EU Prepares to Drop Pre-Travel Testing Requirements for Travelers
If you are planning a trip to Europe, you could soon skip testing before you hop on a plane. European Union member countries are expected to eliminate pre-departure COVID-19 testing and quarantine procedures for travelers who are fully vaccinated.
Starting March 1, 2022, the European Council has recommended that people who received vaccines authorized in the EU should be allowed to enter without prior testing.
The new rule will apply to individuals who received the last dose of their primary vaccination series at least 14 days and no more than 270 days before arrival, or who have received a booster dose. Those who recovered from Covid-19 within 180 days of travel will also be able to skip testing.
“The updates will further facilitate travel from outside the EU into the EU, and take into account the evolution of the pandemic, the increasing vaccination uptake worldwide and the administration of booster doses,” the European Commission said.
So far, the EU has authorized the Covid-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax.
The EU guidance is non-binding, which means that not all member countries have to, or will actually implement these changes on March 1st.
HT: Travel Weekly
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How long before the US drops testing requirements? These requirements make no sense.
No testing has been required for a number of European Countries currently, for Americans traveling from the USA to Europe. One example, is Germany which has only required a vaccine certificate for travel from the USA. I was surprised about this, at first, but was confirmed when I flew JFK-FRA-HAM on February 12, 2022.
Science says that the vaccinated contract and transmit the virus just like anyone else. Therefore these policies of treating vaccinated individuals as if they are more superior is discrimination.
The unvaccinated are far, far more likely to need hospitalization from covid infection. The EU doesn’t want you clogging up their ICU’s (you’re a foreigner without health insurance). Neither does the U.S but hey, freedumb. It’s really that simple.
Apparently, they are far more superior, because they are smart enough to get vaccinated.