JCU Responds to EU Opening Up to Americans and US State Department Travel Advisory for Italy
On April 20, 2021, US Department of State (USDOS) Travel Advisory level for Italy (and other countries around the World) changed in order to align their advisory system with the Center for Disease Control. We would like to address some concerns that this change may have elicited.
A view of the Guarini Campus of John Cabot University
According to a statement released by the US State Department, “[This change] does not imply a reassessment of the current health situation in a given country, but rather reflects an adjustment in the State Department’s Travel Advisory system…” It is also worth noting that, according to the State Department, approximately 80% of the countries in the world will now be designated with a Level 4 advisory, including Canada, UK, Spain, France, and Germany.
This update by the US State Department is unexpected, given that Italy’s situation has gradually been improving. Data indicates that case numbers are currently on a downturn, and Italy recently announced a national plan for reopening which will begin Monday, April 26 (previously set to begin mid-May). This means restaurants, bars and all catering venues will be open for dine-in for lunch and dinner. Museums and archaeological sites will also reopen under strict visiting protocols. The government’s decision to implement their reopening plan sooner than anticipated is based on improved infection data and progress in Italy’s vaccination campaign.
John Cabot University has effectively managed the pandemic during this Academic Year. We have implemented several measures that have allowed our academic facilities and residences to remain open while maintaining a safe environment for all our students, faculty, and staff. We will conduct our Summer sessions and Fall semester as planned.
We want to remind everyone that the government of Italy continues to allow travelers on COVID-tested flights to bypass the required 10-day quarantine (previously 14 days) upon arrival into the country by providing proof of negative test results. This option is currently available on Delta and ITA Airways. Please consult with the airlines for further details.
The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, recently said that American tourists who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be allowed to visit the E.U. this summer. In an interview with The New York Times, Ms. von der Leyen said that the resumption of travel would depend “on the epidemiological situation, but the situation is improving in the United States, as it is, hopefully, also improving in the European Union.”
Read The New York Times article “E.U. Set to Let Vaccinated U.S. Tourists Visit This Summer“
