US: Delta and Alitalia to launch quarantine-free flights to Italy from December 19 /update 97

Event

Delta and Alitalia have announced that from December 19, quarantine-free flights will be offered from New York's John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) International Airports. Under the new measures, passengers will be required to take a PCR test no more than 72 hours before departure, followed by three rapid tests at either airport prior to boarding and upon landing at Rome's Fiumicino Airport (FCO). Flights originating from FCO will follow the same protocol. Notably, the US maintains an effective bar on non-nationals entering the country with limited exceptions. US citizens must have essential reasons for traveling to Italy, including for work, health, and education. 

Authorities have prohibited those from certain countries deemed high-risk from traveling to the US. There are some exemptions to these measures for essential travel from some countries. Details on countries from which travel is prohibited and further details on exceptions to restrictions can be found here.

As of Sunday, November 29, there have been 13,247,386 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the US with 266,074 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. 

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.

• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.

• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.