery for the return of your completed passport.
• More about Status Updates: It may take up to 6 weeks from the day you submit your application until your status is “In Process.” During these 6 weeks, your application is delivered to a mail facility, your payment is processed, and your application is entered into our system. So even if your passport status update says, “Not Available,” your application and supporting documents are safely on their way to us. Check online for your passport status.
• Use Self-Service Tools Online: Our call center is experiencing extremely high call volumes with longer-than-usual wait times. You can get your questions answered immediately by using one of the self-service tools available on our site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What you see online is the same information that call center representatives can share with you by phone.
• Planning to Travel? Apply Early! Apply at least six months before planned travel. Due to limited availability for urgent travel appointments, we cannot guarantee you can receive in-person service at a  passport agency or center. We are prioritizing customers with life-or-death emergencies.
• Renew By Mail: Adults with 10-year passports can renew them by mail instead of appearing in person.

Visit our Passport Agency and Center page to learn more.

The UK's Prime Minister made clear in statements published on July 5, 2021, that learning to live with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus meant cases would continue to rise significantly, even if the success of the vaccination program meant hospitalizations and deaths would rise at a lower level than during previous peaks.

As of July 6, 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic continues surging. About 28,00 new cases and 37 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were reported across the UK.

Subject to a final review of the data next week, legal restrictions will end on July 19, 2021.

In England, COVID restrictions are set to end from step #4 of the Roadmap. Limits on social contact will end, meaning there will be no restrictions on indoor or outdoor gatherings.

However, proof of vaccination or a negative test will still be required for international travel. And if you’re traveling to England, what you need to do depends on where you have been in the 10 days before arriving.

The prime minister confirms that the Transport Secretary will provide a further update later this week on removing the need for fully vaccinated arrivals from an amber country to isolate.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Federal Aviation Administration welcome the traveling public back to the nation’s transportation systems. As of July 4, 2021, the TSA's new data indicates U.S. travelers exceeded the pre-COVID-19 pandemic volume in 2019.

Since July 1, 2021, the TSA airport screening services have averaged over 2.1 million travelers.

“It’s heartening to see the country taking to travel again and traveling to enjoy the weekend and celebrate our nation’s independence,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske in a press statement issued on July 1, 2021.

“We continue to remind passengers to pack their patience and remain calm through the security checkpoint and onboard aircraft. TSA will not tolerate aggressive actions toward our officers; please help us make travel safe, secure, and pleasant on this holiday weekend.”

The U.S. government's federal face mask mandate remains in effect on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. However, face masks are not required in outdoor conveyances (if such outdoor areas exist on the conveyance) or while outdoors at transportation hubs, says the TSA.

Some helpful reminders for the TSA checkpoint include, but are not limited to:

• Arrive early. TSA expects to see the increasing summer travel volumes continue to rise into the holiday weekend. Although nationally, our travel volume remains around 75% of pre-pandemic levels, some airports around the country have already surpassed volumes from 2019. Therefore, please arrive at the airport in plenty of time for ticketing, checking baggage, security screening, etc.
• Enroll now in TSA PreCheck® to “Travel with Ease.” By enrolling in TSA PreCheck, airline passengers can avoid removing shoes, belts, liquids, food, laptops, and light jackets at the TSA checkpoint. Most new enrollees receive their known traveler number within five days, and membership lasts for five years.

Passengers with questions about checkpoint procedures and how to prepare for TSA security screening or need additional assistance during the security screening process should contact TSA Cares in advance of their travel: (855) 787-2227 (Federal Relay 711). 

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level Three Travel Alert regarding this year's Hajj in the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia on July 1, 2021. Hajj will take place July 17-July 22, 2021. The Hajj pilgrimage to Islamic holy sites in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is one of the world’s largest mass gatherings.

Due to continuing COVID-19 concerns, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced via Twitter on June 12, 2021, that only 60,000 residents and citizens of Saudi Arabia will be permitted to perform Hajj.  

Furthermore, the Saudi government has announced a series of entry restrictions, including for religious travel.  Please note that the process for performing Umrah has changed significantly due to COVID-19, so all travelers should make sure to read through all requirements before booking travel. 

The CDC recommends that Americans already in Saudi Arabia not make the pilgrimage. Mass gatherings, such as Hajj, can increase the risk of getting and spreading COVID-19 because it can be hard to practice physical distancing. Even fully vaccinated people may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants.

For information about COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia, please see the CDC's COVID-19 Travel Health Notice for Saudi Arabia.

Additional Hajj vaccine information is found on this webpage.

Royal Caribbean Group confirmed two guests on Adventure of the Seas tested positive for COVID-19 before returning home on June 24, 2021. Both cruise guests, under the age of 16 and unvaccinated, were immediately quarantined. One guest is asymptomatic, and the other guest is experiencing mild symptoms.

Those in their immediate travel party are vaccinated and have tested negative. And their 'close contacts' were quickly identified and tested. Again, all are vaccinated and tested negative. The guests and their travel party disembarked in Freeport, The Bahamas, then flew to Florida.

Royal Caribbean confirmed 92% of cruise guests on Adventure were fully vaccinated, and the remaining 8% are under 16 years old. Furthermore, 100% of the crew are fully vaccinated.