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COVID-19 international travel advisories

Visitors to the U.S. do not need to be tested or vaccinated for COVID-19. U.S. citizens going abroad, check Department of State travel advisories for the country you will visit.

COVID-19 testing and vaccine rules for entering the U.S.

You do not need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or take a COVID-19 test to enter the U.S. This applies to U.S. citizens and non-citizens.

U.S. citizens traveling to a country outside the U.S.

Find country-specific travel advisories, including COVID-19 restrictions, from the Department of State.

See the CDC's COVID-19 guidance for safer international travel to learn:

• If you can travel if you recently had COVID-19
• What you can do to help prevent COVID-19 

LAST UPDATED: May 31, 2024

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A Country-by-country Guide to COVID-19 Entry Requirements in Europe

Everything you need to know for a safe and healthy trip to Europe.

When the COVID-19 pandemic first spread around the world, many countries shut their borders. In the years since, countries have opened, welcoming tourists with different vaccination or testing rules in place. 

But many countries in Europe have since dropped travel-related restrictions, reverting back to pre-pandemic times and making it easier than ever to plan a trip. 

Here, we've outlined every country in Europe and its current reopening status, including entry any requirements foreign travelers need to know.

Albania does not require U.S. travelers to show any COVID-19-related documents or tests, according to the U.S. Embassy in Albania .

To get to Andorra, visitors need to go through France or Spain, and therefore abide by the rules and regulations for those individual countries. Beyond that, there are no further entry requirements for coming to Andorra, according to the Andorra tourism site .

Austria is open to travel and there are no vaccination or testing requirements in place, according to the country’s official tourism site . In Vienna, masks must be worn on public transportation. 

Belgium welcomes travelers from the U.S. and does not require them to show proof of vaccination, recovery, or a negative test, according to the U.S. Embassy in Belgium . 

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina welcomes U.S. travelers without any COVID-19-related travel restrictions, according to the U.S. Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina .

Bulgaria welcomes U.S. travelers without any COVID-19-related travel restrictions, according to the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria . 

Croatia welcomes U.S. travelers without any COVID-19-related travel restrictions, according to the Croatian National Tourist Board .

Cyprus has eliminated all COVID-19-related entry restrictions, according to the Deputy Ministry of Tourism . Masks remain mandatory on public transportation. 

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic has eliminated all COVID-19-related entry restrictions, according to the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic .

Denmark eliminated all of its COVID-19 entry and internal restrictions, according to the government’s COVID-19 website .

Estonia has eliminated all COVID-19-related rules, according to the government .

Finland has lifted all COVID-19-related entry rules, according to the Finnish government .

France has lifted all pandemic-related entry rules, according to the French government .

There are no longer any COVID-19-related entry rules for travel to Germany, according to the German Missions in the United States .

Greece has lifted all pandemic-era travel rules, according to the government . Greece has an optional Passenger Locator Form travelers can choose to fill out.

Hungary has lifted all COVID-19-related entry rules, according to the Hungarian Police .

Iceland welcomes travelers without any pandemic-era entry rules in place, according to Iceland’s COVID-19 website .

Ireland has removed all COVID-19-related entry rules for travel, according to the government .

Italy has lifted all COVID-19-related travel rules, according to the country's National Tourist Board .

Travelers entering Kosovo are not required to show proof of vaccination, according to the U.S. Embassy in Kosovo , but the embassy recommends travelers bring such proof. The country also doesn’t require pre-arrival testing, but the embassy said some airlines may.

Access to public institutions, malls, and indoor dining inside does require proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test for customers over 16.

Latvia has lifted all COVID-19-related travel rules, according to the Latvian tourism board .

Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein, a landlocked country, is accessible through Switzerland or Austria. Switzerland handles all immigration for Liechtenstein. COVID-19-related travel restrictions have been lifted in Liechtenstein, according to the European Union .

Lithuania no longer requires any pre-arrival testing or proof of vaccination to visit, according to the national tourism development agency .

Luxembourg welcomes travelers from all countries, regardless of their vaccination status, according to the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg . Travelers do not need any pre-arrival COVID-19 tests.

Malta has eliminated all pandemic-related travel restrictions, according to the Malta Tourism Authority .

Moldova does not have any COVID-19-related entry restrictions in place for U.S. travelers, according to the U.S. Embassy in Moldova .

To get to Monaco, most visitors must travel through France. Monaco does not have any pandemic-related travel restrictions in place, according to the government .

Montenegro does not have any COVID-19-related entry rules in place, according to the U.S. Embassy in Montenegro . Face masks are required on public transportation, according to the country’s government .

Netherlands

The Netherlands has lifted COVID-19-related entry rules, according to the government .

North Macedonia

North Macedonia is open to American travelers who are not required to undergo any COVID-related entry requirements, according to the U.S. Embassy in North Macedonia .

Norway has discontinued all COVID-19-related entry restrictions, including pre-arrival testing, according to the government . 

Poland has lifted all pandemic-era entry rules, including for vaccination and testing, according to the government . 

Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira, no longer requires proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter, according to Visit Portugal .

Romania has lifted all pandemic-era entry rules, according to the government . 

San Marino is a landlocked country surrounded by Italy. The country doesn’t have any specific COVID-19-related entry rules, according to the International Air Transport Association .

Serbia has removed all COVID-19-related entry restrictions, according to the U.S. Embassy in Serbia .

Slovakia has lifted all pandemic-related entry rules, according to Slovakia Travel . Travelers no longer have to show any proof of vaccination or tests to enter hotels, restaurants, or other venues.

Slovenia has eliminated pandemic-era travel restrictions, according to the government .

Spain has dropped all COVID-19-related health controls at entry points, according to the government , becoming one of the last European countries to do so. However, the country still asks that travelers from outside the European Union travel with either proof of vaccination administered within 270 days, proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure, proof of a negative rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours of departure, or proof they contracted COVID-19 and recovered within 180 days.

Sweden no longer has any COVID-19-related entry restrictions, according to the Public Health Agency of Sweden .

Switzerland

Switzerland has lifted all COVID-19-related entry rules, according to the Federal Office of Public Health .

Turkey is open to foreign travelers and does not have any COVID-19-related entry rules in place, according to the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Turkey .

Visitors to Ukraine must show proof of either vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours, according to the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine . Travelers must also have a health insurance policy to cover the potential costs of COVID-19 treatment.

The U.S. Department of State has currently issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel warning against visiting Ukraine due to the ongoing war and Russian invasion.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has dropped all COVID-19-related entry rules, according to the government .

Vatican City

Vatican City is the world's smallest country and is encircled by the Italian city of Rome. It is open to travelers who are able to enter Italy .

The information in this article reflects that of the publishing time above. However, as statistics and information regarding coronavirus rapidly change, some figures may be different from when this story was originally posted. While we strive to keep our content as up to date as possible, we also recommend visiting sites like the CDC or websites of local health departments.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S.

Updated Date: April 21, 2022

Since January 22, 2022, DHS has required non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination upon request.  On April 21, 2022, DHS announced that it would extend these requirements. In determining whether and when to rescind this order, DHS anticipates that it will take account of whether the vaccination requirement for non-U.S. air travelers remains in place.

These requirements apply to non-U.S. individuals who are traveling for essential or non-essential reasons. They do not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or U.S. nationals.

Effective November 8, 2021, new air travel requirements applied to many noncitizens who are visiting the United States temporarily. These travelers are also required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. All air travelers, including U.S. persons, must test negative for COVID-19 prior to departure. Limited exceptions apply. See  CDC guidance  for more details regarding air travel requirements.

Below is more information about what to know before you go, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions about cross-border travel.

Entering the U.S. Through a Land Port of Entry or Ferry Terminal

Q. what are the requirements for travelers entering the united states through land poes.

A:  Before embarking on a trip to the United States, non-U.S. travelers should be prepared for the following:

• Possess proof of an approved COVID-19 vaccination as outlined on the  CDC  website.
• During border inspection, verbally attest to their COVID-19 vaccination status. 
• Bring a  Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative  compliant border crossing document, such as a valid passport (and visa if required), Trusted Traveler Program card, a Department of State-issued Border Crossing Card, Enhanced Driver’s License or Enhanced Tribal Card when entering the country. Travelers (including U.S. citizens) should be prepared to present the WHTI-compliant document and any other documents requested by the CBP officer.

 Q. What are the requirements to enter the United States for children under the age of 18 who can't be vaccinated?

A:  Children under 18 years of age are excepted from the vaccination requirement at land and ferry POEs.

Q: Which vaccines/combination of vaccines will be accepted?

A:  Per CDC guidelines, all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and authorized vaccines, as well as all vaccines that have an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) from the World Health Organization (WHO), will be accepted.

Accepted Vaccines:

• More details are available in CDC guidance  here .
• 2 weeks (14 days) after your dose of an accepted single-dose COVID-19 vaccine;
• 2 weeks (14 days) after your second dose of an accepted 2-dose series;
• 2 weeks (14 days) after you received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine (not placebo) in a clinical trial;
• 2 weeks (14 days) after you received 2 doses of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines administered at least 17 days apart.

Q. Is the United States requiring travelers to have a booster dose to be considered fully vaccinated for border entry purposes?

A:  No. The CDC guidance for “full vaccination” can be found here.

Q: Do U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land POEs and ferry terminals?

A:  No. Vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs). Travelers that exhibit signs or symptoms of illness will be referred to CDC for additional medical evaluation.

Q: Is pre- or at-arrival COVID testing required to enter the United States via land POEs or ferry terminals?

A: No, there is no COVID testing requirement to enter the United States via land POE or ferry terminals. In this respect, the requirement for entering by a land POE or ferry terminal differs from arrival via air, where there is a requirement to have a negative test result before departure.

Processing Changes Announced on January 22, 2022 

Q: new changes were recently announced. what changed on january 22.

A:  Since January 22, 2022, non-citizens who are not U.S. nationals or Lawful Permanent Residents have been required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the United States at land ports of entry and ferry terminals, whether for essential or nonessential purposes. Previously, DHS required that non-U.S. persons be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the United States for nonessential purposes.  Effective January 22, all non-U.S. individuals, to include essential travelers, must be prepared to attest to vaccination status and present proof of vaccination to a CBP officer upon request. DHS announced an extension of this policy on April 21, 2022.

Q: Who is affected by the changes announced on January 22?

A: This requirement does not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents. It applies to other noncitizens, such as a citizen of Mexico, Canada, or any other country seeking to enter the United States through a land port of entry or ferry terminal.

Q: Do U.S. citizens need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land port of entry or ferry terminals?

A: Vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. Citizens, U.S. nationals or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents. Travelers that exhibit signs or symptoms of illness will be referred to CDC for additional medical evaluation. 

Q: What is essential travel?

A:  Under the prior policy, there was an exception from temporary travel restrictions for “essential travel.” Essential travel included travel to attend educational institutions, travel to work in the United States, travel for emergency response and public health purposes, and travel for lawful cross-border trade (e.g., commercial truckers). Under current policy, there is no exception for essential travel.

Q: Will there be any exemptions? 

A: While most non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States will need to be vaccinated, there is a narrow list of exemptions consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Order in the air travel context.

• Certain categories of individuals on diplomatic or official foreign government travel as specified in the CDC Order
• Children under 18 years of age;
• Certain participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials as specified in the CDC Order;   
• Individuals with medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine as specified in the CDC Order;
• Individuals issued a humanitarian or emergency exception by the Secretary of Homeland Security;
• Individuals with valid nonimmigrant visas (excluding B-1 [business] or B-2 [tourism] visas) who are citizens of a country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability, as specified in the CDC Order
• Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under 18 years of age) as specified in the CDC Order; and
• Individuals whose entry would be in the U.S. national interest, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Q: What documentation will be required to show vaccination status?

A:  Non-U.S. individuals are required to be prepared to attest to vaccination status and present proof of vaccination to a CBP officer upon request regardless of the purpose of travel.

The current documentation requirement remains the same and is available on the CDC website . Documentation requirements for entry at land ports of entry and ferry terminals mirror those for entry by air.

Q: What happens if someone doesn’t have proof of vaccine status?

A: If non-U.S. individuals cannot present proof of vaccination upon request, they will not be admitted into the United States and will either be subject to removal or be allowed to withdraw their application for entry.

Q: Will incoming travelers be required to present COVID-19 test results?

A: There is no COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers at land border ports of entry, including ferry terminals.

Q: What does this mean for those who can't be vaccinated, either due to age or other health considerations? 

A: See CDC guidance for additional information on this topic. Note that the vaccine requirement does not apply to children under 18 years of age.

Q: Does this requirement apply to amateur and professional athletes?

A: Yes, unless they qualify for one of the narrow CDC exemptions.

Q: Are commercial truckers required to be vaccinated?

A: Yes, unless they qualify for one of the narrow CDC exemptions. These requirements also apply to bus drivers as well as rail and ferry operators.

Q. Do you expect border wait times to increase?

A:  As travelers navigate these new travel requirements, wait times may increase. Travelers should account for the possibility of longer than normal wait times and lines at U.S. land border crossings when planning their trip and are kindly encouraged to exercise patience.

To help reduce wait times and long lines, travelers can take advantage of innovative technology, such as facial biometrics and the CBP OneTM mobile application, which serves as a single portal for individuals to access CBP mobile applications and services.

Q: How is Customs and Border Protection staffing the ports of entry? 

A: CBP’s current staffing levels at ports of entry throughout the United States are commensurate with pre-pandemic levels. CBP has continued to hire and train new employees throughout the pandemic. CBP expects some travelers to be non-compliant with the proof of vaccination requirements, which may at times lead to an increase in border wait times. Although trade and travel facilitation remain a priority, we cannot compromise national security, which is our primary mission. CBP Office of Field Operations will continue to dedicate its finite resources to the processing of arriving traffic with emphasis on trade facilitation to ensure economic recovery.

Q: What happens if a vaccinated individual is traveling with an unvaccinated individual?  

A:  The unvaccinated individual (if 18 or over) would not be eligible for admission.

Q: If I am traveling for an essential reason but am not vaccinated can I still enter?

A:  No, if you are a non-U.S. individual. The policy announced on January 22, 2022 applies to both essential and non-essential travel by non-U.S. individual travelers. Since January 22, DHS has required that all inbound non-U.S. individuals crossing U.S. land or ferry POEs – whether for essential or non-essential reasons – be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination upon request.

Q: Are sea crew members on vessels required to have a COVID vaccine to disembark?

A:  Sea crew members traveling pursuant to a C-1 or D nonimmigrant visa are not excepted from COVID-19 vaccine requirements at the land border. This is a difference from the international air transportation context.

Entering the U.S. via Air Travel

Q: what are the covid vaccination requirements for air passengers to the united states  .

A:  According to CDC requirements [www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/noncitizens-US-air-travel.html | Link no longer valid], most noncitizens who are visiting the United States temporarily must be fully vaccinated prior to boarding a flight to the United States. These travelers are required to show proof of vaccination. A list of covered individuals is available on the CDC website.  

Q: What are the COVID testing requirements for air passengers to the United States?  

A:  Effective Sunday, June 12 at 12:01 a.m. ET, CDC will no longer require pre-departure COVID-19 testing for U.S.-bound air travelers.

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Coronavirus Updates

The u.s. lifts the pandemic travel ban and opens the doors to international visitors.

The Associated Press

Passengers walk through Salt Lake City International Airport, Oct. 27, 2020. More than a year and a half after COVID-19 concerns prompted the U.S. to close its borders to international travelers from countries including Brazil, China, India, South Africa, the U.K. and much of Europe, restrictions are shifting to focus on vaccine status. Rick Bowmer/AP hide caption

Passengers walk through Salt Lake City International Airport, Oct. 27, 2020. More than a year and a half after COVID-19 concerns prompted the U.S. to close its borders to international travelers from countries including Brazil, China, India, South Africa, the U.K. and much of Europe, restrictions are shifting to focus on vaccine status.

The U.S. lifted restrictions Monday on travel from a long list of countries including Mexico, Canada and most of Europe, allowing tourists to make long-delayed trips and family members to reconnect with loved ones after more than a year and a half apart because of the pandemic.

Starting Monday, the U.S. is accepting fully vaccinated travelers at airports and land borders, doing away with a COVID-19 restriction that dates back to the Trump administration. The new rules allow air travel from previously restricted countries as long as the traveler has proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test. Land travel from Mexico and Canada will require proof of vaccination but no test.

Airlines are expecting more travelers from Europe and elsewhere. Data from travel and analytics firm Cirium showed airlines are increasing flights between the United Kingdom and the U.S. by 21% this month over last month.

The change will have a profound effect on the borders with Mexico and Canada, where traveling back and forth was a way of life until the pandemic hit and the U.S. shut down nonessential travel.

Malls, restaurants and Main Street shops in U.S. border towns have been devastated by the lack of visitors from Mexico. On the boundary with Canada, cross-border hockey rivalries were community traditions until being upended by the pandemic. Churches that had members on both sides of the border are hoping to welcome parishioners they haven't seen during COVID-19 shutdown.

Loved ones have missed holidays, birthdays and funerals while nonessential air travel was barred, and they are now eager to reconnect.

River Robinson's American partner wasn't able to be in Canada for the birth of their baby boy 17 months ago because of pandemic-related border closures. She was thrilled to hear the U.S. is reopening its land crossings to vaccinated travelers.

"I'm planning to take my baby down for the American Thanksgiving," said Robinson, who lives in St. Thomas, Ontario. "If all goes smoothly at the border I'll plan on taking him down as much as I can. Is crazy to think he has a whole other side of the family he hasn't even met yet."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. will accept travelers who have been fully vaccinated with any of the vaccines approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization, not just those in use in the U.S. That means that the AstraZeneca vaccine, widely used in Canada, will be accepted.

For air travelers, the airlines are required to verify vaccine records and match them against ID, and if they don't, they could face fines of up to nearly $35,000 per violation. Airlines will also collect information about passengers for contact tracing efforts. There will be CDC workers spot-checking travelers for compliance in the U.S. At land borders, Customs and Border Protection agents will check vaccine proof.

The moves come as the U.S. has seen its COVID-19 outlook improve dramatically in recent weeks since the summer delta surge that pushed hospitals to the brink in many locations.

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• Passports, travel and living abroad
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Entry requirements

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel. 

The authorities in the US set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the US Embassy or a consulate in the UK .

COVID-19 rules

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering the US.

Passport validity requirements

To enter the US, your passport must be valid for the length of your planned stay.

If you’re travelling through another country on your way to or from the US, check the entry requirements for that country. Many countries will only allow entry if you have at least 6 months validity remaining on your passport. 

Dual nationals  

US law requires US citizens to enter and exit the US using a US passport. Contact the US Embassy or a consulate in the UK for more information.

Visa requirements

To enter or transit through the US, you must have either an  Electronic System for Travel Authorisation ( ESTA ) visa waiver  or a visa .

The US State Department has more information on visas .

Applying for an ESTA visa waiver 

Apply for an ESTA visa waiver through US Customs and Border Protection. You can also apply using the ESTA Mobile app on android or on iOS .

You cannot apply for an ESTA visa waiver if you have:

• been arrested (even if the arrest did not result in a criminal conviction)
• a criminal record
• been refused admission into, or have been deported from the US
• previously overstayed under an ESTA visa waiver

You cannot normally apply for an ESTA visa waiver if you were in the following countries on or after March 2011: 

• North Korea

You cannot apply for an ESTA visa waiver if you travelled to or were in Cuba on or after 12 January 2021. 

If you are not eligible for an ESTA , you must instead apply for a US visa.

Applying for a visa

The US Embassy in London has information on how to apply for a visa .

US visa appointments

Visa appointments at the US Embassy in London are limited. Plan your application as far ahead as possible before travel. If you need to travel urgently, you can request an expedited interview through the US Embassy’s appointment service provider.

The US Embassy has more information on visa appointments .

Children and young people

Anyone aged 17 and under must:

• have a valid visa or ESTA visa waiver on arrival
• be able to provide evidence about the purpose, location and length of their visit if asked by immigration officials
• have written consent from one or both parents if travelling alone, with only one parent, or with someone who is not a parent or legal guardian

The US authorities can stop you entering the country if they have safeguarding concerns about a child. If this happens, the US authorities will take the child into their care, and their return from the US could take months. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) cannot speed up the return of British nationals aged 17 and under from the US.

The US government has information about children travelling to the US . If you have questions, contact the US Embassy in the UK .

Vaccine requirements

For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s US guide .

Customs rules 

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of the US . You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Global Entry programme

The US Customs and Border Protection programme Global Entry allows pre-approved travellers through border control faster at some US airports. If you’re a British citizen, you can  register to get a UK background check . If you pass the background checks, you’ll be invited to apply for Global Entry.

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Questions and answers on COVID-19: Travelling

1. what precautions should i take if i need to travel.

Travellers should consult the national policies of their destination country, as well as policies set by their transport provider prior to travel. 

Standard prevention measures to control the spread of COVID-19 that may be recommended during travel include:

• do not travel if exhibiting symptoms compatible with COVID-19
• practice physical distancing (a distance of one to two metres from others)
• follow respiratory etiquette (coughing and sneezing into a tissue or elbow) and good hand hygiene (washing hands with soap and water regularly or using alcohol-based hand sanitisers)
• use a face mask (preferably a medical face mask or FFP2 respirator) in situations where physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Travellers who develop any symptoms compatible with COVID-19 during or after travel should self-isolate and seek medical advice and test for SARS-CoV-2 to exclude a diagnosis of COVID-19.

2. What is the risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 when travelling?

There may be a risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 while travelling, so standard prevention measures should be followed.

ECDC, in collaboration with other relevant EU agencies, has developed joint guidance for the  aviation ,  cruise  ship and  railway  sectors for use during the pandemic, including advice on non-pharmaceutical interventions while travelling, the cleaning and disinfection of premises and managing a COVID-19 case on board.

Travel during the coronavirus pandemic (European Commission)

Public health guidance

Guidance for COVID-19 quarantine and testing of travellers

Covid-19: eu guidance for cruise ship operations, covid-19 rail protocol: recommendations for safe resumption of railway services in europe.

U.S. to lift restrictions Nov 8 for vaccinated foreign travelers

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What is COVID-19?

Who can get covid-19, can i travel if i recently had covid-19, what can travelers do to prevent covid-19, more information.

CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance has been updated. The content of this page will be updated soon.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. The virus spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets and small particles produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. The virus spreads easily in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor settings.

People with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms   – ranging from no or mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2–14 days after exposure to the virus. Possible symptoms include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, new loss of taste and smell, sore throat, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Anyone can get COVID-19. However, some people are more likely than others to get very sick if they get COVID-19. These include people who are older, are  immunocompromised , or have certain  disabilities , or have  underlying health conditions .  Vaccination, past infection, and timely access to testing and treatment can help protect you from getting very sick from COVID-19.

Yes, you can travel once you have ended isolation . Check CDC guidance for additional precautions, including testing and wearing a mask around others. If you recently had COVID-19 and are recommended to wear a mask, do not travel on public transportation such as airplanes, buses, and trains if you are unable to wear a mask whenever around others.

Get  up to date  with your COVID-19 vaccines before you travel and take steps to protect yourself and others . Consider wearing a mask in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor areas, including on public transportation and in transportation hubs. Take additional precautions if you were recently exposed to a person with COVID-19. Don’t travel while sick.

If you have a  weakened immune system  or  are at increased risk for severe disease talk to a healthcare professional before you decide to travel.  If you travel, take multiple prevention steps to provide additional layers of protection from COVID-19, even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines. These include improving ventilation and spending more time outdoors, avoiding sick people, getting tested for COVID-19 if you develop symptoms, staying home if you have or think you have COVID-19, and seeking treatment if you have COVID-19.

Consider getting travel insurance in case you need medical care abroad .

Consider getting a COVID-19 test if you:

• Develop COVID-19 symptoms before, during, or after travel.
• Will be traveling to visit someone who is at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
• Were in a situation with a greater risk of exposure during travel (e.g., in an indoor, crowded space like an airport terminal while not wearing a mask).

If you traveled and feel sick, particularly if you have a fever, talk to a healthcare professional, and tell them about your recent travel.

• Masking During Travel

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Watch CBS News

Europe to welcome back U.S. travelers, but timing and requirements still unclear

April 27, 2021 / 4:22 AM EDT / CBS/AP

Brussels  — American tourists could soon be visiting continental Europe again, more than a year after the European Union restricted travel to the 27-nation bloc to a bare minimum to contain the coronavirus . EU officials have said they're completing plans to allow Americans back this summer, depending on the course of the outbreak on both sides of the Atlantic.   The EU Commission, the EU's executive arm, will make a proposal soon to its member states but didn't say when exactly leisure travel could resume or whether a reciprocal approach will apply to Europeans wanting to visit the U.S., which has closed its doors to tourists from the continent.   Also, it was not immediately clear whether all U.S. tourists would have to produce proof of vaccination for entry, or whether a negative test for the coronavirus or proof of recent recovery from COVID-19 would be acceptable instead.

"These are among the questions we'll still need to figure out," European Commission spokesman Adalbert Jahnz said. Jahnz said the EU's executive body is hoping to restore trans-Atlantic leisure travel "as soon as it is safe to do so."

As CBS News correspondent Holly Williams reported from London, many European leaders would love to welcome American tourists back to help heal their COVID-battered economies. With more than 15 million Americans visiting Europe annually before the crisis, the prospect of U.S. travelers once more flocking to attractions like the Eiffel Tower, the canals of Venice or Germany's Brandenburg Gate would be welcome news for the continent's hard-hit tourism industry.   EF Go Ahead Tours, a Boston-based company that offers small group tours to Europe and elsewhere, said it expects demand to be extremely high once Americans can visit Europe again.

The International Air Transport Association, a trade group that represents 290 airlines in 120 countries, applauded the news from the EU leadership.   "This is a step in the right direction," IATA General Director Willie Walsh said in a statement. "It gives hope to people for so many reasons — to travel, to reunite with loved ones, to develop business opportunities or get back to work."

Vaccination and travel

Jahnz said the EU has been following closely the vaccination drive in the U.S, where more than 94 million people 18 or older, or about 36.5% of the adult population, have been fully vaccinated.   The slow rollout of vaccines in the EU has left the bloc lagging well behind the U.S. But on Sunday, The New York Times quoted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as saying that fully vaccinated Americans will able to visit EU countries this summer since all coronavirus vaccines used in the U.S. have also been approved by the EU's regulator, the European Medicines Agency.

"This will enable free movement and the travel to the European Union," she said. "Because one thing is clear: All 27 member states will accept, unconditionally, all those who are vaccinated with vaccines that are approved by EMA."

Von der Leyen said Monday that the region, home to around 450 million people, has already passed 123 million vaccinations and is on track to have vaccinated 70% of all adults by July. 

The EU is putting the finishing touches to a system of certificates that would allow EU residents to travel freely across the region by the summer as long as they have been vaccinated, tested negative or recovered from the disease.   Under the plan discussed with their U.S. counterparts, certificates issued in the United States could be integrated into the program.   As for Britain, no longer an EU member, Americans visiting the United Kingdom have to isolate for 10 days and take coronavirus tests before and after travel.

IATA said people who test negative for COVID-19, not just those who get vaccinated, should be allowed to travel freely. The group also said it is critical to develop globally recognized standards for vaccine certification. IATA is among groups testing a vaccine passport system.

Different countries, different rules?

"Uniliteral approaches, from our perspective should be avoided," Jahnz said. "The objective is to continue to have a coordinated approach on the European level."

While most EU nations are waiting for the European medicines agency and other bodies to make an umbrella recommendation on the safety of welcoming American travelers back, the individual countries can set their own rules — and some already have.

As Williams reported, Greece, which has an incredibly tourism-dependent economy, already decided started letting American vacationers return a week ago.

In the U.K., aviation industry executives and lobbyists are pushing officials to open a "travel bridge" with the U.S. from May 17 — the date on which the British government expects to drop restrictions on non-essential international travel for residents.

When Iceland reopened its borders earlier this month, bookings surged, and most summer tour dates are now sold out, the company said. Over the last month, as more Americans got vaccinated, the company also saw double-digit growth in European tour reservations for dates in 2022 and 2023.

Williams said another question looming large for American holiday planners is the extent of restrictions they'll find in place in various European destinations if they do make a trip.

Right now, the rules vary significantly from country to country.

In France, for instance, COVID infection rates are still high and the country is completely locked down, with no restaurants, bars or attractions open. The U.K. reopened cafes and restaurants for outdoor service only a couple weeks ago, and most outdoor attractions are open. British leaders hope to have everything opened back up again by the end of June.

But all those rules are subject to conditions on the ground, including infection rates and the success of mass-vaccination programs.  

Notes of caution

Last week, the U.S. State Department urged Americans to reconsider any international travel they may have planned. It issued specific warnings not to visit roughly 80% of the world's countries due to risks from the coronavirus pandemic, including many European countries.   Rick Steves , who has written guidebooks and television shows about European travel, said he is glad European countries are working together and are eager to rekindle tourism. But he doesn't expect his company, Rick Steves' Europe, will offer its popular bus tours through Europe until late 2021 at the earliest to make sure travel restarts safely. Last March, Steves had to cancel and refund 20,000 tours.

"To avoid repeating that disappointment, I plan to be very conservative about restarting our tours," Steves said. "We will do so only when we believe it is safe, when Europe is able to provide the kind of experiential travel that is fundamental to our tour program and when we are reasonably confident that things will remain stable and open."

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• COVID-19 travel advice

Lower your risk of COVID-19 as you travel for a safe and fun adventure.

Successful travel starts with being prepared for the unexpected. Coronavirus disease 2019, known as COVID-19, is now a part of standard travel planning.

As you choose a destination, travel group or event, add COVID-19 to the list of things to research. When packing for yourself or anyone you're caring for on the trip, consider COVID-19 prevention and testing.

No one wants to plan for the worst. But having a plan in case you catch the COVID-19 virus while traveling can save time if you need medical care.

To start, it can help to ask these basic questions as you make plans.

Am I up to date with my COVID-19 vaccine?

Staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccine helps prevent serious illness, the need for hospital care and death due to COVID-19 .

If you need a vaccine, plan to get it at least a few weeks before you travel. Protection from the vaccine isn't immediate.

Am I, a travel companion or a person I live with at high risk of serious COVID-19 illness?

Many people with COVID-19 have no symptoms or mild illness. But for older adults and people of any age with certain medical conditions, COVID-19 can lead to the need for care in the hospital or death.

If you or those around you are at high risk of serious COVID-19 illness, take extra safety measures during or after travel.

Ask a healthcare professional if there are any specific actions you should take.

Does my destination, tour group or event need proof that I had a COVID-19 vaccine? Do I need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test?

The country you travel to may not need to know your COVID-19 status. But you might need the information for other reasons.

Events, venues or tour groups might require proof that you are COVID-19 negative or are up to date on a COVID-19 vaccine. Check before you go so you have all the paperwork you need.

What's the plan if I get COVID-19 on my trip?

No one wants to get sick while traveling. But in case you do, it helps to know where you can get medical care and whether you'll be able to stay apart from others while you have symptoms.

Put together a COVID-19 kit with rapid home tests, masks, a thermometer, disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Before you leave, gather health information from your healthcare professional. Make sure it gives the details on any health conditions you're managing and medicine you take.

COVID-19 spread during travel

The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person. When the virus is spreading, spending time indoors with a crowd of people raises your risk of catching it. The risk is higher if the indoor space has poor airflow.

The coronavirus is carried by a person's breath.

The virus spreads when a person with COVID-19 breathes, coughs, sneezes, sings or talks. The droplets or particles the infected person breathes out could possibly be breathed in by other people if they are close together or in areas with low airflow.

The virus carried by a person's breath can land directly on the face of a nearby person, after a sneeze or cough, for example. And people may touch a surface that has respiratory droplets and then touch their faces with hands that have the coronavirus on them.

Clean hands

While you travel, one way to lower your risk of COVID-19 is to clean your hands often.

Wash your hands after using the bathroom, before making food or eating, and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. If you touch something that others regularly touch, such as an elevator button or a handrail, make sure to clean your hands afterward.

Also, try to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Wearing a face mask is another way to lower your risk of COVID-19 .

Travel brings people together from areas where viruses may be spreading at higher levels. Masks can help slow the spread of respiratory viruses in general, including the COVID-19 virus.

Masks help the most in places with low airflow and where you are in close contact with other people. Also, masks can help if viruses are spreading at high levels in the places you travel to or through.

Masking is especially important if you or a companion have a high risk of serious COVID-19 illness. Choose the most protective mask that fits well and is comfortable.

Get the COVID-19 vaccine

As the virus that causes COVID-19 changes, COVID-19 vaccines are updated, so stay up to date with the recommended shots.

Know when the COVID-19 virus is spreading in your area

Check with health agencies in the area to see where the COVID-19 virus is spreading. Information about the spread of the virus may include the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 or the number of people who test positive for the disease.

Keep some space around you

Choose outdoor activities and keep some distance between yourself and others. Poor airflow plus lots of people crowded together equals a higher chance you'll come in contact with the virus that causes COVID-19 .

If you can, try to avoid spending time with people who have COVID-19 symptoms or who are sick.

There will likely be times during travel when you don't have a choice about how close you are to others. Here are some tips for air travel, public transportation and lodging.

The risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from air travel is thought to be low.

Air in the plane's cabin changes over quickly during the flight, being replaced every few minutes in some planes. Airplane air also is often filtered. So germs, including viruses, are trapped before they spread.

The air flowing down from vents above the seats in each row may help keep germs from spreading. Seats also may act as a barrier to germ spread on a plane, unless the person who is ill is sitting close to you.

You can help lower your risk by spreading out to keep distance between you and others when you can and cleaning your hands regularly.

Wearing a mask in crowded areas, such as security lines and bathrooms, can help protect you from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

Trains, buses and cars

Trains and buses may have good airflow and air filtering. But check before you travel so you know what to expect. When a vehicle is crowded, wear a face mask and take other steps, such as cleaning your hands.

Taxis and private cars used for ride-sharing may not have air filtering. But in most cases, rolling down a window could be an option to improve airflow.

Rental car companies may post their cleaning policies on the internet, or you can ask directly when you book the vehicle.

Hotels and other lodging

Cleaning protocols at hotels, vacation rentals and other lodging have largely returned to the way they were before the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have questions about how hosts or businesses protect guests, contact them directly. In public areas of hotels, take steps to lower your risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 .

Put safety first

Despite your planning, an illness may delay or cancel your trip. Stay home if you or anyone you're traveling with has:

• Symptoms of COVID-19 , such as fever or new loss of taste or smell.
• Taken a COVID-19 test and is waiting for results.
• Been diagnosed with COVID-19 .

Keep watch for serious symptoms of COVID-19 , such as trouble breathing or chest pain. If you or a person you're taking care of has symptoms that worry you, get help.

Once the fever is gone and symptoms are getting better, you may choose to travel. But for about five days after feeling better, you could still give others the virus that causes COVID-19 . Take extra actions to protect the people around you.

• Wear a mask.
• Keep your distance from others, especially when indoors.
• Clean your hands regularly.
• Keep the air flowing by turning on fans or opening windows when you can.

If you start to feel worse or your fever comes back, avoid being around others again until you feel better.

Stay flexible

With COVID-19 vaccinations, testing and treatment, events and travel are back to typical levels in many places. But as waves of COVID-19 outbreaks happen, it's important to stay flexible with your plans. Knowing whether the COVID-19 virus is spreading in your area or in places where you're traveling can help you make decisions about whether to go and what to put on your agenda.

• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html. Accessed May 15, 2024.
• Understanding how COVID-19 vaccines work. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/how-they-work.html. Accessed May 15, 2024.
• People with certain medical conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html. Accessed May 15, 2024.
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Travel advice for the general public. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-travel-advice-for-the-general-public. Accessed May 15, 2024.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19. In: CDC Yellow Book 2024. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/infections-diseases/covid-19. Accessed May 15, 2024.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Obtaining health care abroad. In: CDC Yellow Book 2024. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/health-care-abroad/health-care-abroad. Accessed May 15, 2024.
• Goldman L, et al., eds. COVID-19: Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, community prevention, and prognosis. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Elsevier; 2024. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 16, 202.
• Taking steps for cleaner air for respiratory virus prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/air-quality.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.
• How COVID-19 spreads. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.
• COVID-19 overview and infection prevention and control priorities in non-U.S. healthcare settings. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/non-us-settings/overview/index.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.
• Hygiene and respiratory viruses prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/hygiene.html. Accessed May 14, 2024.
• About handwashing. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/about/index.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.
• Masking during travel. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/masks. Accessed May 16, 2024.
• Masks and respiratory virus prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/masks.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.
• How to protect yourself and others. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.
• About physical distancing and respiratory viruses. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/physical-distancing.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.
• How can ventilation reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 on airplanes? World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-travel-advice-for-the-general-public. Accessed May 16, 2024.
• Bielecki M, et al. Air travel and COVID-19 prevention in the pandemic and peri-pandemic period: A narrative review. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2021; doi:10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101915.
• Symptoms of COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.
• Preventing spread of respiratory viruses when you're sick. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.

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Table of Contents

What do Americans need to enter Europe?

European countries with no covid restrictions, do you need to be vaccinated to enter europe, can unvaccinated people travel to europe, americans returning to the u.s. from europe, are you nervous about travel plans going awry, if you’re planning to travel to europe.

The landscape of travel changed forever when COVID-19 entered the scene. Now, years later, we’re still dealing with the ongoing effects of the pandemic. Along with travel restrictions and ever-evolving entry requirements, travelers have to plan for plenty of unexpected changes.

So, can Americans travel to Europe? Happily, yes, as all of Europe's countries have reopened to tourism.

U.S. citizens can generally enter most European countries for business or tourism without a visa. If traveling within the Schengen zone, which comprises 29 countries, Americans can stay for up to 90 days within any 180 day period.

For countries outside the Schengen zone , you’ll need to verify the individual entry requirements and apply for a visa, if needed.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System, or ETIAS , which will pre-screen travelers entering the EU, is not yet operational. When it is, travelers will need to complete a form and pay a fee prior to entry.

» Learn more: How to book future air travel amid coronavirus uncertainty

Countries within Europe have completely dropped COVID entry requirements. Countries without any restrictions include but aren't limited to:

Liechtenstein.

Luxembourg.

Switzerland.

Americans can also travel without COVID restrictions to the United Kingdom.

No. At the time of this writing, all European countries require no form of vaccination or COVID testing to gain entry.

Instead, these countries have reverted to pre-COVID entry measures, which primarily include having a valid passport with room for stamps.

» Learn more: Where can U.S. citizens travel right now?

Most countries within Europe will currently allow unvaccinated travelers to enter, though it’s always a good idea to keep your eye on entry requirements as they can change on a dime.

Depending on where you’re going, you may need to provide a negative COVID test or proof of recovery in order to enter the country. What the proof looks like can vary, so you’ll need to consult the country’s requirements to ensure you meet the regulations.

If you need to show proof of a negative COVID test, there are two different kinds that are commonly accepted for travel into the EU. You’ll want to check the individual requirements of the country to see which you can use:

A valid negative molecular test . These types of tests are generally either called a PCR or NAAT test. They often take a few days for results to arrive because they’re processed in a laboratory.

A valid negative rapid test . Accepted by fewer countries — or accepted within a tighter window than a molecular test — these antigen or TRAg rapid tests can provide results within minutes.

» Learn more: What COVID test is required for travel?

Since June 12, 2022, those traveling by air no longer need to provide a negative COVID test in order to enter the United States.

» Learn more: How Global Entry works

Purchasing a standalone travel insurance policy can improve the likelihood of getting your money back on upfront travel expenses, such as for flights, hotels or activities, like tours.

Shop for options based on our most recent analysis, the Best Travel Insurance Companies Today .

» Learn more: What to know before buying travel insurance

Europe is open to Americans; however, it’s important to double-check before traveling in case requirements change.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options

75,000 Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel.

COVID-19 boosters for children are expired, so this London mom took her kid to the U.S.

Covid vaccine doses and boosters will be available in fall, but the exact date is unclear, says mlhu.

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Kate Smith said she never anticipated being unable to find a COVID-19 vaccine booster when she needed it, especially given their abundance during the height of the pandemic.

Now, more than a year after the World Health Organization declared the end of the pandemic as a global emergency, the 44-year-old London mom whose family has a history of autoimmune issues said an expired vaccine supply forced her to travel to the U.S. and pay out-of-pocket to find a booster shot for one of her children.

"We had made vaccination appointments to go on Monday to a pharmacy in London," Smith said. "I had booked everything online, and filled out all their forms."

However, her family of five ended up leaving the pharmacy that day two doses short, and with more questions than answers, she said.

"The two younger [children, 10 and 11 years old] couldn't get a dose. They told us they didn't have the paediatric strength. I quickly found out no one does."

After a series of calls to area pharmacies to ask about the availability of COVID-19 vaccine doses for children, she was told pharmacies across the province had no access to them. Smith contacted the Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU), who told her suitable doses for children won't be available until the fall.

• COVID-19 vaccines in national stockpile starting to expire as uptake slows
• More than half of Canada's AstraZeneca vaccine doses expired, will be thrown out

"Currently, all XBB vaccine products are expiring while we wait for updated versions of COVID-19 vaccine coming in October," a spokesperson from the MLHU told CBC News. "As these vaccines expire, doses will not be available for certain ages."

According to the health unit, vaccine doses for children between five and 11 years old expired on Aug. 10, although vaccines set to expire in September are still available for children between six months and four years old. The MLHU said it's unclear when exactly new doses will be available in October as local health authorities wait for information from Ontario's Ministry of Health.

In response to a request from CBC News, the Ministry said there is a supply of vaccines for ages 5-11 available, but did not provide information regarding where those doses are available and how many are in circulation.

The revelation that two of Smith's children wouldn't be able to find a vaccine dose in Canada led her to drive to Richmond, Michigan, to have her 11-year-old son vaccinated. She said it was an ordeal that cost her roughly $260 CAD for the shot alone, and more in gas and time.

She didn't make that decision lightly she said, pointing to her experience with long-COVID and a history of genetic autoimmune issues in her family.

"The importance comes from what I've experienced [with long COVID]. It's dramatically changed my life," she said, also noting that her 12-year-old stepson has asthma, which adds to the concern. "I don't know what it could do, especially with repeated infections. I'm really not comfortable with that risk."

While her son was able to be immunized in the U.S., her 10-year-old stepdaughter who doesn't have a passport is still without her booster, Smith said.

• For millions of Canadians with long COVID, getting treatment is still a struggle

The MLHU told CBC News that continuing COVID-19 vaccination boosters are no longer being recommended for people who have already gotten their primary vaccinations.

"COVID-19 vaccination is beginning to align with other respiratory vaccines, including influenza," according to the health unit. "We will keep the public updated on the recommendations and availability of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines as we head into the fall."

Still, Smith said she'd rather not take chances and wishes public health officials made more effort to warn the public that certain shots would be expiring, and a period of unavailability was on the way.

"If all of the stock that they had was going to expire, why didn't somebody speak up for the people who might want it?" Smith said.

"We recognize a lot of people don't feel the way we feel, but it makes you wonder. Why did we waste all of this vaccine that we paid for?"

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Reporter/Editor

Alessio is a multimedia journalist, and a London, Ont., native. Since graduating from Fanshawe College's Broadcast Journalism program, he's worked in markets from Toronto to Windsor covering breaking news and telling stories for his community and beyond. Alessio can be heard on weekday afternoons reading the news for Afternoon Drive.

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This is now California’s worst summer COVID wave in years. Here’s why

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California’s strongest summer COVID wave in years is still surging, and an unusual midsummer mutation may be partly to blame.

There are a number of possible culprits behind the worst summer infection spike since 2022, experts say. A series of punishing heat waves and smoke from devastating wildfires have kept many Californians indoors, where the disease can more easily spread. Most adults are also well removed from their last brush with the coronavirus, or their last vaccine dose — meaning they’re more vulnerable to infection.

But changes in the virus have also widened the scope of the surge.

Of particular concern is the rise of a hyperinfectious subvariant known as KP.3.1.1, which is so contagious that even people who have eluded infection throughout the pandemic are getting sick.

“COVID is extraordinarily common now,” said Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious diseases for Kaiser Permanente Southern California’s 16-hospital healthcare system.

California COVID surge is surprisingly stronger, longer-lasting than experts had expected

California’s summer COVID surge has proved to be particularly strong and enduring, as it storms to levels not seen in summertime in over two years.

Aug. 5, 2024

COVID hospitalizations are ticking up, but remain lower than the peaks for the last two summers, probably thanks to some residual immunity and the widespread availability of anti-COVID drugs such as Paxlovid .

The World Health Organization has warned of COVID infections rising around the world, and expressed concern that more severe variants could emerge.

“In recent months, regardless of the season, many countries have experienced surges of COVID-19, including at the Olympics ,” said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead on COVID.

Among those caught up was 27-year-old American sprinter Noah Lyles, who after winning the gold in the men’s 100-meter finals, came up short Thursday during the 200-meter finals, taking the bronze. Lyles collapsed after the race, fighting shortness of breath and chest pain, and was later taken away in a wheelchair.

“It definitely affected my performance,” he said of the illness, estimating that he felt “like 90% to 95%” of full strength.

2024 Paris Olympics

Noah Lyles comes up short in Olympic men’s 200 meters while battling COVID

Noah Lyles reportedly was diagnosed with COVID on Tuesday and couldn’t muster a gold-medal performance in the men’s 200 meters at the Paris Olympics.

Aug. 8, 2024

The rate at which reported coronavirus tests are coming back positive has been rising for weeks — to above 10% globally and more than 20% in Europe. In California , the coronavirus positive test rate was 14.3% for the week that ended Aug. 5 — blowing past the peaks from last summer and winter — and up from 10% a month ago.

There were already indications in May that the typical U.S. midyear wave was off to an early start as a pair of new coronavirus subvariants — KP.2 and KP.1.1, collectively nicknamed FLiRT — started to make a splash, displacing the winter’s dominant strain, JN.1.

But by July, a descendant strain, KP.3.1.1 , had clearly taken off.

“KP.3.1.1 is extremely transmissible and a little bit more immune evasive. It kind of came out of the blue during the summer,” said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious-diseases specialist at UC San Francisco.

COVID surging in California. Is it time to bring back masks, hand sanitizer? What experts say

California is in the middle of its worst summer COVID wave since 2022, with virus levels and infections surging across the state.

Aug. 2, 2024

Cases are up at Kaiser Permanente Southern California, and “looking through the CDC data ... KP.3.1.1 is really what is driving this particular surge,” Hudson said. “We are certainly much higher than we were last summer.”

Anecdotally, some infected people report being “pretty darn miserable, actually — really severe fatigue in the first two days,” Hudson said.

People may want to think their symptoms are just allergies, she said, but “it’s probably COVID. So we’re just really encouraging folks to continue to test.”

An initial negative test doesn’t necessarily mean you’re out of the woods, though. Officials recommend testing repeatedly over as many as five days after the onset of symptoms to be sure.

‘The virus wants to live.’ California’s big COVID spike isn’t expected to ease anytime soon

With COVID numbers in California spiking this summer, experts are warning the new FLiRT strains driving the spread could be around for some time.

July 31, 2024

California has now reported four straight weeks with “very high” coronavirus levels in its wastewater, according to data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday. That followed five weeks of “high” viral levels.

Last summer, California recorded only eight weeks with “high” coronavirus levels in wastewater, and never hit “very high” levels. In the summer of 2022, California spent 16 weeks with “high” or “very high” levels of coronavirus in wastewater.

“Fewer people got immunized this year compared to last year at this time,” Chin-Hong said. “That means, particularly amongst people who are older, they’re just not equipped to deal with this virus.”

There are 44 states with “high” or “very high” coronavirus levels in their wastewater, according to the CDC. Five states, and the District of Columbia, have “moderate” levels, and there were no data for North Dakota.

The CDC said coronavirus infections are “growing” or “likely growing” in 32 states , including California; are “stable or uncertain” in seven states, as well as the District of Columbia; are “likely declining” in Connecticut; and “declining” in Hawaii and Nevada. There were no estimates in eight states.

L.A. County COVID cases, hospitalizations rise amid FLiRT variants summer uptick

While the numbers of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are relatively low, the uptick is an indication of an expected summer wave, health experts say.

June 15, 2024

In Los Angeles County, coronavirus levels in wastewater jumped to 54% of last winter’s peak over the 10-day period ending July 27, the most recent available. A week earlier, coronavirus levels in wastewater were at 44% of last winter’s peak.

For the week ending Aug. 4, L.A. County reported an average of 479 coronavirus cases a day, double the number from five weeks earlier. Cases are an undercount, only reflecting tests done at medical facilities — not self-tests conducted at home.

In Santa Clara County, the most populous in the San Francisco Bay Area, coronavirus levels were high in all sewersheds, including San Jose and Palo Alto.

Hospitalizations and emergency room visits related to the coronavirus are also rising. Over the week ending Aug. 3, there were an average of 403 coronavirus-positive people in hospitals in L.A. County per day. That’s double the number from five weeks earlier, but still about 70% of last summer’s peak and one-third the height seen in summer 2022.

For the week ending Aug. 4, 4% of emergency room encounters in L.A. County were classified as related to the coronavirus — more than double the figure from seven weeks earlier. The peak from last summer was 5.1%.

“We’ve had a few people who have become very ill from COVID. Those are people who tend to be pretty severely immunocompromised,” Hudson said.

Rising COVID clashes with carefree California summer as cases jump, precautions fade

COVID’s spread is being aided by people who are still going to work or traveling while sick. Doctors say it’s important for people who are sick to avoid putting others at risk.

July 16, 2024

UC San Francisco has also seen a rise in the number of coronavirus-infected hospitalized patients. As of Friday, there were 28, up from fewer than 20 a week earlier, Chin-Hong said.

In the Bay Area, three counties have urged more people to consider masking in indoor public settings because of the COVID surge. Contra Costa County’s public health department “recommends masking in crowded indoor settings, particularly for those at high risk of serious illness if infected,” the agency said Tuesday, following similar pleas from San Francisco and Marin County health officials.

Compared with advice such as washing hands and staying away from sick people, suggesting wearing a mask can provoke strong opposition from some.

“The moment people see this, like in their mind, it sets off this chain reaction of, like, all the negative things of the pandemic, having to have society shut down and social isolation,” said Dr. Abraar Karan, an infectious-disease doctor and researcher at Stanford University.

But masks do help reduce the risk of infection, and people don’t have to wear them all the time to benefit. Karan says he socializes and eats at indoor restaurants. But he’ll decide to mask in other situations, like “when I’m traveling,” and, obviously, at work.

Long COVID risk has decreased but remains significant, study finds

The prevalence of long COVID has declined since the start of the pandemic, a new study found, but each new infection carries a risk of developing enduring symptoms.

July 23, 2024

Doctors say that wearing a mask is one of many tools people can use to reduce their risk, and can be especially helpful when in crowded indoor settings.

Karan said he’s seen more coronavirus-positive patients while working shifts in urgent care, and he suggested that more healthcare providers take the time to order tests. He said he worries that when people come in with relatively mild symptoms, they may be sent home without testing.

But that could miss potential COVID diagnosis, which could allow a patient to get a prescription for an antiviral drug like Paxlovid.

Without testing, “you run the risk of taking shortcuts and not prescribing people meds that they actually should technically be getting,” Karan said.

Times staff writer David Wharton contributed to this report from Saint-Denis, France.

More to Read

COVID surging in California, nears two-year summer high. ‘Almost everybody has it’

July 29, 2024

COVID in California keeps rising: Wastewater levels worse than last summer

July 22, 2024

California hits ‘very high’ COVID levels as virus in wastewater jumps significantly

July 15, 2024

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Rong-Gong Lin II is a Metro reporter based in San Francisco who specializes in covering statewide earthquake safety issues and the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bay Area native is a graduate of UC Berkeley and started at the Los Angeles Times in 2004.

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COVID still 'very much with us' with 20% of tests positive in Europe, WHO warns

COVID-19 is "still very much with us," World Health Organization (WHO) officials warned this week, adding that cases are rising globally, with a high percentage of positive tests in Europe.

“Data from our sentinel-based surveillance system across 84 countries reports that the per cent of positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 has been rising over several weeks,” said Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the COVID-19 technical lead at WHO.

"Overall, test positivity is above 10 per cent, but this fluctuates per region. In Europe, per cent positivity is above 20 per cent," she added.

At least 40 athletes at the Olympic Games have tested positive for COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses, the WHO added in a statement on Wednesday.

Many countries have also experienced surges of the virus regardless of the season and the circulation of the virus is likely much higher than reported.

Here are the global pathogens that health officials say could cause the next pandemic

Dr Kerkhove said that governments should "continue to invest and support our global understanding of the circulation and impact of this virus and to provide their populations with the tools to protect themselves".

She also urged individuals to protect themselves by getting vaccinated.

"Over the last two years, we have seen an alarming decline in vaccination coverage, especially among health workers and people over 60, two of the most at-risk groups," she said.

"This urgently needs to be turned around".

This article has been updated with a new statement from WHO on the number of athletes with respiratory viruses at the Olympics.

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Quick takes: Mpox vaccine contract, Oropouche travel alert, Oregon measles outbreak

• Bavarian Nordic announced yesterday that it has received a new contract worth $156.8 million from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to replenish the US supply of bulk product to make the Jynneos vaccine against mpox and smallpox. BARDA is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services. The bulk product will be made in 2024 and will partly be used to restock inventory that was used to make vaccine for the 2022 mpox outbreak. Replenishing bulk inventory is also needed to fulfil the company's existing contract to make next-generation freeze-dried vaccine for smallpox preparedness in the United States. The contract amount also covers storage of the vaccine from 2025 to 2027.
• In a threat assessment today, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) alerted travelers and clinicians about the risk of Oropouche virus infection in certain parts of the Americas, following 19 imported cases reported in June and July, the first for the European region. The ECDC said the risk is moderate for people traveling to or living in epidemic areas in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. It noted, however, that the risk is higher for those visiting heavily affected areas, including Brazil's northern states and the Amazon region, and for those who don't take adequate protective measures. The agency said the disease is mainly spread by a midge species not found in Europe, though several types of mosquitoes are potential vectors. The virus typically causes an acute febrile illness, but recent data from the Americas suggest that infections in pregnant women can lead to severe fetal outcomes, including death and microcephaly (small brain and head size).
• The Oregon Health Authority recently sent an alert to health providers to be on the lookout for measles cases amid ongoing community transmission. In its latest update , the OHA said 26 cases have been confirmed, all involving unvaccinated people. Two patients were hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. Ten cases are in kids younger than 10 years old, and 11 involve young people ages 10 to 19 years old. Seventeen cases have been reported in Marion County, with eight in Clackamas and one in Multnomah. In the United States this year, measles activity is at its highest level since 2019, which was a record-setting year. So far this year, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 211 cases.

US COVID activity continues to pick up

US COVID indicators show no sign of slowing down, with most areas of the country seeing consistent rises, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its latest data updates .

Emergency department encounters for COVID make up 2.3% of all visits, up 4.1% from the previous week. Levels are highest—in the moderate range—across the South and Southeast. 

Wastewater levels jump to 'very high' level

Wastewater detections continue to rise steadily and are now at the very high level. Levels continue to trend upward in all US regions and are highest in the West, followed by the South and Midwest. Test positivity for COVID is still rising and is at 17.6% nationally, up 1.2% compared to the previous week. Test positivity is highest in the region that includes Texas and surrounding states. 

Hospitalization rates are still elevated and are highest in people ages 65 and older. Deaths from the virus continue to trend upward, with a 7.1% rise from the previous week. COVID deaths still make up a small proportion of US fatalities, just 1.5%. 

Childhood vaccines have prevented a half billion illnesses, saved the US $2.7 trillion in 3 decades, study estimates

Among US children born in the past 30 years, childhood vaccines have prevented an estimated 508 million cases of illness, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1.1 million deaths, resulting in direct savings of $540 billion and societal savings of $2.7 trillion, according to a study yesterday in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report .

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzed data since 1994, when the US Vaccines for Children (VFC) program was launched to cover the cost of vaccines for children whose families might not be able to afford them. They assessed the impact of routine childhood immunizations among both VFC-eligible and non–VFC-eligible children born from 1994 to 2023 for nine vaccines: diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine; Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine; poliovirus vaccines; measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine; hepatitis B vaccine; varicella vaccine; pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; hepatitis A vaccine; and rotavirus vaccine.

"Although influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for routine immunization," the authors wrote, "they were not included in this analysis, because the methods for assessing their costs and effects differ from those for other vaccines." They also did not include recently approved respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines.

More than 1 million deaths, 32 million hospital cases averted

The researchers calculated averted illnesses and deaths and associated costs over the lifetimes of 30 annual cohorts of children born during the study period using established economic models. They also estimated net savings for the healthcare system and for society as a whole.

Routine childhood immunizations remain a highly cost-effective public health intervention.

The investigators found that, among about 117 million children, routine childhood vaccinations prevented approximately 508 million lifetime cases of illness, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1,129,000 deaths, at a net savings of $540 billion in direct costs and $2.7 trillion in societal costs.

They conclude, "Routine childhood immunizations remain a highly cost-effective public health intervention ... Based on the 2022 CDC Market Share Report, VFC made a substantial contribution to these reductions by purchasing approximately one half of childhood vaccines at discounted prices."

Colorado, Michigan report H3N2v flu infections

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has reported a variant H3N2 (H3N2v) flu case, which involves a person younger than 18 who attended an agricultural event before symptoms began, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its weekly flu update .

The patient sought medical care the week of July 13 and was not hospitalized. No related illnesses have been found among the patient's contacts, and the investigation is ongoing.

Exposure in Michigan case still under investigation

Separately, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services today said tests have confirmed H3N2v flu in a resident of Ingham County whose samples tested positive in late July. The results were confirmed by the CDC. 

The source of the patient's exposure is still under investigation, and so far there is no known exposure to swine or other animals.

The two cases raise the number of variant flu cases this year to five. The three others involved variant H1N2 (H1N2v) and occurred in patients in Pennsylvania. Most variant flu cases are linked to contact with pigs, and the United States typically experiences a summer rise that comes with exposure at agricultural fairs. 

Poll: Americans' knowledge, concern about mpox has dropped

As a large mpox outbreak in Africa has set off alarm bells in the global health community, Americans' knowledge of the virus and risk factors surrounding transmission has dropped compared to just 2 years ago, according to new survey from researchers at the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.

The survey of 1,496 US adults conducted last month shows only 5% of Americans are worried about contracting mpox in the next 3 months, compared to 21% in August 2022, when a global outbreak primarily among men who have sex with men was infecting thousands of Americans and Europeans. Only 9% of those polled last month are worried that they or their family members will contract mpox.

The 2022 outbreak was fueled by infections caused by clade 2 of the virus, which is significantly less deadly than the clade 1 strain currently fueling the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and surrounding countries.  

Awareness of vaccine also decreased  

Though no clade 1 cases have been described in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this week said US clinicians should be on alert for any symptoms of mpox in patients who had recently been to the DRC or bordering countries.  

"The speed with which the public learned needed information about mpox in the summer of 2022 was a tribute to effective communication by the public health community," said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, PhD, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center and director of the survey, in a press release . "That same expertise should now be deployed to ensure that those at risk remember mpox's symptoms, modes of transmission, and the protective power of vaccination."

The speed with which the public learned needed information about mpox in the summer of 2022 was a tribute to effective communication by the public health community.

Only 45% of those polled said they knew a vaccine for mpox exists, down from 61% in August 2022.

Six countries confirm more polio cases as WHO readies Gaza vaccination campaign

Six countries reported more polio cases this week, including Afghanistan and Pakistan with more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases, according to the latest weekly update from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).

Afghanistan reported 2 new WPV1 cases, 1 in Kandahar and the other in Hilmand, putting its total at 11 for the year. Pakistan reported 3 more cases, 2 in Balochistan and 1 in Punjab, boosting its number to 12 for 2024. Both countries have already doubled the number of cases they reported in 2023.

Elsewhere, four African countries reported cases involving circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported 2 cases, both in Maindombe. Ethiopia reported a case in Gambella, boosting its total to 12 for the year. Nigeria also reported 1 more case, in Jigawa, lifting its total to 38. South Sudan reported 1 case in Upper Nile, making 7 infections for 2024. 

WHO preparing polio vaccine campaign for Gaza

At a World Health Organization (WHO) briefing this week, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, said that, following the detection of polio in wastewater samples from Gaza, the WHO is preparing polio vaccination campaigns and is sending more than 1 million doses to be administer in the weeks ahead.

He said the group is mourning the sudden death of Aidan O'Leary, who was director of the WHO's Polio Eradication Program. Tedros said that, before O'Leary died while on vacation with his family, he was working on a plan for two rounds of polio vaccination in Gaza targeting 600,000 children younger than 8 years old.

"We need absolute freedom of movement for health workers and medical equipment to carry out these complex operations safely and effectively," Tedros said. "A ceasefire, or at least 'days of tranquility' during preparation and delivery of the vaccination campaigns are required to protect children in Gaza from polio."

In case you missed it

This week's top reads.

Wastewater detections have now jumped to the "very high" level.

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About 34% of infected postmenopausal women had symptoms for 8 weeks or more, while 61% of survivors in a second study had symptoms at 2 years.

Sweden reports first clade 1 mpox case outside of Africa as NIH shares disappointing Tpoxx results

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CDC updates mpox alert amid expansion in African outbreaks

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Study: COVID vaccines saved 1.6 million lives in Europe

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Clinicians detail H5N1 infections in 2 Michigan farm workers

One patient had conjunctivitis in one eye, and the other had longer-lasting flulike symptoms.

CDC pandemic review of US H5N1 virus on par with earlier assessments from same clade

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COVID drops to 10th leading cause of death in US

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Study identifies risk groups for severe COVID-19 by patient age

Children were less commonly vaccinated compared to adults.

WHO declares global public health emergency for mpox surge in Africa

As plans move forward to mobilize vaccine, health officials still better epi information to best target the supplies.

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European airport traffic returns to pre-Covid levels

P assenger traffic at European airports returned to pre-Covid levels in the first half of the year as the sector finally "turned the corner" on the pandemic crisis, the main industry association said on Wednesday.

But the trade body warned that the recovery was uneven, with almost half of Europe's airports still below pre-pandemic levels.

Overall, passenger traffic rose nine percent in the first six months of 2024 compared to the same period last year, according to Airports Council International Europe.

Volume was nine percent higher than in the same period last year, lifting it to 0.4 percent above the first half of 2019, the year before the coronavirus outbreak that paralysed economies and the aviation industry.

"As overall passenger traffic finally made it above 2019 levels over a full six-month period, our industry has now turned the corner on the pandemic," said ACI Europe director general Olivier Jankovec said.

International traffic has been the main growth driver this year, rising 10.3 percent in the first half compared to the same period last year. Domestic traffic was up 4.2 percent.

The figures "finally" confirm "a full recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic for the airport industry", ACI Europe said in a statement.

The European airport market, however, has become "extremely fragmented", with only 53 percent of airports having fully recovered their pre-pandemic passenger volumes by June, Jankovec said.

Since the pandemic, leisure travel and family visits have been the driving force behind travel, benefitting low-cost airlines and holiday sites over traditional airlines and destinations serving business travellers.

Albania has seen the greatest increase, with its volume of air passengers rising 243 percent from the same period in 2019. Greece, Malta and Portugal also logged strong growth.

Air travel in German airports is still down 17 percent from before the pandemic, while France was down four percent and Britain 1.1 percent, hit by a growing preference for video conferences over business trips, and with domestic travel facing greater competition from train routes.

London Heathrow remains the largest airport in Europe with 39.8 million passengers in the first half, followed by Istanbul's international airport and Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle.  

tq/uh/lth/bc/gv

COVID-19 Summer Surge: Three Things to Know

It may seem like many people you know have had COVID this summer – and that could be because, according to the latest wastewater monitoring data from the CDC, 44 out of 50 U.S. states are currently experiencing “high” or “very high” COVID-19 viral activity. If you or someone you know has been sick with COVID this summer, there are a few important things to keep in mind based on the latest guidance from the CDC.

The surge is due to the ever-evolving nature of COVID-19.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, is consistently mutating , leading to variants that differ from the original virus. Each spring, public health experts analyze the circulating virus and recommend a vaccine tailored to that season’s variant, much like the flu. This means that each year, you can receive a COVID-19 shot that is specifically designed to protect you from the variant currently causing infections in your community.

The burden of COVID-19 is still significant – and higher than flu.

As of June 2024, the uptake of the 2023/2024 influenza vaccine among U.S. adults over 18 was more than double that of the updated COVID-19 vaccine (48.2% vs. 22.3%). And yet, COVID-19 hospitalizations rates are higher than influenza regardless of age or health condition. COVID-19 is especially dangerous for older adults, where the number of COVID-19 related hospitalizations rate was more than double that of the flu. Additionally, many U.S. adults continue to be plagued by Long COVID, which is defined as a chronic condition that occurs after SARS-CoV-2 infection and is present for at least 3 months. Long COVID includes a wide range of symptoms or conditions that may improve, worsen, or be ongoing, and nearly 1 in 5 American adults who have had COVID-19 report experiencing Long COVID symptoms, and it can impact anyone – regardless of age or health status.

If you had COVID this summer, you should still get an updated vaccine this fall, once three months have passed since your infection.

The CDC has recommended that everyone ages 6 months or older receive an updated shot when it becomes available this fall. In its updated guidance , the CDC specifically notes that people who recently had SARS-CoV-2 infection may consider waiting up to 3 months from symptom onset or, if infection was asymptomatic, a positive test, to get their updated COVID-19 vaccine . In other words, if you recently had COVID, you should still plan to get an updated vaccine this fall.

Still have questions? Talk to your healthcare provider to get the facts and learn how you can protect yourself against COVID-19.

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A Country-by-Country Guide to Reopened Europe

Members of the European Union are welcoming Americans. But there are still rules and restrictions to abide by. Here’s how to navigate them and what to expect.

New destinations are no longer being added to this list , as many European countries are now open to American travelers. See an up-to-date list of countries open to U.S. travelers here .

On June 18, the European Union recommended lifting the ban on nonessential travel for visitors from the United States just in time for the summer season, which is crucial to the E.U.’s economy.

While the bloc aims to take a coordinated approach to travel this summer, the recommendation is nonbinding and member states are allowed to set their own requirements for travelers from individual countries based on their own epidemiological criteria.

Visitors from outside the bloc who can show documentation of having received E.U.-approved vaccines — including those from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson — will, for many E.U. countries, be allowed to enter without having to take a test or quarantine upon arrival. The bloc will also allow people to travel from countries it considers epidemiologically safe, regardless of their vaccination status. (Any passengers transiting through some areas where there has been a spike in cases involving the highly contagious Delta variant , including Britain, on their way to other European countries should check with the authorities in their final destination to determine whether they may be subject to additional rules.)

The European Union’s “safe list” also applies to Europe ’s border-free Schengen Zone, which includes non-E.U. countries such as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Here is a guide to some of the continent’s most popular tourist destinations, explaining what is required for entry and what to expect if you do visit. Ceylan Yeginsu

Jump to : Croatia , Denmark, France , Germany , Greece , Iceland , Italy , Netherlands , Portugal , Spain , Switzerland , Turkey and the United Kingdom .

State of the virus

Like other countries in Europe, Croatia has seen daily cases on a constant decline after it experienced a third wave that appears to have peaked in April. According to World Health Organization data, daily deaths are now in the single digit range. Almost 30 percent of the population is fully vaccinated.

Entry requirements

Unlike some other European countries, Croatia makes no distinction between tourists and other travelers, applying the same conditions for leisure travel, essential family and business. Visitors from the European countries on the E.C.D.C.’s so-called green list (which varies constantly) can travel without restrictions . Those coming from European countries not on the green list must provide one of the following: a negative Covid test, proof of vaccination, or a certificate of recovery. Finally, visitors from outside Europe must provide the same evidence (either a negative Covid test, a vaccination certificate or a certificate of recovery), along with evidence of accommodations paid in advance or proof that they own property in Croatia, according to the government website . Travelers are advised to fill out the Enter Croatia form to speed up the process.

On June 1, Croatia and six other E.U. states began issuing vaccination certificate s to citizens to better streamline travel within the bloc. The free certificate, featuring a QR code, is available in digital or paper form, and indicates if a traveler is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, recovered from the disease or has received a negative virus test result. The rollout of the certificate program for the entire bloc (27 countries) was July 1. It is not yet available to travelers from the United States.

Currently, no direct flights operate between Croatia and the United States, but United Airlines and Delta Air Lines will launch seasonal direct flights from Newark Liberty International Airport and Kennedy International Airport in July, said Ina Rodin, an official with the Croatian National Tourist Office.

Medical facilities

Croatia has universal health care and the quality of medical facilities are in line with European standards. Rapid antigen and PCR tests are widely available, with contact information listed on Croatia’s Institute of Public Health website. Those who develop symptoms of Covid-19 while in Croatia should contact a Covid-dedicated call center by dialing 113 or one of the designated medical facilities .

Bars and cafes can operate, but customers must be seated outside. Indoor and outdoor dining is allowed in restaurants and hotels. While beaches, thermal spas, parks, zoos and most museums are open, nightclubs are closed.

The general mood seems relaxed, and people seem eager to return to quasi-normal life and welcome tourists. Croatia’s economy heavily relies on tourism, accounting for almost 20 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, according to 2018 data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

“Most people have a normal social life,” said Kresimira Kruslin, 30, a lawyer in Zagreb. “The general feeling is very optimistic. Young people feel comfortable going out for drinks and things like that,” she said. “Some people are more cautious than others, but I don’t know anyone who is scared.” Anna Momigliano

This country of 5.8 million was averaging 659 virus cases per day as of June 10, down from just over 1,000 per day in mid-May and well below last year’s peak of around 3,500. Testing is widespread and the positivity rate is holding steady at below 1 percent. Vaccinations are also picking up, with nearly half of the population having received at least one dose as of June 8.

Since June 5, fully vaccinated travelers from the United States, Canada and several other countries have been allowed to enter Denmark , including for tourism, with no requirements for testing or quarantine. Fourteen days must have passed since your last shot before entry. Any visitors who transit through Britain will need to comply with Denmark’s entry rules for Britain. More information (in English) is available from the Danish government, as well as on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Denmark. Travelers who cannot find the information they need online can call Denmark’s official arrivals hotline, +45 7020 6044.

Denmark’s hospitals are under little strain because of the pandemic. Testing is widespread and, at many testing centers, visitors can obtain a test free of charge. Check this list provided by the government to find the testing sites that serve foreigners.

Covid-related restrictions in Denmark have eased considerably over the past two months. Museums, amusement parks, movie theaters, stores, bars and restaurants are now open, although guests may be asked to provide either proof of vaccination or a recent negative test to gain entry. Restaurants and bars are now allowed to remain open until midnight, but clubs and other nightlife will remain shut until Sept. 1. Mask requirements are also being phased out: As of June 14, masks are required only while standing up on public transportation. Check here for the latest English-language updates on Denmark’s Covid-related regulations.

Karen Nedergaard, general manager of the Absalon Hotel and the Andersen Hotel , both in Copenhagen, said that she was happy to read the recent news about Denmark’s opening to vaccinated tourists from the United States and elsewhere. Normally, both of her hotels would be full for most of the summer, she said, but their current occupancy is around 35 percent. “I think we are going to see a pickup over the summer,” she said.

Anyone who makes the trip will have plenty of attractions to choose from. An immersive museum dedicated to Hans Christian Andersen — author of “The Little Mermaid” and “The Princess and the Pea,” among many other fairy tales and other works — opened on June 30 in the writer’s hometown, Odense. The capital city’s Tivoli Gardens amusement park will host Michelin-star pop-up restaurants throughout the summer. And in August, Copenhagen and nearby Malmo, Sweden, will co-host WorldPride and EuroGames , an LGBTI inclusive sporting event. Paige McClanahan

France’s positivity rate and case numbers have dropped steadily, thanks to the country’s accelerating vaccination campaign and a national lockdown that was announced at the end of March. As of July 7, 52 percent of the French population had received at least one dose of vaccine, and about 34 percent were fully vaccinated. Universal adult eligibility for vaccination opened up on May 31.

As of June 9, France is once again welcoming visitors from outside Europe. Passengers arriving from the United States and other countries on France’s “ green list ” are required to show either proof of vaccination or a negative PCR or antigen test performed within 72 hours of entering France. Americans wishing to travel to France can check the website of the U.S. embassy for more information.

Pressure on France’s health system has eased considerably, with the number of patients in the country’s intensive care units dropping from a high of more than 6,000 on April 26 to just over 1,100 on July 2. Covid-19 tests are now available to foreign visitors at a cost of 49 euros for a PCR test or 29 euros for an antigen test. Anyone who tests positive should isolate and call a local doctor’s office if needed; for medical emergencies, dial 15.

Nonessential stores are open, indoor and outdoor dining has resumed, masks are no longer required in most outdoor settings, and the monthslong national curfew has been done away with. Museums like the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay have reopened their doors, as have theaters, movie theaters and cultural sites across the country, including the Château de Versailles and the Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey . Disneyland Paris reopened on June 17. Nightclubs are reopening in July. But visitors to France should still expect to encounter mask requirements and social distancing measures, including limited capacity at museums, restaurants, stores and other establishments.

The prospect of travel is as important to the national economy as it is to the French spirit. The tourism industry accounts for nearly 8 percent of France’s gross domestic product and supports some two million jobs. “We need, we want, in good health conditions, to remain the top tourist destination in Europe and the world,” said Clément Beaune, France’s minister of state for European affairs. “This is an economic issue for us.” Paige McClanahan

After a scary third wave that peaked in mid-April, infections in Germany have been plummeting. In Berlin — a city of 3.6 million people — there were only a couple of dozen new infections recorded on the July 4 weekend. Across the country, about 500 Covid patients were occupying I.C.U . beds. But there are clouds on the horizon: The Delta variant is thought to account for half of the new infections, and authorities say it’s not a matter of if the more contagious variant eventually dominates new infections, but when .

As of early July, nearly 60 percent of the population had received at least one vaccination shot, and nearly 40 percent were fully vaccinated. Within the European Union, Germany has one of the highest rates of vaccination.

Germany opened its border to U.S. tourists on June 20. Passengers arriving by plane must present a negative PCR test or proof of vaccination before boarding. Once on German ground, no quarantine is required. If you are not flying in directly, check the website of the Robert Koch Institute , the German version of the C.D.C., for arrivals from “at risk countries.”

During the pandemic a lot of resources were put into expanding coronavirus wards, so care is efficient and professional in Germany’s mostly state-of-the-art hospitals. Finding a good doctor who speaks English should not be a problem. However, currently, private doctor’s offices are inundated with people looking to get vaccinated, so if you have any kind of emergency, it is best to go to the emergency department of the local hospital. The phone number for medical emergencies is 112, or to find a doctor, call 116-117.

Covid-related restrictions are set by Germany’s 16 individual states, so rules will be a bit different in Berlin (which is its own state) and Munich (which is the capital of Bavaria). Expect to see plenty of outdoor dining, beer gardens, outdoor events and no curfews (unless infections in a particular district flare up). For certain activities, like museum visits or cultural events, you may need to make a reservation. The biggest asset in making your stay in Germany comfortable is your proof of vaccination (which you’ll want to keep with you at all times), because it allows you to skip any tests that might be required. If you are not yet fully vaccinated, you’ll have to make use of Germany’s network of quick test centers. Certain activities, like dining indoors may require a negative test result for those without proof of vaccination.

Germany’s international tourist board runs a handy website in English that provides an up-to-date overview of local rules in individual states.

Medical masks or even FFP2 (similar to N95) masks are generally required on all public transport, national train lines, stores and indoor public spaces. Children under 6 generally don’t require masks.

After what seemed like endless months of lockdowns, Germans are ready to get out and enjoy social and cultural life again. This could be one of the great seasons for travel in Germany. Christopher F. Schuetze

Greece recovered from its spring wave of Covid infections, but case numbers were on the rise again in early July. As of July 4, the average daily case count was just over 700, up from a low of around 360 a week earlier. Similarly, the share of coronavirus tests that are positive has remained low, at around 1.3 percent.

About 47 percent of the Greek population had received at least one dose of vaccine as of July 7, while about 38 percent were fully vaccinated. Those who work in the country’s tourism industry have been prioritized in the vaccine rollout, as have a number of the islands. The country’s health minister announced in May that residents of tourist-heavy islands such as Mykonos, Santorini and Corfu were next in line to receive their doses.

On arrival in Athens, travelers will need to present a certificate of vaccination, a negative coronavirus test no more than 72 hours old, or proof of recovery from Covid-19 within the past nine months. Passengers may also be subject to random rapid testing at the airport; anyone who tests positive will be put up at a local hotel for at least 10 days, along with their traveling companions, at the expense of the Greek government. Details on the rules of entry can be found here . Anyone planning to fly within the country will be subject to the same requirements as those arriving from abroad.

Greece, like Croatia and five other members of the European Union , began offering vaccination certificates to its citizens on June 1. The certificate program is not yet available to travelers from the United States.

Greece’s medical facilities, which have struggled from years of underfunding, were severely strained during the recent spring Covid-19 wave, but the pressures have eased. Any visitor who tests positive while in Greece should self isolate and contact a local doctor’s office if needed; in a medical emergency, dial 166.

Life in Greece is feeling closer to normal as the government has done away with many of the restrictions imposed during the country’s monthslong lockdown. Outdoor archaeological sites reopened in early spring, while restaurants and cafes once again began offering outdoor service (with a maximum of six people per table) on May 3. Greece’s museums have been open to all — with masks required and social distancing measures in place — since May 14. Open-air cinemas, spas, wellness centers and outdoor theaters are all welcoming guests, while ferry services to the islands are up and running, with limited capacity and mask requirements.

Greece jumped ahead of many of its European neighbors in opening up to vaccinated or Covid-negative tourists from the United States and a handful of other countries. The tourism industry accounts for roughly a quarter of total employment and more than a fifth of Greece’s gross domestic product, so restarting the industry is critical to helping the country recover from 2020, when the economy shrank by 8.2 percent.

“Unfortunately, after more than 10 years of economic hardship, tourism and food is our only industry,” Kostas Tzilialis, who works at a cafe and bookshop in central Athens, said recently . “We don’t produce cars or machines. So we have to open our industry right now. Let’s hope that people will be careful and the vaccines will protect us.” Paige McClanahan

Since January, Iceland has had only several hundred confirmed cases of the coronavirus. The daily count is currently in the single digits, after a relatively sharp rise in mid-April (peaking at 27 cases). As of July 6, about 75 percent of adult Icelanders had been fully vaccinated. Unlike some of its Nordic neighbors, Iceland has not suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, putting its efforts ahead of the European curve.

People with documentation of vaccination or previous infection do not have to undergo a test upon, or before, arrival. They just need to show their vaccine “passport” and 14 days have to have passed from the second dose (or 14 days from a Janssen/Johnson & Johnson dose) for a certificate to be valid.

Tourists who are not vaccinated need to quarantine for five days at a government-provided quarantine hotel (the stay is free of charge). Before arrival, they need to register and provide a negative PCR test that is no more than 72 hours old. More details on the rules of entry can be found here .

With one of the highest life expectancies in Europe, Iceland has an advanced health care system. As of July 6, the country’s hospital had no Covid patients.

In case of symptoms, visitors can call 1700 (on an Icelandic line) or +354 544 4113 (from any phone) to get tested. The local emergency number is 112.

Iceland has weathered the pandemic without ever resorting to the near-total social and economic shutdowns enforced in many other European countries. The success is partly a testament to its tiny population — about 360,000 people — but is also the result of decisive action by authorities, with rapid testing available early in the crisis. The country’s strict requirements still make it hard for everyone but vaccinated people to visit.

Gyms, pubs, restaurants, museums — just about everything — remain open. Tourism is the island’s largest job sector and the economic pain has been felt particularly by the thousands of migrants who came to Iceland during the previous boom years. While the unemployment rate is expected to remain high this year, local business leaders claim traffic is improving by the week.

On a chilly morning in the northern town of Husavik, two American tourists, Kevin Campbell and Susan Montgomery, from Oregon, were on their sixth — “or seventh” — trip to Iceland. “Locals value the presence of tourists these days,” Mr. Campbell, 69, said. Earlier that morning they had tried to enter Husavik’s iconic wooden church, but the door was locked. “Then a lady from a nearby store came running with a key this big,” Mr. Campbell said — indicating with his hands something that was the size of a milk carton — “and showed us inside.”

On Husavik’s harbor — made famous when the town was featured in the Netflix film “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” — two rival whale-watching companies were competing for business. Nearby, restaurants offered multiple versions of fish, with one chalkboard highlighting the word “fresh.” Egill Bjarnason

In Italy the pandemic has been in steady remission for months, after the country exited a third wave that peaked in March. New cases and deaths have been in decline. In this country of almost 60 million, daily deaths are in the two-digit range according to W.H.O. data. Hospitalizations have also gone down, according to the Italian research foundation, Gimbe. More than 55 percent of Italians are at least partially vaccinated.

Visitors from the United States and other non-European countries that are considered low risk (Japan, Canada, Australia and Singapore) need both a coronavirus test and a 10-day-quarantine. But Americans can avoid the quarantine if they take special “ Covid-tested flights ” that require taking a test both before and after the flight, and submit an E.U. digital passenger locator form . These Covid-tested flights are already available from New York and Atlanta to Milan and Rome, and will soon be offered to Venice and Naples. From countries considered high risk , only travel for essential reasons (such as business, study or medical care) is allowed, and no travel is allowed from India and Brazil.

Italy has one of Europe’s best health care systems. When northern Italy was severely hit in March and April 2020, hospitals were overwhelmed, but that is no longer the case. The percentage of intensive care units taken over by Covid patients is declining and is now at 23 percent, according to statistics compiled by Gimbe , the research foundation.

Italy regulates restrictions with a system that places each of its 20 regions on a white-yellow-orange-red scale, which can at times result in significant differences across the country. Currently most of Italy is listed as “yellow,” with minor restrictions. Bars and restaurants are open for indoor and outdoor service. Museums and theaters are open, but at a reduced capacity.

The mood is mixed with optimism, pandemic fatigue and excitement. On May 4 Prime Minister Mario Draghi gave a speech that energized the climate: “It’s time to book your vacations in Italy, we can’t wait to welcome you again,” he said, referring to international tourists.

Those working in the tourism industry say it worked. “Draghi’s announcement energized the bookings, we saw an increase just the day after,” said Giuseppe Artolli, 62, who manages COMO Castello del Nero, a castle-turned-hotel in Chianti.

Carlo Dalla Chiesa, 43, manages Milan’s youth hostel Ostello Bello, a popular destination for young international travelers, but also a place where locals go for their aperitif. Even though the hostel lost 97 percent of revenue during the pandemic, he said the owners feel very optimistic and now are expanding their business in Rome, Florence, Genoa and Palermo. He is convinced that youth tourism is going to boom more than “adult” tourism.

“It feels like 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell and suddenly all the young folks from East Berlin started to travel,” he said. “Just think of the kids who are 20 right now, and have spent two years in lockdowns, now they’re going to want to travel a lot, and on a budget.” Anna Momigliano

Netherlands

Although infections are diminishing, they remain relatively high in the Netherlands when compared to its neighbors. The weekly infection rate is nearly 50 per 100,000 people, a slight uptick from previous weeks. While the worst is over for now, more than half of the country’s 25 regions, including the regions of Rotterdam, The Hague and Amsterdam, are rated as having a “concerning’ risk level.” As of July 5, about 60 percent of the population had received at least one vaccine dose; 36 percent are fully vaccinated.

On June 24, restrictions for visitors coming from the United States were lifted. Whether vaccinated or not, anyone coming from the United States can enter without a test. Once in the Netherlands, testing is unlikely to be required, but the Dutch have set up a good national PCR testing network if it should be required.

Like the rest of the country’s infrastructure, Dutch hospitals are modern and professional. Finding English-speaking doctors in the Netherlands, especially in the major cities, is not difficult. The phone number for medical emergencies is 112.

The country has begun reopening, with evening curfew, mask and crowd-size rules relaxing. Restaurants, bars, theaters, cinemas and museums are all open again, even though distancing rules will continue to be in force. Masks will still be required on public transportation, national train lines, train stations and other places, so keep one handy in your bag. Like much of the rest of Europe, the Netherlands suffered badly during the pandemic. But despite some areas of concern, the news that the country will finally shed most of its pandemic rules will make the Netherlands a joyous place to visit. Christopher F. Schuetze

In this country of 10 million people, the Covid-19 situation has fluctuated dramatically this year, forcing the authorities to adjust lockdown restrictions on a monthly, if not weekly, basis. As of July 7, 133 patients were being treated for Covid-19 in intensive care units, almost double the amount in mid-June. In a sign of how quickly things can change, a recent surge of new cases around Lisbon resulted in authorities ordering a weekend lockdown on June 18. Nighttime curfews have also been reintroduced in Lisbon, Porto and many other parts of the country. The health authorities said in early July that almost 90 percent of the new Covid-19 cases in Portugal were of the Delta variant, which is considered more contagious.

As of July 7, over half of Portugal’s population had received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine — that includes 3.5 million residents who had already been fully vaccinated. The rollout was accelerated in June in Lisbon to counter another increase in the infection rate in the capital region. People from the age of 40 started getting shots on June 6, and those aged 30 on June 20.

Americans may now travel to Portugal with proof of a negative Covid-19 test, according to the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Portugal. The tests, also mandatory for visitors from almost all other countries, must be done before landing in Portugal. But people who drive across the land border between Spain and Portugal, which was reopened in May, are not required to have undergone a test, independent of their nationality.

Quarantine obligations only remain in place for visitors from countries that have an infection rate of more than 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Portugal has a modern public health-care system, including good access to emergency services. Still, hospitals in Lisbon were overwhelmed in early 2021 by a sudden wave of Covid-19 that was much stronger than what Portugal had experienced the previous year. German military doctors flew to Portugal to help overcome staff shortages, while some patients were also flown from Lisbon to Austria to reduce the burden on local hospitals. The website of the Portuguese health ministry can help visitors locate the nearest Covid-19 testing center. For any medical emergency, dial 112, a toll-free number.

Portugal has gradually been lifting its lockdown restrictions since mid-March, when schools reopened. But with the emergence of infections traced to the Delta variant, some areas are imposing new restrictions. As of July 2, a curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. in Lisbon, Porto and other popular tourism spots will be in place.

In May, Portugal became one of the first European countries to reopen to British tourists, which form its largest set of foreign visitors. On May 29, the northern city of Porto welcomed thousands of English fans for the final of the European Champions League, without any quarantine requirement — even as Germany, France and some other European countries reintroduced quarantine for British visitors amid concerns that they could also spread the highly contagious Delta variant of the disease. But in early June, the British government made a U-turn and reintroduced a quarantine for people returning from Portugal, creating chaos for British tourists who had hoped to stay longer on vacation in the country. Raphael Minder

Spain’s virus numbers have been worsening since June, despite an acceleration of its vaccination program. As of July 7, almost 20 million residents had been fully vaccinated, equivalent to 41 percent of Spain’s population of 47 million. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez recently forecast that 70 percent of Spaniards would be vaccinated by Aug. 17.

Spain reopened to vaccinated American tourists — as well as visitors from other countries deemed to have a low risk of Covid-19 infection — on June 7. Travelers on a list of countries with a higher risk will have to show the negative results of an antigen test before flying to Spain. But visitors who drive across the land border between Portugal and Spain, which reopened in May, are not required to have undergone a test.

Spain prides itself on having one of Europe’s most extensive and modern public health care systems, and access to emergency services is very efficient. But the system was seriously strained in the spring of 2020, particularly in Madrid, where hospitals overflowed with Covid-19 patients. In recent months, the situation has improved significantly, albeit with some important differences between the regions.

For any medical emergency, visitors can dial 112, a toll-free number that works 24/7 across the country and can connect callers to the nearest hospital or health facility. Specific information about health services in the Madrid capital region is also readily available.

Travel across Spain has resumed since the government lifted a national state of emergency on May 9. While wearing a face mask in public spaces continues to be a nationwide obligation, whatever other restrictions remain in place are in the hands of regional administrations. These restrictions have been tweaked almost on a weekly basis, which means that Spain has turned into a mosaic of regulations that visitors should review carefully. On June 8, Valencia became the last region of Spain to remove its nighttime curfew. Some regions, however, continue to maintain other specific restrictions, and have, for instance, adopted different closing hours for restaurants and bars.

For many months, Madrid has been one of Europe’s most bustling cities, with bars and shops kept open, as well as art museums, cinemas, theaters and an opera house that was one of the few in the world to stage a full season, including a new production in May of Benjamin Britten’s “Peter Grimes.” Already, the restaurant scene and cultural life of Madrid is attracting tourists from Paris and many other places that had imposed far stricter lockdown restrictions. In fact, “Freedom” was the campaign slogan that is believed to have helped Madrid region’s leader, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, win a landslide re-election victory in early May.

But since the start of July, several regions in Spain have made U-turns and reintroduced lockdown restrictions, particularly to discourage young people from partying at night. As of July 9, all indoor nightclubs will close again in Catalonia, the northeastern region whose capital is Barcelona. The central government is also reviewing demands from some regional politicians to reimpose rules such as the compulsory wearing of face masks outdoors, which stopped being mandatory on June 26. Raphael Minder

Switzerland

Infections have dropped steadily since mid-April, while vaccinations are also picking up pace, with about 52 percent of the population having received at least one dose as of July 7.

As of June 26, travelers arriving from the United States and other countries that are no longer deemed “high risk” are allowed to enter Switzerland provided that they can show proof of full vaccination, proof of recovery from a Covid-19 infection, or a recent negative virus test. More information on the entry requirements is available from the Swiss government .

Switzerland’s superb health care system is currently under little strain because of the pandemic. The Swiss government has a list of testing centers that travelers can consult. Anyone who tests positive while in the country should follow the government’s instructions for isolation . In a medical emergency, dial 144.

Switzerland’s latest round of lockdown easing took effect on May 31, when indoor dining was once again permitted with a limit of four people per table. (Outdoor dining has been allowed since April.) Thermal baths, indoor swimming pools and spas were also given a May 31 reopening date, while limits on attendance at public spectator events were raised to 100 people indoors and 300 people outdoors. Large-scale events are now permitted, though still with some upper limits on attendance. That leaves open the possibility that the Swiss summer festival season could go ahead, though on a smaller scale than normal, in some cases. The two-week Montreux Jazz Festival kicked off on July 2, while the Locarno Film Festival will run from Aug. 4 to 14, and the Zurich Food Festival is scheduled for Sept. 16 to 26. For the latest information on what’s open in Switzerland, the MySwitzerland website has all of the details .

The Swiss tourism industry is hoping that the country’s image as a stable and hygienic destination will help it to win back visitors. “Before the pandemic, you would have said, ‘Well, this is absolutely not sexy and not a huge asset in tourism promotion — that you are clean, that you are safe, that you are well organized,’” said Mr. Aschwanden, the Switzerland Tourism spokesman. “But now we realize that this is one of the best images that you can have.” Paige McClanahan

Infections and deaths in Turkey from the coronavirus have been declining steadily. Turkey so far has fully vaccinated about 19 percent of its population of 83 million people; about 44 percent have received their first dose.

Turkey has remained open to tourists, including Americans, throughout the pandemic. Most international arrivals are required to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival.

Passengers arriving from Brazil, South Africa, India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are required to quarantine in government-assigned accommodations and will be released if they test negative for the virus after day 10.

Turkey offers health insurance packages starting at as little as $15 that cover foreign visitors for Covid-19 treatment and hospitalization for up to 30 days. The country treats coronavirus patients in both public and private hospitals and opened 17 new hospitals last year to provide more intensive-care capacity for Covid treatment.

Turkey’s economy is heavily dependent on tourism, and its response to the pandemic has been defined, in large part, by not cutting off its flow. The country has had a two-tiered system in place throughout the pandemic that exempts visitors from the strictest lockdown measures, including a curfew at night and on weekends that requires residents to stay at home.

Tourists are free to visit museums, beaches and other sites across the country. Hotels and resorts are open with capacity restrictions, and Turkey is prioritizing vaccinations for tourism workers.

On June 1, restaurants and cafes reopened for indoor and outdoor dining. All the restrictions are expected to be lifted at the start of the all-important tourist season in July. Ceylan Yeginsu

The United Kingdom

More than 68 percent of Britain’s population has received one dose of a coronavirus vaccine and the government aims to offer the rest of the adult population its first shot by the end of July. So far, 50 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated.

Entry Requirements

England has devised a “traffic light” system for foreign visitors, which determines quarantine and testing requirements depending on case numbers and the prevalence of coronavirus variants in their home countries.

Only British and Irish nationals and those with residence rights in the United Kingdom are permitted to enter England from destinations on the red list , which includes India and Brazil. Anyone who has visited or passed through a red country within 10 days of arrival is required to get a coronavirus test 72 hours before their departure and must quarantine for 10 days in a government-designated hotel, which costs about $2,400 per person traveling alone.

The United States and most European countries are currently on England’s amber list , which requires travelers to show proof of a negative virus test taken 72 hours before departure and then self-isolate at home or at a suitable hotel for 10 days after arriving in the United Kingdom.

On day two and day eight of quarantining, travelers must take PCR tests, which cost about $300 and must be purchased in advance from British authorities. Those who want to be released from self-isolation early can take an additional test through a private provider on Day 5, at a cost of about $200, but they still must take the final test on Day 8. (The cost of tests may vary when entering Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.)

Visitors from countries or territories on England’s green list — there are currently 27, including Australia and New Zealand — are exempt from quarantine but are required to take a PCR test before departure and two days after arrival. (Some of the listed destinations are on a “green watchlist,” meaning they could abruptly switch to amber.)

The National Health Service contact tracing department carries out regular spot checks by phone and in person to ensure that passengers are complying with quarantine rules. Those found breaking them could face fines of up to $14,000 and jail time.

The traffic light system will be reviewed every three weeks with the possibility for countries to move up or down depending on how well they are containing the pandemic.

Medical Facilities

Foreign citizens visiting Britain have free access to National Health Service coronavirus testing and treatment, including hospitalization if it is required.

Pubs, restaurants, theaters, museums, stores and hotels have reopened, although capacity restrictions and social distancing measures still apply. While outside, most people do not wear masks, but indoors they are still expected to do so unless eating or drinking in a restaurant.

Across major cities such as London, Manchester, Brighton and Edinburgh, restaurants and bars are buzzing with people reuniting with friends and family and enjoying their newfound freedom after months of lockdown. Demand in coastal destinations like Cornwall and Dorset has soared in recent weeks as the weather warms and Britons book domestic beach vacations.

The government planned to lift remaining coronavirus restrictions by June 21, including those on nightclubs and large events such as festivals, but a spike in cases of a highly transmissible new variant pushed the date back to July 19 . Ceylan Yeginsu

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An earlier version of this article misstated Clément Beaune's role in the French government. He is the European affairs minister, not the foreign minister.

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