In travel news for March 22, 2022 we have COVID policy updates for those traveling to Italy and Aruba, and the TSA is getting a SciFi upgrade.
The Transportation Security Administration will soon be rolling out a security scanner that’s straight out of a sci-fi movie! The new scanner will create a 3 dimensional view of bags being scanned. This new scanner should allow for passengers to keep more items in their bag when passing through security checkpoints, and hopefully will decrease the number of in person inspections of carry on items in security lines, decreasing wait times. It is worth noting that those who have TSA PreCheck currently can keep more items in their bags, such as laptops and liquids. This new technology will mainly benefit those travelers that currently don’t have TSA PreCheck.
Aruba, the popular Caribbean destination, has lifted almost all COVID travel restrictions. Travelers to Aruba will no longer be required to show proof of a negative COVID test, or proof of vaccination. Travelers arriving in Aruba will still be required to obtain Aruba Visitors Insurance, and they will need to complete the Embarkation and Disembarkation Card. The Aruba Visitors Insurance covers many of the costs associated with a COVID-19 infection while on the island.
Italy is continuing to phase out COVID restrictions. Starting May 1, the “green pass” will no longer be required to dine in a restaurant, use public transportation, check into a hotel, or do really anything of interest within Italy. And on March 31, Italy will allow the “state of emergency”, which was put in place to deal with the COVID pandemic, to expire. These changes will make visiting this popular European destination easier for both vaccinated as well as unvaccinated travelers. This announcement comes weeks after Italy dropped the pre-arrival testing requirement for fully vaccinated travelers. Unvaccinated travelers are still required to show proof of a negative COVID test, or proof of recovery from COVID within the previous 6 months. And all travelers are still required to fill out a passenger locator form before arrival.