The EU’s Digital Covid Certificate: Can American Travelers Get One?

This summer, the 27 nations of the European Union are finally reopening to tourists—including American ones—following lengthy closures of borders due to the pandemic.

To facilitate ease of movement while keeping citizens safe, member states are issuing EU Digital Covid Certificates (sometimes referred to as "Digital Green Certificates" or "Digital Green Passes") for travelers to use at borders. These digital certificates prove that the holder has been vaccinated against Covid-19, has received negative test results for the virus, or has recovered from it.

Although the certificates were devised for use by EU citizens, visitors from the U.S., the United Kingdom, and elsewhere may also be permitted to use the system, EU

Read more at: The EU’s Digital Covid Certificate: Can American Travelers Get One? | Frommer's

China: WHO chief expects China collaboration in 2nd phase of studies into coronavirus origins

The head of the World Health Organization said on Tuesday that he expected all countries, including China, to collaborate in the second phase of a probe into the origins of the coronavirus after an initial mission to China, Reuters informs.

Read more at: https://artsakhpress.am/eng/news/151024/who-chief-expects-china-collaboration-in-2nd-phase-of-studies-into-coronavirus-origins.html

Brazil: Brazilian president's daughter-in-law and granddaughter test positive for COVID-19

Heloisa Bolsonaro shared that her daughter, Georgia Bolsonaro, only experienced mild symptoms, including a fever and runny nose.

'On the first day we felt bad, now, thank God, we're fine,' she wrote. 'And thanks to a drug that I just took and I got better right away. Impressive.'

Read more at: Brazilian president's daughter-in-law and granddaughter test positive for COVID-19 | Daily Mail Online

USA: CDC overrides advisory panel to back Pfizer booster for Americans with high-risk jobs | US news

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has broken with advice from its own internal advisory panel to back a booster shot of the Pfizer and BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for Americans aged 65 and older, adults with underlying medical conditions and adults in high-risk working and institutional settings.

The move came on Friday one day after an advisory panel to the agency did not recommend that people in high-risk jobs, such as teachers, and risky living conditions should get boosters. The panel had only recommended boosters for elderly and some people with underlying medical conditions.

Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director, said her agency had to make recommendations based on complex, often imperfect data.

Read more at: CDC overrides advisory panel to back Pfizer booster for Americans with high-risk jobs | US news | The Guardian

USA: How America mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic and why we aren't ready for the next crisis - by Lewis Brogd

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed this country in ways that will take decades to understand and address. A year and a half into this historic time, the world is exhausted and operating on reserves with no clear end date in sight.

Over the past year, I have been reflecting on two incisive quotes from staff writers at The Atlantic — George Packer and Ed Young. The first is short and to the point. Packer said, “The coronavirus has revealed a sick and unequal society incapable of self-government.”

As a scholar of Bible and religion, the idea of the pandemic acting as a catalyst, exposing the realities of our sick and unequal society, resonated with me. In scripture, God reveals and exposes truth about humanity in unorthodox ways. Throughout history, societies get locked into unhealthy and oppressive patterns and refuse to change. The Sovereign One reveals the true character of these nations. God uses nature, animals, disease, even corrupt neighboring nations to bring judgment.

Read more at: How America mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic and why we aren't ready for the next crisis

Corona Pandemic - Travel Restrictions: U.S. to Lift Pandemic Travel Restrictions, Easing Tension With Europe

The halt to the 18-month ban on travel from 33 countries, including members of the European Union, China, Iran, South Africa, Brazil and India, could help rejuvenate a U.S. tourism industry that has been crippled by the pandemic. The industry suffered a $500 billion loss in travel expenditures in 2020, according to the U.S. Travel Association, a trade group that promotes travel to and within the United States.

Foreign travelers will need to show proof of vaccination before boarding and a negative coronavirus test within three days of coming to the United States, Jeffrey D. Zients, the White House pandemic coordinator, said on Monday. Unvaccinated Americans who want to travel home from overseas will have to clear stricter testing requirements. They will need to test negative for the coronavirus one day before traveling to the United States and show proof that they have bought a test to take after arriving in the United States, Mr. Zients said.

Read more at: U.S. to Lift Pandemic Travel Restrictions, Easing Tension With Europe - The New York Times

USA: 45% of Republicans Support a Universal Vaccine Mandate: New Poll

45% of Republicans support a universal vaccine mandate, a new poll found. Comparatively, 84% of Democrats support a universal mandate A majority of Americans (64%) also supported such a mandate.

Read more at: 45% of Republicans Support a Universal Vaccine Mandate: New Poll