As the vaccine rollouts continue to offer hope to many couples that they will be able to have in-person weddings and travel for a honeymoon this year, the U.S. State Department announced on April 19, 2021, its plans to expand travel advisories, urging U.S. citizens to reconsider travel abroad as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose “unprecedented risks” around the world.
“All travelers face ongoing risks due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement. The agency also noted that it will begin updating its Travel Advisories to “better reflect the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) science-based Travel Health Notices that outline current issues affecting travelers’ health.”
This update will result in the government issuing a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory to approximately 80% of countries worldwide. What’s going on to prompt this advisory? As of April 22, 2021, the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center reported 144,241,181 COVID-19 cases around the world. The United States has confirmed more cases than any other country in the world—31,915,280—with India, Brazil, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Italy, Spain and Germany taking the top 10 spots.
On April 2, the CDC issued new guidelines stating that people who are fully vaccinated can travel safely within the United States.
So, what does this mean for couples tying the knot? SIGNATURE BRIDE strongly suggests that before deciding on a destination wedding or honeymoon outside the United States, couples need to research which countries are safe and which are open to U.S. residents. Couples may also want to consider exploring the United States for romantic weddings and honeymoons.