PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – Families who take a summer vacation before they start classes would do more to do their homework on COVID-19 restrictions before loading the van.
The network of state and local quarantines fits day by day: New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut have ordered visitors from 34 states to quarantine them for 14 days. Chicago and Washington, D.C., each decided travelers from about two dozen states. Other states have their own lists. Some have the opportunity for visitors to take the test.
“Complicated doesn’t begin to describe it. I’m sorry about the people. They just need to get to Cape Cod. They need to get to Vermont. I don’t know what to tell them. People almost stayed alone. “to discover,” said Kathy Kutrubes, a company owner in Boston.
Restrictions, and confusion, are contributing to a sharp drop in travel, putting a hard blow to a key industry.
Before the outbreak, Americans were expected to make 2.3 billion domestic trips this year, according to the U.S. Travel Association. But that figure is expected to fall around 30% to $1.6 billion, the lowest point since 1991. Normally, almost a third of domestic production occurs in the summer.
Overseas, declining tourism through U.S. visitors and restrictions on border crossings have also led many travel-related companies to know if they will survive.
In news about the pandemic:
– Britain has suspended the easing of some of its virus restrictions just a few hours in advance, as the number of instances is for the first time since May.
– U.S. customer spending increased by 5.6% in June, recovering some of the lost floor when the virus-related economic slowdown began in March. But the resurgence of the virus in much of the country may hamper further progress.
– The U.S. government’s leading infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, told Congress that he was confident that a coronavirus vaccine will be in condition in early 2021 and will be widely applied within the year.
– Hurricane Isaias technique forced the closure of some control sites in Florida, even when the state reported a record number of deaths for the fourth day in a row, at 257.
Coronavirus is to blame for more than 150,000 deaths in the United States and more than a million in the world.
With respect to restrictions in the United States, the scenario varies considerably. Many states have no restrictions on the national matrix. But the number of quarantine states is expanding as governors move to protect citizens amid outbreaks in places like Florida, Texas and Arizona.
The effects are confusing to say the least.
For example, Maine asks Massachusetts visitors to quarantine the property or undergo a test, but Mainers can travel freely to Massachusetts. Chicago’s quarantine includes neighboring Wisconsin. But other people who cross the border to paintings are exempt.
In Connecticut, Paula Simchock and her husband plan to move to Delaware beaches with their daughter heading to drop her off at the University of South Carolina. But since those two states are on connecticut’s quarantine list, they expect to have to isolate themselves when they return home.
“We’re definitely crazy. So we’re looking to go to Delaware and enjoy our favorite restaurants and surf shops. We’re excited,” Simchock said. “Seeing that it’s on The Connecticut Hot Spots list is disappointing.”
The S.S. Travel Association believes that with proper precautions (masks, handwashing and proper sanitation) other people can do so safely.
More than a third of the jobs lost to the pandemic are in the travel and tourism industry, said Tori Emerson Barnes, the association’s spokesman.
“Really and truly, the only way that we can have a sustained economic rebound is to have people moving again,” she said.
Mike Stumpf and his wife, who live outdoors in Philadelphia, planned to cruise to Alaska in June. Then a Colorado was canceled this week. A fall cruise to Europe was delayed this fall, and they put their annual to Florida.
Among other state regulations and fitness issues, there is too much uncertainty, he said. “We probably wouldn’t because it’s not a threat and every state has other regulations,” he said.
Others don’t need to threaten him either.
In New York, Lyndie Callan had to cancel her 60th birthday in Spain this summer due to the country’s restrictions on American visitors. But even without the restriction, she would have felt comfortable traveling.
“There’s only one way to get this virus under control and that’s to behave responsibly. It starts with me,” Callan said. “I don’t see that my vacation plans are all that important. I’ll go on vacation next year.”
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Associated Press reporters around the world contributed to the report.