This alteration is among numerous adjustments in the ongoing battle against Covid-19, stemming from a new decree published in the Official Journal on January 1st. The United States now finds itself categorized on the red travel advisory list, effective this Saturday.
While this shift doesn’t affect fully vaccinated individuals, unvaccinated travelers or those lacking complete vaccination will face significant changes. Instead of a seven-day self-isolation period followed by testing—the prior arrangement for travelers from orange-listed nations—a mandatory ten-day quarantine, overseen by law enforcement, is now in effect.
A Surge in Cases and the Omicron Variant
This policy adjustment coincides with a dramatic upswing in daily infections within the United States, amplified by extensive holiday travel. Consequently, the nation has reduced the isolation period for asymptomatic Covid-19 patients from ten to five days. The quarantine duration for unvaccinated close contacts has also been shortened, from fourteen to five days. Vaccinated close contacts, however, are exempt from isolation.
Across the Atlantic, the Omicron variant has become dominant since the week of December 11th to 18th.
Furthermore, France has also added the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania to its red travel advisory list, effective Saturday.