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Vacation options just expanded for people planning trips this summer. On Wednesday, May 19, the European Union announced its 27 member countries will reopen to many foreign tourists following a review by the president of the European Commission in April. The update is good news for vaccinated Americans looking to leave the country after months of COVID-19 restrictions. But the EU isn't reverting to its pre-2020 travel protocols right away. Before booking your European getaway, here's what you need to know.
Who Can Travel to Europe?
On Friday, May 21, the EU will release its new list of COVID-safe countries cleared for travel regardless of tourists' vaccination status. The current criteria look at positivity rate, the number of tests being administered, and the direction of trends in new cases. Even after those criteria are loosened, the U.S. likely won't make the new list, but fully vaccinated travelers from the U.S. will be allowed to visit. The EU is expected to totally open to tourists from the UK as well.