France has placed the United States on the red list because of the Omicron variant. Non-vaccinated travelers will now have to undergo a 10-day quarantine controlled by the police upon their arrival on French territory.
[Mis à jour le 10 février 2022 à 14h56] It is again possible to travel to United States since the reopening of the American borders last November. France took the decision to place the country on the orange list during the update to February 4, 2022. Previously placed on the red list, the United States is now categorized among the countries with “active circulation of the virus in proportions mastered”, and that “without dissemination of worrying variants”.
Unvaccinated travelers from the United States must now undergo a 7-day quarantine controlled by law enforcement. The entry requirements do not change for vaccinated persons. For their part, the United States requires that all foreign travelers entering the territory present a negative test carried out in the day before departure, in addition to being vaccinated.
As of February 10, the State of New York will no longer impose the wearing of a mask in closed places – shops, restaurants, performance halls and businesses. It thus follows California, Oregon, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and Illinois, which have already announced the gradual lifting of the mandatory mask indoors between February and early March.
Border controls to go to the United States vary depending on the country of origin. Thus, all nationals of the European Union aged two years and over and having special authorization to travel to the United States must undergo a visual check with the absence of symptoms as well as a random temperature measurement. Persons two years of age or older must also present a negative PCR test less than 72 hours old or a vaccination certificate, as well as a health certificate.
Since November 8, 2021, vaccinated travelers can travel to the United States following the lifting of the Travel ban. In addition to presenting proof of vaccination against Covid-19, travelers must present a negative test carried out the day before departure and wear a mask. There will be some exceptions, especially for children who are not yet eligible for vaccination.
Many countries around the world still impose a more or less long quarantine on their tourists upon their arrival on the territory. This quarantine consists of a few days – or even weeks depending on the country – of total isolation. In the United States, quarantine rules vary by state. However, local health authorities recommend that people arriving in the United States from abroad complete a minimum of one week of quarantine, accompanied by a PCR test 3 to 5 days after their arrival. To know the quarantine rules related to each State, it is advisable to approach the Consulate of the American State where the stay is planned.
To limit state-to-state transmission of the virus, most countries around the world have instituted quarantine for travelers from abroad. The latter has indeed proven itself and has made it possible to limit the risks of the appearance of clusters. In France, a quarantine is imposed on travelers returning from certain destinations. When a French resident returns from the United States, they must be able to provide a PCR test within 72 hours or an antigen test within 48 hours if vaccinated. Unvaccinated travelers from the United States must present a PCR test within 72 hours or an antigen test within 48 hours, then undergo a seven-day quarantine from home.
To curb the spread of the virus on their territory, the United States has implemented a curfew system in most of their states. This curfew has reduced the appearance of clusters in the private sector. In the United States, the curfew is still in effect in some states, although it has been removed in most. In New York, for example, the curfew, in effect between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., was lifted in June 2021. In other states of the country, it is still in place and prohibits people from leaving their homes. in the evening and at night. The goal? Avoid contagion during late gatherings, which are more conducive to non-compliance with barrier gestures.
Because the different States or the different regions of the same country can experience different health situations, measures to restrict travel within the countries themselves have been put in place in many territories. These measures are intended to limit the circulation of the virus on national territory, and to isolate the clusters by preventing their spread. In the midst of the pandemic, connections between the various states of the United States were particularly disrupted. Today, they are mostly restored, and it is possible to connect one state to another by car, bus or train without constraint. Great news for travelers, since traveling from one state to another is one of the greatest attractions of the United States.
After nearly two years of travel ban, the United States reopened its borders to vaccinated international travelers on November 8, 2021. They will also have to be tested and wear a mask, while a contact tracing system will be put in place. place, said White House pandemic coordinator Jeff Zients. There will be some exceptions, especially for children who are not yet eligible for vaccination. Additionally, the new rules will not immediately apply to travelers crossing land borders with Mexico and Canada.
Some states in the United States such as New York or California have been hardest hit by the virus. This is why the authorities have decided to close many public places at the heart of the pandemic. Today, most of these sites have reopened, and non-essential businesses have been able to resume service. National parks, in particular, are once again open to the public. Shops, restaurants, bars and tourist sites are open subject to restrictions (sanitary gauges, wearing a mask, social distancing, etc.). If wearing a mask is no longer compulsory outdoors, it remains essential in public transport and in closed public places. Gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited.
All US airports are open again, allowing for relatively free travel from state to state. As for the resumption of France-United States flights, it has been done gradually since the beginning of spring. Airlines connecting France to the United States are gradually resuming service, with fewer flights than before the pandemic, but a figure that should change significantly over the coming months.