Covid-19 Travel Information As of May 18, 2022 As we enter summer of 2022 our industry is still dealing with the effects of Covid-19. We are operating more normally but still have some issues with testing, mitigation and breakthrough cases even in vaccinated people. The biggest problem when you return to traveling is to have a breakthrough case which may require you to self- isolate for 5-10 days depending on the country you are in at the time. This can result in a “trip interruption” or “travel delay” in travel insurance terms and maybe even a “medical claim” if you have to get a certificate of recovery (in lieu of a negative test to return to the USA) or need to be treated for Covid overseas. Many worldwide destinations have removed testing requirements for entry. Many have also removed masking requirements for planes or public transport. Some have even removed vaccination requirements that initially allowed movement in 2021. We have opened worldwide destinations including many destinations that do not require a Covid vaccination. Currently as of this date, cruise ships are still requiring that most people be vaccinated unless you have a medical excuse or are a small child. As of the date above, the US Government and cruise lines are still requiring a rapid antigen test to enter the country or sail on a ship. Most epidemeologists seem to think we are entering an endemic stage where worldwide immunity is higher but that means that some acceptable level of Covid community transmission will exist going forward. Testing is still more of a problem in America than it is in other places like Europe as most testing is done by Walgreens, CVS or walk in clinics who only offer rapid PCR testing (4 hours or less) with a pre- appointment made online. Cheap walkup instant Antigen testing is still not readily available to fulfill travel requirements or can be expensive in a clinical setting. What have we learned? Higher community transmission will increase breakthrough events in travel passengers and our travel industry work force. Transmission rates will vary from country to country at different times. Lower transmission rates result in less breakthrough cases while traveling. We know that outside is better than inside for less direct person to person transmission. We are reasonably sure that micro particles of Covid-19 can live in damp HVAC systems. Air exchange helps in modern buildings, modified cruise ships and airplanes but is worse in some older buildings and other tight indoor settings and group events. We know that masks inside a building or on forms of transport help to slow transmission and protect you, if you are worried about transmission while traveling, even if others do not wear them. We know that vaccinations are safe and highly effective at keeping you from hospitalization and death due to Covid-19. We don’t think they do as good a job of keeping you from a breakthrough as the virus evolves but help to moderate the virus if you are exposed and symptomatic. We know that if you had one shot of JnJ or two of MRNA that one booster will enhance the original vaccine as does contracting the virus. We think exposure to the virus helps that process too as your b cells are always learning from pathogens. We are not as concerned about transmission on hard surfaces as we initially were but frequent hand washing and wiping of surfaces is still recommended while traveling. How does what we know affect travel? As long as testing is required and self- isolation is required in some jurisdictions, by law; travelers will want to mitigate avoid a breakthrough. Being Covid symptomatic still has consequences while traveling. This is usually defined by governmental authorities in a destination as the number of days before you can travel again from onset of symptoms or positive test. Many destination governments have made it self- isolation instead of quarantine but use words like must and required when describing the process of self-isolation. Other places with low immunity levels like Asia are still quarantining travelers when variant outbreaks happen, borders can close. It is safer to travel if you are vaccinated and boosted plus use mitigation methods during spikes or all the time if health or immunocompromised when unable to avoid tight personal spaces. Masks have become a personal decision most places worldwide. If you are traveling and concerned about a breakthrough event, mitigation with masks can increase your odds of avoiding the virus. Your personal health factors into the types of mitigation you want to employ to avoid the virus in the early stages of endimicity. If you are concerned about traveling, while a personal decision; we have enough experience with masking that people will understand if you choose to mask while using public transport. We still carry both kn95 and cloth masks when traveling but are not as rigid about using them outside or in public spaces where social distancing is possible. The level of positivity in the community transmission can also trigger some passengers to “mask up” when transmission rates climb above 5% or 10% of the population tested and many feel comfortable ditching them when rates fall. Group settings like cruise ships and tour busses will tend to require vaccinated passengers until at least the end of 2022. From what I am hearing from industry executives they will evaluate requirements in the fall of 22 for 2023 as respiratory viruses tend to increase in the winter generally. Requirements for testing and masking will also change based on community transmission levels, caseloads of passengers/staff and entry of new variants. It is possible to travel to selected places, without being covid vaccinated but not all places at this point in time. Testing or quarantine rules may be different, if you are not vaccinated. Hopefully Covid becomming endemic will mean that future case spikes will continue to decline and less people will be hospitalized as time goes on. As we return to normal it seems that we continue to be challenged by ever decreasing spikes but they continue to make traveling more complicated than prior to the pandemic. Why use an agent during a time of pandemic travel? Agents have knowledge of Covid related travel rules and requirements We assist with governmental/vendor technology for health reporting. Travel Agents handle all involuntary schedule changes for clients. We offer and explain travel insurance coverage. Which destinations are open and safe for travel this and next year? Are masks and vaccines required for my particular destination? I tested positive while I am traveling. Travel Agents support a trip interruption and/or travel delay. BOOK WITH A TRAVEL AGENT, NOW MORE THAN EVER! Travel was complicated before the pandemic. It is our business to know how and where you can travel even as we come out of a worldwide pandemic. We know you all want to travel and our seniors still have bucket list destinations they want to put back on the front burner. We are staying apprised of the rules of travel and Covid-19 protocols. We know how to research destinations to make sure what your travel requirements are. We have top quality vendors who will survive the financial crisis in the travel industry as they are big companies with solid financial backing and access to financial markets. As good business people, we have survived this storm and are ready to handle your next vacation. We sell travel insurance and can advise how much you need as various policies are offered. Most of all, we have your back when you travel and we handle your changes when you have to postpone or cancel a trip. Disclaimer: While we are your trusted advisor, clients need to agree that traveling during a pandemic carries some kind of risk. Different destinations will have different risk levels and all clients have their own pre-existing conditions and other comorbidities that can make Covid-19 more dangerous. While we try to provide information on a best efforts basis about Covid-19 conditions in your destination and general Covid-19 travel information worldwide, only you can evaluate your condition and your personal situation with respect to traveling during a pandemic. CDC officially discourages travel at this time but many clients still want to travel. Clients agree to hold Market Access Promotions, Inc. dba Vacation Tour & Cruise harmless should they encounter Covid-19 while traveling. All decisions about vaccinations, mitigation and travel are the sole decision of the individual traveler and their companions, so our travel agency cannot be responsible for negative outcomes when you choose to travel.

Covid-19 Travel Information As of May 18, 2022 As we enter summer of 2022 our industry is still dealing with the effects of Covid-19. We are operating more normally but still have some issues with testing, mitigation and breakthrough cases even in vaccinated people. The biggest problem when you return to traveling is to have a breakthrough case which may require you to self-isolate for 5- 10 days depending on the country you are in at the time. This can result in a “trip interruption” or “travel delay” in travel insurance terms and maybe even a “medical claim” if you have to get a certificate of recovery (in lieu of a negative test to return to the USA) or need to be treated for Covid overseas. Many worldwide destinations have removed testing requirements for entry. Many have also removed masking requirements for planes or public transport. Some have even removed vaccination requirements that initially allowed movement in 2021. We have opened worldwide destinations including many destinations that do not require a Covid vaccination. Currently as of this date, cruise ships are still requiring that most people be vaccinated unless you have a medical excuse or are a small child. As of the date above, the US Government and cruise lines are still requiring a rapid antigen test to enter the country or sail on a ship. Most epidemeologists seem to think we are entering an endemic stage where worldwide immunity is higher but that means that some acceptable level of Covid community transmission will exist going forward. Testing is still more of a problem in America than it is in other places like Europe as most testing is done by Walgreens, CVS or walk in clinics who only offer rapid PCR testing (4 hours or less) with a pre-appointment made online. Cheap walkup instant Antigen testing is still not readily available to fulfill travel requirements or can be expensive in a clinical setting. What have we learned? Higher community transmission will increase breakthrough events in travel passengers and our travel industry work force. Transmission rates will vary from country to country at different times. Lower transmission rates result in less breakthrough cases while traveling. We know that outside is better than inside for less direct person to person transmission. We are reasonably sure that micro particles of Covid-19 can live in damp HVAC systems. Air exchange helps in modern buildings, modified cruise ships and airplanes but is worse in some older buildings and other tight indoor settings and group events. We know that masks inside a building or on forms of transport help to slow transmission and protect you, if you are worried about transmission while traveling, even if others do not wear them. We know that vaccinations are safe and highly effective at keeping you from hospitalization and death due to Covid-19. We don’t think they do as good a job of keeping you from a breakthrough as the virus evolves but help to moderate the virus if you are exposed and symptomatic. We know that if you had one shot of JnJ or two of MRNA that one booster will enhance the original vaccine as does contracting the virus. We think exposure to the virus helps that process too as your b cells are always learning from pathogens. We are not as concerned about transmission on hard surfaces as we initially were but frequent hand washing and wiping of surfaces is still recommended while traveling. How does what we know affect travel? As long as testing is required and self-isolation is required in some jurisdictions, by law; travelers will want to mitigate avoid a breakthrough. Being Covid symptomatic still has consequences while traveling. This is usually defined by governmental authorities in a destination as the number of days before you can travel again from onset of symptoms or positive test. Many destination governments have made it self-isolation instead of quarantine but use words like must and required when describing the process of self-isolation. Other places with low immunity levels like Asia are still quarantining travelers when variant outbreaks happen, borders can close. It is safer to travel if you are vaccinated and boosted plus use mitigation methods during spikes or all the time if health or immunocompromised when unable to avoid tight personal spaces. Masks have become a personal decision most places worldwide. If you are traveling and concerned about a breakthrough event, mitigation with masks can increase your odds of avoiding the virus. Your personal health factors into the types of mitigation you want to employ to avoid the virus in the early stages of endimicity. If you are concerned about traveling, while a personal decision; we have enough experience with masking that people will understand if you choose to mask while using public transport. We still carry both kn95 and cloth masks when traveling but are not as rigid about using them outside or in public spaces where social distancing is possible. The level of positivity in the community transmission can also trigger some passengers to “mask up” when transmission rates climb above 5% or 10% of the population tested and many feel comfortable ditching them when rates fall. Group settings like cruise ships and tour busses will tend to require vaccinated passengers until at least the end of 2022. From what I am hearing from industry executives they will evaluate requirements in the fall of 22 for 2023 as respiratory viruses tend to increase in the winter generally. Requirements for testing and masking will also change based on community transmission levels, caseloads of passengers/staff and entry of new variants. It is possible to travel to selected places, without being covid vaccinated but not all places at this point in time. Testing or quarantine rules may be different, if you are not vaccinated. Hopefully Covid becomming endemic will mean that future case spikes will continue to decline and less people will be hospitalized as time goes on. As we return to normal it seems that we continue to be challenged by ever decreasing spikes but they continue to make traveling more complicated than prior to the pandemic. Why use an agent during a time of pandemic travel? Agents have knowledge of Covid related travel rules and requirements We assist with governmental/vendor technology for health reporting. Travel Agents handle all involuntary schedule changes for clients. We offer and explain travel insurance coverage. Which destinations are open and safe for travel this and next year? Are masks and vaccines required for my particular destination? I tested positive while I am traveling. Travel Agents support a trip interruption and/or travel delay. BOOK WITH A TRAVEL AGENT, NOW MORE THAN EVER! Travel was complicated before the pandemic. It is our business to know how and where you can travel even as we come out of a worldwide pandemic. We know you all want to travel and our seniors still have bucket list destinations they want to put back on the front burner. We are staying apprised of the rules of travel and Covid-19 protocols. We know how to research destinations to make sure what your travel requirements are. We have top quality vendors who will survive the financial crisis in the travel industry as they are big companies with solid financial backing and access to financial markets. As good business people, we have survived this storm and are ready to handle your next vacation. We sell travel insurance and can advise how much you need as various policies are offered. Most of all, we have your back when you travel and we handle your changes when you have to postpone or cancel a trip. Disclaimer: While we are your trusted advisor, clients need to agree that traveling during a pandemic carries some kind of risk. Different destinations will have different risk levels and all clients have their own pre-existing conditions and other comorbidities that can make Covid-19 more dangerous. While we try to provide information on a best efforts basis about Covid-19 conditions in your destination and general Covid-19 travel information worldwide, only you can evaluate your condition and your personal situation with respect to traveling during a pandemic. CDC officially discourages travel at this time but many clients still want to travel. Clients agree to hold Market Access Promotions, Inc. dba Vacation Tour & Cruise harmless should they encounter Covid-19 while traveling. All decisions about vaccinations, mitigation and travel are the sole decision of the individual traveler and their companions, so our travel agency cannot be responsible for negative outcomes when you choose to travel.