(CNN) — A new airport has been named the very best in the world. New Zealand says it will start to reopen its borders next year. And dolphins have returned to Lisbon waters.
Here’s what we learned in pandemic travel this week.
1. The US has added more destinations to its ‘do not travel’ list
The white sands of Oranjestad, Aruba, are ill-advised for US tourists for the time being.
LUIS ACOSTA/AFP/Getty Images
This means that it’s seeing more than 500 new cases per 100,000 people in the past 28 days and neither elderly Californians, nor anyone else, should be traveling there, the CDC says.
Elsewhere on the Beach Boys itinerary, Jamaica and the Bahamas remain at Level 3 (unvaccinated travelers should avoid unnecessary travel), while Bermuda is down at Level 1 (low risk for vaccinated travelers).
2. New Zealand will slowly reopen its borders next year
Tongan rugby star Samisoni Taukei’aho recieves his Covid-19 jab at Peppers Clearwater Resort on July 29, 2021 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images
It’s lonely at the top.
New Zealand has recorded one of the lowest rates of Covid-19 infections in the world, with just 3,000 cases in a population of almost 5 million people.
That’s due in part to the government’s decision to close New Zealand’s borders to all non-residents in March 2020, a move which has kept citizens safe but also kept them comparatively isolated from the rest of the world.
The government has not yet confirmed which countries which be classified as low, medium or high risk.
3. Canada has reopened to US tourists
Fathom Five National Marine Park in Tobermory, Ontario, seen during a partial solar eclipse on June 10, 2021.
Geoff Robins/AFP/Getty Images
North America just got a whole lot more neighborly.
Canada reopened its border to the US on Monday for people who are fully vaccinated.
Americans were barred from making nonessential visits since the beginning of the pandemic, but leisure travel is now allowed once more.
4. Qatar has the new world’s best airport
5. France and Italy have rolled out health passes
Nathalie Loiseau, French Member of European Parliament, talks about President Macron’s tough new covid health pass.
7. Three US airlines will skip vaccine mandates
Southwest Airlines will not be mandating Covid shots for its workers.
Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP/Getty Images
Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines are all strongly encouraging their staff to get vaccinated, but have not changed their stance on mandates at this time.
8. Two Hawaii visitors were arrested for falsifying vaccination cards
Beachgoers enjoying an August day in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 2018.
Kat Wade/Getty Images
Governor David Ige said that the two had falsified vaccination cards in order to avoid taking a Covid test or quarantining upon arrival to the islands.
The governor said the two had been arraigned and could face a fine of up to $5,000 and/or up to one year in prison.
9. Nearly 30 Covid cases were reported on board a Carnival cruise ship
The cruise ship Carnival Vista is seen moored at a quay in the port of Miami on December 23, 2020.
Daniel Slim/AFP/Getty Images
All 27 infected individuals are vaccinated and most are asymptomatic. Belize tourism officials met virtually with Carnival Vista officials on Tuesday to discuss the situation before passengers disembarked in Belize City.
10. Dolphins have returned to Lisbon
Dolphins swim in Lisbon’s Tagus River on August 7, 2021.
PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images
This summer’s disastrous extreme weather conditions have put paid to the lie of all those “nature is healing” memes, but there is some positive news out of Lisbon, Portugal.
Dolphins have been spotted in the Tagus River since Roman times, but were rarely seen in recent years. However, the pandemic led to a drop in maritime traffic, a reduction in pollution and an increase in fish — prompting dolphins to return.
CNN’s Marnie Hunter, Kay Jones, Faith Karimi, Jane Levere, Lilit Marcus, Pete Muntean, Carly Walsh and Ben Westcott contributed to this story.
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