Covid-19 and Your Travel Plans
The World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) is working with governments, health experts and other industry associations to set forth effective safety protocols & toolkits for implementation to ensure that travelers are and feel safe. As new information becomes available about COVID-19, from the WHO and CDC, these protocols are updated.
And in early June 2020, the WTTC began to certify hotels, cruise lines, tour operators that adhere to consistent health and safety standards. The specially designed stamp allows travelers to see who has adopted these health and hygiene global standardized protocols. As the travel sector adopts common standards to ensure the safety of its workforce and travelers, we can shift to reopening and rebooking securely and safely. Also, this is the world’s first ever global safety and hygiene stamp.
As the entire industry works to create the next normal for travel, the primary goal remains - a secure, seamless trip that provides an authentic and meaningful experiences, brings the world together and keeps us all well.
US State Department
As of March 31st, 2020, until further notice, The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19. In countries where commercial departure options remain available, U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period. More here.
Centers for Disease Control
The Centers of Disease Control offers advisories on travel within the United States, on cruise ships, on returning from international travel, on travelers prohibited entry to the United States, travel health notices, travel recommendations by country as well as FAQs on travel during the time of Covid-19. More here.
Department of Homeland Security
Effective March 13, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security outlined a new process for returning American citizens, legal permanent residents, and their immediate families who are returning home after recently visiting certain European countries (listed at the link), China, and Iran In order to help prevent the spread of travel-related cases of coronavirus in the United States. More here.
International Air Transport Association
This helpful resource is an alphabetical list by country of their travel policies regarding flights to and from these countries. The information is reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis, but given the rapidly evolving nature of the international response to the COVID-19 outbreak the accuracy cannot be 100% guaranteed. Still, it’s a helpful list. More here.
Littler Law
Littler is an labor and employment law firm that has been keeping track, state by state, of all the closures, restrictions, and staged re-openings across the United States. The chart linked below addresses non-essential businesses and the states wherein they are closed. Public officials have encouraged (if not mandated) residents to stay at home. This is up to date as of May 7 2020 More here.