To ensure we are equipping our readers with all the information they need, we will continue to report on all travel, safety, and COVID-related news that could impact a Disney Parks visit.

Things with COVID-19 have changed over the past few months.

We’ve shared news about vaccine updates, mask rule changes, COVID-19 numbers in Florida, and more. Now, due to the latest information about the Omicron variant, things have changed and developed again. There are now travel restrictions in place in select locations and the World Health Organization has advised that select individuals not travel. So, what’s the current status of restrictions and other information related to Omicron? Here’s what you need to know.

What is Omicron?

Omicron is the name of a new COVID-19 variant. According to the World Health Organization (“WHO”), the variant was first reported to them from South Africa on November 24th, 2021. On November 26th, 2021, the WHO identified Omicron as a “variant of concern.”

According to the WHO, Omicron “has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning.” Initial evidence seems to suggest that there is an “increased risk of reinfection” with Omicron. There are a number of studies underway with regards to this variant.

The WHO has acknowledged that there are many uncertainties when it comes to Omicron, including how transmissible it is, how well vaccines protect against infection, and more. According to CBS News, Dr. Anthony Fauci (Chief Medical Advisor to the President of the U.S.) has indicated that “identified mutations of Omicron predict that the strain could likely be more transmissible and suggest it could evade monoclonal antibodies, convalescent plasma and possibly vaccines.” But, he has also noted that there is plenty that is still not known.

According to the WHO, it is expected that this new variant will be “detected in an increasing number of countries as national authorities step up their surveillance and sequencing activities.”

Has Omicron Been Found in the U.S.?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), as of November 26th, 2021 no cases of the Omicron variant have been identified in the United States.

CBS News shares that Dr. Anthony Fauci (Chief Medical Adviser to President Joe Biden) indicated that he “‘would not be surprised’ if the variant has already made its way into the United States.” CBS News also shared that the President of the U.S. has said, “Sooner or later, we’re going to see cases of this new variant here in the United States…We’ll have to face this new threat, just as we faced those that have come before it.”

COVID-19 Vaccines and Omicron

Again, much is still not known about Omicron, including how it will interact with exiting COVID-19 vaccines. According to CBS News, the CEO of Moderna has said that existing COVID-19 vaccines will likely be less effective against the Omicron variant.

Officials from Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer have all indicated that they have started trials of their COVID-19 vaccines against the new variant. But, the results will likely take weeks to arrive.

The chief medical officer for Moderna said that it would take about 3 months for Moderna to make a vaccine that specifically targets Omicron. Pfizer indicated that it could produce an Omicron-specific vaccine in about 100 days, subject (of course) to approval from the appropriate regulatory bodies.

But, CBS News points outs that “epidemiologists caution that it is too early to say how dangerous Omicron could be.” The CEO of another vaccine maker has said that “infections caused by the new variant likely will not cause severe illness for vaccinated people.”

Travel Restrictions — United States

If you’re planning to travel to the United States from an international location, these are the current travel restrictions you need to know about.

Travel Bans

According to the U.S. Department of State, the United States has restricted travel from the following countries as of November 29th, 2021 due to concerns about Omicron: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

The proclamation from the White House notes that noncitizens of the U.S. who were physically present within one of those countries during the 14-day period prior to their entry or attempted entry into the U.S. are restricted from entering the U.S. These restrictions don’t apply, however, to select individuals, specifically: U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and certain other travelers identified in the proclamation.

Travel Advisories for these countries are at a Level 4 — Do Not Travel.

COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination

Aside from the Omicron-specific travel ban, there are other COVID-19 travel restrictions you need to know about if you’re traveling to the U.S. from abroad. Per an order from the CDC (which took effect starting on November 8th, 2021), all non-immigrant, non-citizen air travelers to the United States are required to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their vaccination status BEFORE boarding a plane to the U.S. Only limited exceptions apply.

In addition to being fully vaccinated and showing proof of that, there are certain COVID-19 testing requirements.

If you are fully vaccinated, you must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 3 days before travel. If you are not fully vaccinated and meet the criteria for an exception, you’ll need to show a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 1 day before travel.

The CDC has specific rules about who is and who is not considered fully vaccinated. You can see more about that here.

Proof of vaccination is not required for U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents before boarding a flight to the U.S., but they must meet certain COVID-19 testing requirements, depending on their vaccination status.

After You Arrive in the U.S.

In terms of suggestions for after you travel, the CDC has certain testing and quarantine recommendations. If unvaccinated, the CDC recommends staying home and self-quarantining for 7 days after international travel upon arriving in the U.S. in addition to the COVID-19 testing recommendations.

Who Should NOT Travel

In light of the Omicron variant, the WHO has issued a number of travel advisories. The WHO has specifically indicated that “Persons who are unwell, or who have not been fully vaccinated or do not have proof of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and are at increased risk of developing severe disease and dying, including people 60 years of age or older or those with comorbidities that present increased risk of severe COVID-19 (e.g. heart disease, cancer and diabetes) should be advised to postpone travel to areas with community transmission.”

The CDC has also indicated (on its page for U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents, and Immigrants) that persons should not travel internationally until they are fully vaccinated.

The CDC also recommends that “people follow prevention strategies such as wearing a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high community transmission, washing your hands frequently, and physically distancing from others.” Note that Orange County, Florida (where much of Disney World is located), is currently in the “Low” transmission category.

Changes

Note that these travel restrictions are subject to change and, in fact, it appears change could be on the way. According to the New York Times, the CDC has indicated that it plans to tighten the COVID-19 testing requirements and international fliers bound for the U.S. due to Omicron. The CDC is reportedly considering requiring travelers to provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours before their flight’s departure (instead of the 3-day requirement that applies to some, as outlined above).

President Biden has said that he will announce plans on Thursday regarding “stepping up the fight against the pandemic.” It’s unclear if this will include the tighter testing requirements as a timeline wasn’t named for the CDC’s action.

The New York Times also shares that Natalie Quillian, the deputy coordinator for the COVID-19 response in the White House, has indicated that the administration is assessing all of the tests being used to make sure they’re effective in picking up the new Omicron variant, and they’ll remove any from the accepted list if they’re not effective. So, that’s something to keep in mind.

According to Politico, there have been some indications suggesting that Omicron originated in Europe, “raising questions about whether the U.S. might again shut down flights from Europe.” That is something that has not been confirmed or officially discussed. It is only a question at this time.

Travel Restrictions — Florida

According to the Florida Department of Health, “Florida is one of the top travel destinations in the world and there are currently no travel restrictions in place.” Note that the regular U.S. travel restrictions discussed above would apply to any travel to Florida, but Florida does not currently have any additional travel restrictions in place.

According to NPR, Florida governor Ron DeSantis has indicated that “the threat of a new worrisome COVID mutation won’t change his pledge to stand firm against lockdowns and vaccine mandates.”

The Florida Department of Health has, however, issued a public health advisory recommending the following:

• Residents and visitors are advised to wear face coverings if social distancing is not possible, both indoors and outdoors.
• Avoid closed spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings.

Travel Restrictions — Other Countries

If you’re planning to leave the U.S. and travel internationally, you’ll also want to keep in mind that there are some recommendations or restrictions in place.

By visiting the U.S. Department of State website, you can see all of the current travel advisories. There are various levels of travel advisories including Level 4 (Do Not Travel), Level 3 (Reconsider Travel), and more. You can check your destination and see what travel advisories are in place.

Select other countries have travel restrictions in place. For example, according to the New York Times, Japan has “asked airlines to stop taking new bookings for all flights into the country for the rest of the year.”

You can click here to see details on international travel policies and restrictions from CNN.

That’s a current look at travel restrictions and more due to COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. Keep in mind that these things can all change. Be sure to check back for more updates.

Click here to see our original post about the U.S. travel restrictions due to Omicron.

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

The post Full List of Current Travel Restrictions and Border Closures Due to the Omicron COVID-19 Variant first appeared on the disney food blog.