Covid-19 Updates Continued

Previous updates on the easing of travel restrictions in the UK (scroll down for Ireland)

November 29, 2021 – In reaction to the Omicron varient, the UK added a number of African countries to its red list. The US and Canada remain on the green list. Fully vaccinated travelers from a green list country must take a PCR test upon arrival to avoid the self-quarantine requirement. These tests are available at the airport upon arrival or at many other places, and they must be taken within the first 2 days of arrival. Masks are now being required in certain places (e.g., public transport). The following articles provide further details: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/29/what-do-new-measures-to-tackle-omicron-covid-variant-mean-for-uk-travellers & https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-59445124
September 20, 2021 – The UK government announced on Friday that it will discontinue its use of the traffic light system effective Oct. 4th. The traffic light system will be replaced with a simpler two-tier system. This will reduce the number of “red” counties and increase the “none-red” destinations. Starting Oct. 4th, a pre-departure negative Covid test result will no longer be required for vaccinated travelers from non-red countries entering England — the US and Canada included. Scotland has decided to maintain its pre-arrival negative Covid test requirement. Day 2 and Day 8 PCR tests will continue to be required throughout the UK. https://www.gov.scot/news/international-travel-restrictions-to-be-relaxed-and-simplified/
August 26, 2021 – The UK’s green, amber and red lists were updated and Canada has been added to the green list. The effective date of the announcement made today is Monday, Aug. 30th. For entry into the UK, a PCR test will be required before you depart Canada and another will be required on day 2 after arrival into the UK. A third PCR test will be required to depart the UK to return to Canada at the end of your trip. If the first test is positive, you will be unable to board your flight to the UK. If the second test is positive, you will have to skip the golf trip and do a 10-14 day quarantine in the UK. If the third test is positive, you will not be able to return to Canada for as long as 10-14 days and a negative PCR test. All travelers, 5 years of age or older, regardless of citizenship, must provide proof of a COVID-19 test result to enter Canada. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-58348541
August 5, 2021 – UK’s green, amber, and red lists were updated without any notable changes relevant to Americans and Canadians. The US and Canada remain in the amber category. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58079107
July 28, 2021, 1:24pm CST update – The effective date of the below announcement made today (see below entry on July 28th) is August 2, 2021 for entry into England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Note that the CDC issued a “Do Not Travel” warning to the UK last week on July 20. So the UK will welcome those who are fully vaccinated (Americans with vaccines approved by the US FDA, Canadians have been excluded by the UK for this exemption), but the US recommends that Americans don’t travel to the UK. For entry into the UK, a PCR test will be required before you depart the US and another will be required on day 2 after arrival into the UK. A third PCR test will be required to depart the UK to return to the US at the end of your trip. If the first test is positive, you will be unable to board your flight to the UK. If the second test is positive, you will have to skip the golf trip and do a 10-14 day quarantine in the UK. If the third test is positive, you will not be able to return to the US for as long as 10-14 days and a negative PCR test. For Canadians: https://www.getyourguide.com/magazine/where-can-canadians-travel-right-now/
July 28, 2021, 8:30am CST – The UK has announced that fully vaccinated Americans will be able to enter the UK without quarantine! The effective date has not been announced yet but is expected to be announced later today. Rumors are that it will be at some point in early to mid-August. This will apply to England. Scotland and Northern Ireland have not announced if they will follow suit although they likely will (but possibly with a later effective date than England). https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/28/double-jabbed-us-and-eu-travellers-can-avoid-england-quarantine-ministers-decide
June 17, 2021 – Perhaps there’s hope for UK trips in July for those who are vaccinated… but nothing concrete… https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/fully-vaccinated-people-uk-could-be-allowed-travel-amber-list-countries-the-2021-06-16/
June 16, 2021 – ‘Reasonable’ chance that US-UK travel resumes by September according to Dr. Fauci: https://www.itv.com/news/2021-06-16/reasonable-chance-travel-between-uk-and-us-could-resume-by-september-us-covid-expert-dr-anthony-fauci-tells-itv-news
June 14/17, 2021 – Today’s announcement on the delay of the easing of restrictions and its impact on international travel https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/lockdown-delay-travel-uk-europe-b1865350.html & https://www.travelpulse.com/news/destinations/uk-could-soon-loosen-restrictions-for-vaccinated-travelers.html
June 9, 2021 – Six Theories On When US/UK Travel Ban Will Be Lifted https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/alexledsom/2021/06/09/usuk-travel-green-corridor-28-june-and-july-4-theories-on-lifting-ban/amp/
June 7, 2021 – Next green list update predicted for June 24 with an effective date of June 29th. The US is a contender to be added. https://www.google.com/amp/s/inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/travel/green-list-update-when-next-travel-announcement-date-amber-list-countries-review-predictions-1038439/amp
June 4, 2021 – Yesterday the UK updated it’s green list. The US and Canada were not added yesterday. The next update will be on June 24th (for travel beginning July 1). https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/green-list-countries-update-live-24240080.amp
June 1, 2021 – Reports (although not official) that the green list will be updated with more countries earlier than the below mentioned June 7 and June 28. We’re hearing it could instead be on June 3 (for travel beginning June 10) and June 24 (for travel beginning July 1). We’re hoping that the US and Canada are added June 3 but expect it to be on June 24 instead. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/green-list-travel-holiday-uk-b1855733.html
May 25, 2021 – The UK’s green list is now planned for review on June 7 and then another review on June 28. On both dates, more countries will be added to the list and travel to/from those countries will likely be allowed a week after being added. Most pundits are expecting that the US will be included on the green list on June 7 or June 28. Hopefully the former! President Biden will travel to the UK between June 11 and 13 and many think that this will coincide with an announcement by the two countries that travel will be permitted. So we’re hoping that travel will be allowed beginning on or about June 14th but wouldn’t be surprised if instead it’s as late as July 4/5th. Obviously, this pandemic is unpredictable, but at least it feels like things are finally on the right track!
May 10/11, 2021 – Pundits predict that US will be added to green list between June 1-4 and that Americans will be able to travel to the UK without the need to quarantine by the end of June. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/green-travel-list-next-green-5395568
May 11, 2021 – Scotland announces that they will follow the UK traffic light system along with the same green list that England announced. The four devolved countries have agreed to follow the same system so at least we should expect England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales all to be on the same page. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.scotsman.com/health/coronavirus/scotland-international-travel-rules-what-are-the-green-list-countries-and-traffic-light-system-explained-3232912%3famp
May 10, 2021 – Good news! The US has removed the UK from its “Do Not Travel” list: https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2021/05/11/us-state-department-lowers-travel-advisory-for-uk-and-israel-on-back-of-vaccination-success/
May 7, 2021 – The UK has announced that the US and Canada are on their “amber” travel list which will require that tourists from these countries quarantine for 10 days upon arrival and will require Covid tests. It is generally expected that the US will be added to the “green” list by the end of June or by July 4th given the successful vaccination rollout in the US and the trends in new cases and deaths. American tourists may be able to start entering the UK by late June or early July but nothing is certain at this point.
Plenty of articles can be found on the internet predicting when the US will be added to the Green list. Here is an example: https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/14879323/usa-green-list-uk-holidays/
April 26, 2021 – The UK will announce the placement of countries into either the green, amber, or red list in early May (likely before the 10th and most likely the 6th or 7th). Pundits appear torn on whether the US will be on the green or amber list. If on the green list, American will not be subject to a quarantine requirement when entering the UK. If the US is placed on the amber or red list, a quarantine will be required. However, there is a possibility that fully vaccinated Americans would be exempt from quarantines. Everything is simply supposition until the early May announcement.
April 9, 2021 (April 12th announcement) – The UK Government’s Global Travel Taskforce was to make an announcement on travel restrictions on April 12. They did so on April 9th instead and laid out a traffic light system that will place countries into three lists (green, amber, and red). Travel will be permitted between the UK and green listed countries without the need to quarantine; however, negative covid tests will likely be required. The UK is exploring the possibility of a vaccine passport that may eliminate the need for Covid tests. Most importantly, the UK has announced that countries will be classified as green, amber, or red in early May (the travel industry expected this to be done on April 12th so we’re having to wait again). Also in early May, the UK government will announce whether international travel will still be permitted to commence on May 17, 2021.
February 22, 2021 – UK Prime Minister announces easing of lockdown: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-announcement-lockdown-exit-plan-restrictions-b1805297.html

Previous updates on the easing of travel restrictions in Ireland

July 8, 2021 – Headed to Ireland soon? Here are some helpful links:
- Information on Vaccination Proof: https://thepointsguy.com/news/europe-digital-covid-certificates-live/
- Latest on Indoor Dining: https://www.thejournal.ie/indoor-dining-meeting-5488465-Jul2021/
- Summary of Covid Restrictions: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/7894b-post-cabinet-statement-resilience-and-recovery-the-path-ahead/
- Where to get a Covid test for my return to the US: a list of places to get tests will be given to our clients before departure or published here
July 7, 2021 – All indoor dining restrictions were to be lifted on July 5 but have been delayed. An announcement will be made on July 13 regarding indoor dining. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/irish-pubs-update-leo-varadkar-24475803.amp
May 29 – June 1, 2021 – Ireland to allow vaccinated Americans beginning July 19, 2021 without quarantine!
May 26, 2021 – Rumors that Ireland will open July 15 to those who are fully vaccinated: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/ireland-to-start-issuing-eu-covid-travel-certificates-to-its-citizens-from-mid-july/
May 24, 2021 – Ireland set to announce this coming Friday more information on international travel: https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/7-lockdown-restrictions-ireland-set-24171171
May 19, 2021 – EU to welcome visitors beginning in June: https://www.travelmarketreport.com/articles/Report-Europe-Easing-Travel-Restrictions-for-Vaccinated-Tourists
May 13, 2021 – Ireland hints that tourists could return to Ireland in July or August: https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/irishpubs-dublinairport-flights-indoordining-lockdown-20585547 https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/what-change-happening-ireland-17-24101411

May 8/9, 2021 – EU to hopefully agree on digital vaccine certificates by June 21 with countries then allowing the fully vaccinated into the EU between late June and late August. Ireland has yet to decide if and when they will opt into this system. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/eu-member-states-aim-to-agree-on-vaccine-certificates-for-travel-by-mid-june-1.4559477
April 25, 2021 – The EU Announces that vaccinated US tourists will be able to enter Europe! However, a timeline has not been announced yet. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/25/world/europe/american-travel-to-europe.html
April 9, 2021 – The United States and Canada are added to Ireland’s list of countries for which a mandatory 14 hotel quarantine will be required. This is expected to last a “few months”. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-ireland-travel/ireland-adds-u-s-france-italy-to-tough-hotel-quarantine-regime-idUSKBN2BW2S8 and https://www.irishcentral.com/travel/ireland-mandatory-hotel-quarantine-united-states