Americans Traveling to Europe Need to Know About These 3 New Travel Restrictions

Although many people are pushing for a return to “normal”, the coronavirus pandemic is still ongoing. Of particular concern are the new Delta and Lambda variants, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that they are significantly more transmissible than previous versions of the virus.

Despite concerns, many in the US were excited when Europe recently opened up to tourists, which gave caged travelers a good reason to dust their travel rewards. Unfortunately, some countries seem to be questioning the move.

In the weeks after the reopening, the number of new cases has risen across the European continent. These spikes, along with concerns about the rapidly evolving new coronavirus variants, have led several countries in Europe to impose new restrictions on travelers.

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1. Quarantines may be required

A number of countries appear to be reassessing their quarantine requirements, especially for travelers who have not received both doses of a two-dose vaccine.

Malta in particular recently reintroduced a mandatory quarantine period for visitors who are unable to provide a Malta-recognized proof of vaccination. Since Malta currently does not recognize the CDC certificate, which is common in the USA, this means that US tourists to Malta will likely have to be quarantined for 14 days upon entry.

While other countries haven’t updated their quarantine requirements yet, we could see more Europe put in additional entry restrictions as cases continue to increase. New variants could also trigger quarantine requirements.

2. New restrictions on indoor activities

Of course, the lack of quarantine requirements doesn’t mean you can move about completely freely. There are a number of restrictions on indoor activities across Europe. For example, several countries have closed nightclubs and bars or otherwise restricted their capacities. The Netherlands, which not long ago lifted the mask requirement for indoor use, reversed course after the rise in infections. The country has since closed bars and restaurants to back office staff.

Other countries are trying to avoid complete closings by adding new entry requirements. Earlier this week, France announced new restrictions on indoor cafes, bars and malls, restricting visitors to those who have been vaccinated or recently had a negative COVID test. Greece has also imposed similar restrictions on bars and theaters.

3. Some curfews are back in place

In some countries, night curfews are being introduced instead of restricting or closing certain shops. Spain, for example, recently reintroduced curfews in more than 30 cities, including the popular tourist destination of Valencia. They have also banned social gatherings with more than 10 people as the number of cases has tripled in the last month.

Portugal has reintroduced its curfews in the face of spikes due to the delta variant. Other countries still have long curfews, including Albania and parts of Cyprus. Some countries lifted curfews earlier this month, but that could change if the Delta variant continues to spike across the continent.

Many protective measures have also been expanded

Even in areas where new restrictions have not yet been introduced, plans to relax existing restrictions have been discarded. This means that you will most likely need masks anywhere in Europe, even if you are vaccinated. Social distancing measures are also fully in place in most parts of Europe.

Take that away? Things are always changing as authorities work to respond to a developing pandemic. Before traveling anywhere, internationally or even within the US, find out about the latest restrictions and requirements for the most up-to-date information.

source https://thedailytradingnews.com/americans-traveling-to-europe-need-to-know-about-these-3-new-travel-restrictions/