U.S. lifts pandemic travel ban after nearly 20 months

The U.S. is now fully reopened to vaccinated travelers from Mexico, Canada and most of Europe.

U.S. lifts pandemic travel ban after nearly 20 months
Natalia Abrahao is lifted up by her fiancé Mark Ogertsehnig as they greet one another at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J., Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. Pandemic travel restrictions have made their recent meetings difficult and infrequent. The U.S. lifted restrictions Monday on travel from a long list of countries including Mexico, Canada and most of Europe, setting the stage for emotional reunions nearly two years in the making and providing a boost for the airline and tourism industries decimated by the pandemic. Seth Wenig / AP Photo
U.S. lifts pandemic travel ban after nearly 20 months
Natalia Abrahao is lifted up by her fiancé Mark Ogertsehnig as they greet one another at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J., Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. Pandemic travel restrictions have made their recent meetings difficult and infrequent. The U.S. lifted restrictions Monday on travel from a long list of countries including Mexico, Canada and most of Europe, setting the stage for emotional reunions nearly two years in the making and providing a boost for the airline and tourism industries decimated by the pandemic. Seth Wenig / AP Photo

U.S. lifts pandemic travel ban after nearly 20 months

The U.S. is now fully reopened to vaccinated travelers from Mexico, Canada and most of Europe.

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The U.S. lifted the pandemic travel ban on Monday, doing away with COVID-19 restrictions that have been in place for more than a year and a half. International travelers from more than 30 countries must show proof of vaccination and a recent negative COVID-19 test before they can enter the U.S.

Reset checks in with NPR’s David Schaper for the latest and opens the phones to listeners for their thoughts on the change.

GUEST: David Schaper, NPR national desk correspondent based in Chicago