Americans who have full doses of the COVID-19 vaccine can now break out of the monotony of life under the pandemic. You can travel to another country for a change of scenery. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not provide a list of safe destinations.
However, CDC reminds fully vaccinated travellers to research and evaluate the situation at the international destination they want to visit. This is due to the varied levels of COVID-19 and its Delta variant. It warns that international travellers are still at risk of getting infected by some variants and becoming carriers even with full vaccination.
Requirements for American Travellers
While fully vaccinated people are no longer required to wear a mask within the U.S., you must still do so in public transportation such as buses, trains, and planes, both for domestic and international travel. You must also do so within transportation hubs like stations and airports.
Unless required by their destination country, fully vaccinated travellers do not need to be tested before going out of the country. Before boarding a return flight, though, a negative test result or documentation of recovery from the virus should be shown. You are advised to get another test three to five days after arriving, but there is no need to isolate upon arrival.
Safe Destinations for American Tourists
American tourists can refer to the United Kingdom’s green list of countries it deems safest concerning the coronavirus. The UK government’s Joint Biosecurity Centre used several factors for the classification, such as each country’s risk level for transmission, the risk level for its variant of concern, and the capability for genomic surveillance. It also factored in each country’s total number of dispensed vaccination doses for every 100 people.
The list changes in real-time, so it is best to check the UK government’s website for the latest update. You must also check if the country you want to visit on the green list accepts travellers from abroad, specifically from the U.S.
Bulgaria, Malta, and Gibraltar are open to both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers. Unvaccinated ones must show proof of an RT-PCR test with a negative result taken not more than 72 hours before departure.
Singapore is not accepting most travellers, but there is still a way to go there. It is a popular tourist destination, and the airport is a tourist spot in itself. Even locals spend weekends enjoying the features and shopping at Changi Airport.
For visitors to enter Singapore on a short-term social or business visit, you must first apply through Safe Travel Lanes. Apply for an Air Travel Pass (ATP) 30 days before the intended date of entry. Under the Connect@Singapore initiative, you may also apply through Appointed Facility operators for them to sponsor a SafeTravel Pass on your behalf at least 14 days before the intended week of entry.
You must present a minimum insurance coverage of S$30,000 for COVID-19 medical treatment and a negative RT-PCR (NAAT) test taken 72 hours before departure. The test must not be self-administered to qualify. You will be tested again upon arrival, after which you will need to quarantine for 21 days, both at your own cost.
To enter Hong Kong, both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers need to present an RT-PCR test with a negative result taken not more than 72 hours before departure. Those who are fully vaccinated must undergo a 14-day quarantine in a designated hotel with three tests. This is followed by self-monitoring and testing for seven days. Those who are not vaccinated must undergo a 21-day quarantine.
To enter New Zealand, Australia, and Brunei, both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers must present an RT-PCR test with a negative result taken not more than 72 hours before departure. They must then undergo a 14-day quarantine.
To enter the Faroe Islands, fully vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers must present an RT-PCR test with a negative result taken not more than 72 hours before departure. They must also take another test upon arrival and quarantine for ten days.
To enter Iceland, both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers need to present an RT-PCR test with a negative result taken not more than 72 hours before departure. In addition, non-vaccinated travellers must undergo five days of quarantine upon arrival.
Be Cautious and Stay Safe
Make sure to avoid travelling to countries in the U.K.’s red list and choose one of the safe destinations in the green list that are open to American travellers. Wherever you decide to go among those countries, remember to exercise maximum precautions to ensure that you remain protected against all variants of COVID-19 and that you do not bring these home.
