Current Events: Pandemic Progress

After almost a year and a half of sequestering and covering our faces with masks, we seem to be approaching the light at the end of the tunnel. As countries begin to open up and vaccination rates are on the rise, countries around the world go back to what we now refer to as “normalcy.” Spain, specifically, has now eliminated their curfew and resumed with celebrations and concerts. New York City is projected to open up, fully, on July 1. Puerto Rico, a hub for tourism and travel, has reopened their doors back in April on the condition that passengers complete an online Travel Declaration. All travelers, even those who are vaccinated, must show proof of a negative COVID PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to the flight. These protocols have reduced the number of cases and resulted in a safer travel experience for all passengers. Europe is still holding off on reopening for the time being, as countries including but not limited to Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria remained closed for tourism. European countries that heavily rely on tourism have been hit hard from the pandemic and lost a primary source of income are now hit with a hard question- open up, or remain closed and let the economy suffer?