Fully vaccinated could start visiting EU without a Covid test

• Fully vaccinated travelers from non-EU countries could visit EU countries without taking a Covid test starting from March 1.
• People who were not able to take their second dose or booster shot within the last nine months will not count as fully vaccinated.
• Kids under six will be allowed in, while children aged six to 18 will still have to provide a negative PCR test before departure.

Fully vaccinated travelers from the U.K. and other non-EU countries will soon be able to visit all EU nations without having to show proof of a negative Covid test.

By “fully vaccinated,” the European Council means those who have received their second dose or booster shot at least 14 days or within the last nine months (270 days) before arrival.

Children under six will be allowed in, while those aged six to 18 will still have to show proof of a negative PCR test before departure.

According to the commission, “Those who recovered from Covid-19 within 180 days prior to traveling” are also allowed in, by showing proof of their recovery “with an EU Digital Covid Certificate or a non-EU certificate deemed equivalent to the EU Digital Covid Certificate.”

The changes are set to be implemented starting from March 1. Hopefully, these could ease concerns on the confusing difference in travel rules across different countries.

However, European governments could still opt out of the plan, which could still cause some discrepancies.

In Italy and the Netherlands, for instance, all UK visitors still need to provide negative PCR or lateral flow tests. That restriction has been dropped in France, but travelers still need a vaccine passport and an “honor” form stating their symptoms and potential Covid contacts.

The European Commission’s statement on Tuesday explained that the updates took into account “the evolution of the pandemic, the increasing vaccination uptake worldwide and the administration of booster doses, as well as the recognition of a growing number of certificates issued by non-EU countries as equivalent to the EU Digital COVID Certificate.”

However, they reiterated that it was still “up to member states” to implement the change.

The Commission expressed their optimism that most EU and EEA countries would adopt the new recommendation, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Meanwhile, England has dropped all restrictions for fully vaccinated arrivals, who are only required to fill in a passenger locator form.

Travelers who are not fully vaccinated are required to take a PCR test two days before traveling and another within two days of arriving.

Source: METRO