Traveling abroad becomes less complicated for vaccinated travelers.
A growing list of countries reduces or eliminates the quarantine and testing requirements for Covid-19 for those who have been completely vaccinated, while maintaining restrictions for those who have not.
Where vaccines ease travel restrictions
Barbados announced this week that quarantine requirements for vaccinated travelers will be reduced to zero every two days, during which time they can travel to their hotels. However, unvaccinated visitors should stay in hotel rooms until they pass the Covid test on the fifth day and wait a few more days for results.
The new protocols start on May 8.
Children are not yet eligible for vaccination, which complicates family travel plans this year, but Barbados does not leave them out. Children under the age of 18 traveling with vaccinated parents are subject to the same rules as vaccinated travelers, according to the tourism marketing website in Barbados.
Mixed groups of vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers are not as lucky. Vaccinated adults traveling with unvaccinated adult companions who “choose not to be separated” are subject to the heavier requirements imposed on those who are not inoculated.
Barbados’ relaxed policy on vaccinated travel begins on May 8.
Atlantide Phototravel | Documenting Corbis | Getty Images
With its new forked restrictions, Barbados joins Estonia, Guatemala and Slovenia in creating different entry requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers. Most require completion of vaccinations within two weeks of arrival, and some only accept vaccines made in the US or Europe.
Here’s how many countries are approaching division:
· Croatia: Vaccinated travelers only need to present vaccine certificates to enter, but unvaccinated travelers must test negative for Covid-19 (or show evidence of recovery) and possibly isolate themselves pending the test results.
· Iceland: Allow vaccinated (and previously infected) travelers, regardless of origin, to enter if they give negative results on arrival. Many unvaccinated European travelers – plus residents of Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand – can enter by testing twice negative and quarantined for five to six days. All other unvaccinated travelers, including Americans and Canadians, are denied access.
· Belize: Vaccinated travelers do not need tests to enter, but unvaccinated travelers (including children 5 years of age and older) must test negative before or after landing. Those who test positive must be quarantined for at least 14 days at the expense of the traveler.
· Georgia: Vaccinated travelers from all countries can enter by air, while unvaccinated travelers must come from certain countries and give negative results before and after arrival.
Will they use more vaccine-based politics?
Yes, he said Gloria Guevara, President of the World Travel & Tourism Council in London.
“As vaccine launches continue to grow, more and more countries will no doubt follow suit,” she said.
The US state of Hawaii is currently working to allow vaccinated visitors to avoid testing and quarantine requirements, according to local media. Lt. Government Josh Green indicated that children will still have to give negative results to enter, but children of vaccinated parents may be exempted from testing if Hawaii achieves herd immunity, as reported by Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Complaints about fairness are, in my opinion, ridiculous.
Harry Nelson
Founder of Nelson Hardiman
Phuket, Thailand and Greece have indicated that less restrictive vaccine-based protocols are in place.
Such policies make “perfect sense,” said Harry Nelson, founder of Los Angeles law firm Nelson Hardiman.
“My anticipation is that this will eventually be the rule in the vast majority of countries and that at some point in the future … we will see some countries move to a vaccination requirement,” he said.
Are these policies correct?
No, Nelson said, “but fairness complaints are ridiculous in my opinion.”
He quoted it long-term precedents for countries requiring evidence of vaccinations for the entry of visitors, especially with low-grade fever. He said the continuing threat of Covid-19 variants makes it “fully reasonable for countries to impose vaccination requirements.”
“The fair is a concept that is irrelevant when it comes to controlling an extremely infectious virus that is transmitted around the world,” he said.
Regarding Hawaii’s vaccine-based plans, Lt. Green Government told local Honolulu television station KHON that “we do not discriminate against anyone. If they are against vaccination and want to travel, they can only get it [a] test, it’s not a big deal. ”
“Every country has the right to set its own public health policy as it sees fit,” said health care lawyer Harry Nelson.
LEREXIS | Moment | Getty Images
Guevara said that while the World Tourism and Tourism Council is against the vaccination application to travel, the organization supports the introduction of a short-term health permit, such as the European Commission’s “digital green certificate”, to allow continue safe international travel.
“We should not discriminate against those who want to travel, but have not been vaccinated,” she said. “We know it will take a significant amount of time to vaccinate the global population, especially those in less developed countries or in different age groups.”
The travel security company International SOS is working with the International Chamber of Commerce to set standards for digital AOKpass, said Dr. Robert Quigley, global medical director at International SOS.
He said that digital passport applications for vaccines “are not developed to be discriminatory, but to help the travel industry get back on track and to ensure the health and safety of citizens and travelers.”
Nelson said the “policy” on fairness and opposition to vaccine passports is an obstacle.
“We need to recognize the practical reality we live in these times and deal with it,” he said.