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CDC and State Department advise against travel to the United Kingdom as local COVID-19 cases surge

July 20, 2021
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3 min read
CDC and State Department advise against travel to the United Kingdom as local COVID-19 cases surge
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So much for the highly anticipated travel corridor between the United States and the United Kingdom.

The U.S. government on Monday urged travelers to avoid visiting the U.K., citing the alarming rise in coronavirus cases at the same time as U.K. officials have relaxed nearly all COVID-19 protocols. The CDC updated its travel advisory and bumped the U.K. up to Level 4, warning that "even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants."

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The State Department went even further, putting the U.K. on the Level 4: Do Not Travel list. "Do not travel to the United Kingdom due to COVID-19," states the advisory. The advice from U.S. officials came on the same day as so-called "Freedom Day," when the British government eliminated most of the remaining COVID-19 restrictions in England as it looks to rejuvenate the economy.

The U.K. is being hit with a new surge caused by the Delta variant, with roughly 45,000 new cases being reported daily. However, unlike the last wave, coronavirus deaths in the United Kingdom are a fraction of what the country experienced over the last winter.

While Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is currently in isolation after a government official tested positive, said he does not want to shut down Britain's nightlife, he did say new rules will go into effect by the end of September that require people to provide proof of vaccination to enter nightclubs and other crowded venues such as concert halls.

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The U.S. guidance would appear to dash short-term hopes of sparking a travel rebound in the U.K. with American visitors leading the way, as traveling to a country deemed high risk will likely deter many travelers from booking vacations.

The British Virgin Islands and Fiji have also been added to the CDC Level 4 list.

The warnings, however, are just that, warnings, and are not binding. But they do make traveling overseas much more difficult. If Americans still must travel to the U.K. for reasons deemed essential, you are strongly urged to be fully vaccinated before doing so. Because the U.S. is on the amber list, U.S. visitors will need to self-isolate for 10 days after arriving, as only those vaccinated in the United Kingdom can skip quarantine from 19 July.

Related: Will future insurance plans offer coronavirus coverage? Experts say yes

Travelers should also be aware that going to a country on a Level 4 advisory list could void your travel insurance policies which is a big risk when traveling overseas. TPG has an in-depth look at insurance policies that we recommend you look at. But the bottom line is this: Most insurance companies have wording in their policies that invalidate coverage if you go to countries where you are advised against non-essential travel.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.