From US to South Korea, COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Are Eased Globally 
COVID-19 13/06/2022 •
Earlier in the pandemic, some travellers donned protective plastic jackets at Hong Kong airport.

Travellers entering the US from other countries no longer need negative COVID-19 tests, Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Sunday.

The CDC continues to recommend that all people stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations and wear masks on public transport.

From Saturday, 11 June 2022, all COVID-19-related restrictions for entry into Germany were also preliminarily lifted, meaning that no proof of vaccination, recovery or testing is required.

Meanwhile, Canada has suspended mandatory random testing of  COVID-19 for international travellers at its airports during the month of June, saying that it is preparing to take this testing “off site”.

“There is no change for air travellers who do not qualify as fully vaccinated. Between June 11 and June 30, these travellers will continue to be tested on arrival at the airport and on Day 8 while they quarantine for 14 days,” Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada announced.

Random testing has caused substantial delays at Canadian airports, particularly as more people resume travel.

 

Canadian President Justin Trudeau announced on social media on Monday that he had tested positive for COVID-19, adding that “I feel okay, but that’s because I got my shots. So, if you haven’t, get vaccinated – and if you can, get boosted.”

South Korea lifted its seven-day quarantine mandate for unvaccinated arrivals from overseas on 8 June. All travellers, regardless of vaccination status, still need a pre-departure Covid test and a PCR test within three days of arrival.

China still requires all international travellers to be screened for COVID-19 on arrival and subjected to at least 14 days of quarantine, some of it in designated government quarantine sites.

Similarly, travellers to Hong Kong need to provide a negative test and hold a reservation in a designated quarantine hotel.

All vaccinated travellers must undergo COVID-19 tests on arrival in Hong Kong and wait for a negative result before continuing to their quarantine hotel, where they can leave after a week if they have had two successive negative tests on days five and seven. Unvaccinated travellers face a 14-day quarantine but can also have this cut to seven days following two successive negative tests.

 

Image Credits: WHO Africa.

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