The US ‘do not travel’ list has gotten even bigger
(CNN) — There have been cancellations and chaos on US airlines, Canada and Japan have been cracking down on Covid rule-breakers, but the UK is opening up to more and more vaccinated visitors.
Here’s what we learned in pandemic travel this week.
1. The US ‘do not travel’ list has got even bigger
Greece, including Athens, pictured, has been hit by a extreme heatwave and wildfires have broke out across the country.
Milos Bicanski/Getty Images
US citizens have already been advised against travel to countries with more than 500 Covid cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days, which includes popular tourist spots such as the UK, Spain and Maldives.
Now the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has given 16 new destinations its top risk designation of “Level 4: Covid-19 Very High.”
They are (deep breath): Andorra, Curaçao, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Iran, Ireland, Isle of Man, Kazakhstan, Lesotho, Libya, Malta, Martinique, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin and the US Virgin Islands.
2. The UK is opening up inbound and outbound travel
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UK case numbers have fallen tremendously since England dropped nearly all Covid restrictions on July 19, but there were still close to 183,000 new cases in the past week.
However, the country has had a very successful vaccine rollout, with more than 58% of the population now fully vaccinated.
Fully jabbed travelers from the United States and EU are now allowed to travel into the UK quarantine-free — although of course the CDC warns US citizens against doing just this.
3. US airlines — and their passengers and crew — have had a rough week
Frontier Airlines now says it “supports” and will pay the crew of flight attendants it had earlier said were suspended after using tape to restrain a passenger charged with groping and punching them.
Denver-based ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier had problems of a different kind.
4. Israelis have been told not to hug
Elderly Israelis wait to receive their third shot of the Pfizer vaccine at a nursing home in Netanya in August.
Oded Balilty/AP
Last month, Israel completely prohibited people from coming there from Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Cyprus, Georgia, Great Britain, India, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Turkey and Uzbekistan unless they get special permission from Israeli authorities.
5. Canada fined two travelers nearly $20K over false Covid info
Toronto Pearson International Airport pictured in April 2020.
Cole Burston/Getty Images
The visitors provided false information related to proof of vaccination and pre-departure tests and didn’t comply with requirements related to on-arrival testing and staying at government-approved accommodation, the agency said.
From August 9, fully vaccinated Americans will be allowed into the country for nonessential travel — but only if they comply with all government requirements.
6. Japan is naming and shaming rule-breakers
The Japanese government is also getting tough on those who contravene the rules.
Japan requires all travelers from overseas, including Japanese citizens, to self-quarantine for two weeks.
7. A Dallas firefighter ‘faked Covid results then went to a resort’
William Jordan Carter is accused of lying about testing positive for Covid-19 to take time off.
Dallas County Sheriff’s Office
Bank records show Carter made several purchases during his time off, including nearly $1,400 at Kalahari Resort, a large indoor water park and resort in Round Rock, Texas.
8. A Carnival cruise ship reported Covid cases
Carnival did not immediately say exactly how many positive cases had been detected aboard Carnival Vista, which departed out of Galveston, Texas.
9. More vaccine mandates have been introduced in the US and beyond
“If you’re unvaccinated, unfortunately, you will not be able to participate in many things,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday.
Officials are still in the early phases of developing the plan and an announcement is not imminent.
CNN’s Alexis Benveniste, Sarah Dean, Hadas Gold, Marnie Hunter, Tara John, Lauren Kent, Ashley Killough, Virginia Langmaid, Pete Muntean, Dominic Rech, Francesca Street, Amir Vera and Gregory Wallace contributed to this story.
