National Harbor Celebrates With Special Cherry Blossom Cocktails and Treats through April 11

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.— National Harbor’s famous waterfront cherry trees are now in full bloom and the whole property is celebrating this gorgeous display with a wide array of activities and special events including Sakura Sunday every Sunday through April 11. Each Sakura Sunday will feature free cultural activities including Japanese inspired art, yoga and meditation classes and much more.

While The Capital Wheel lights up in brilliant pink every night and lights throughout the property turn pink, many of National Harbor’s restaurants, bars and food retailers are celebrating with special cocktails such as the Blossom Blast Cocktail at Voltaggio Brothers at MGM; Sakura Fling, a cherry blossom tini, at the Westin; Cherry Blossom Spritz at Bond 45; Silver Blossom available at Bar Harbor in Hyatt Place; Whiskey Cherry Coke at TAP Sports Bar at MGM and Strawberry Mochi from Ginger at MGM. Treats include Cherry Cheesecake from National Market at MGM, Cherry Pink Lemonade cheesecake from The Furlough Cheesecake, Cherry Blossom Messysicles from Messy Treatz, Crème Brulee cheesecake with cherry drizzle and fresh cherries from Bar Harbor at Hyatt Place and Cherry Truffles from Savannah Candy Kitchen.

Hotels and shops at National Harbor have a variety of specials and displays. MGM National Harbor has its amazing conservatory spring garden installation. In the Waterfront District, shop windows have been creatively decorated to celebrate the cherry blossoms; Muse Paintbar is holding three special cherry blossom inspired painting classes. BrookieGirl Bath + Body Care has cherry blossom body care products.

National Harbor is thrilled to participate in National Cherry Blossom Festival’s Art in Bloom, a community-wide visual art exhibition featuring 26 over sized cherry blossom sculptures. “Cherry Blossom Swirl Freestyle” by artist Josue “Cortino” Martinez is situated along the Potomac adjacent to the Plaza at the entrance of Freedom Pier.

For more information on National Harbor and cherry blossom activities and offerings, go to https://www.nationalharbor.com/cherryblossom/.

Puerto Rico To Reopen 2 Regional Airports For Airline Flights

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico announced Tuesday that it will start accepting commercial airline flights at two small international airports for the first time in more than a year.

The airports in the northwest coastal town of Aguadilla and the southern coastal city of Ponce will reopen to airline passengers on April 1, said Joel Pizá, executive director of the U.S. territory’s Ports Authority.

He said safety measures to fight COVID-19 will be in place, including infrared cameras.

Both airports had stopped receiving scheduled airline flights in March 2020 due to the pandemic, accepting only private, charter and cargo planes. Airline flights were rerouted to the island’s main international airport in the capital of San Juan.

Atlantic Canada Offering Travelers New Places to Eat, Sleep and Adventure

While the U.S./Canadian border remains closed, Atlantic Canada has prepared for the resumption of travel by opening new luxury hotels, coastal parks, and curating programming for the anniversaries of signature events.

The four provinces of the region, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Prince Edward Island each have their own news-worthy happenings in 2021. A 19-mile coastal parkway in New Brunswick is a road tripper's dream, while adventurous visitors can stroll around North America's first tree walk in Nova Scotia. Seafood lovers will find a slice of paradise at the 25th Annual International Shellfish Festival in Prince Edward Island, and visitors can have a hands-on lesson in geological history at the Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark in Newfoundland & Labrador.

Nova Scotia

New accommodations opening in Nova Scotia this year include the MUIR at The Queen's Marque, a Marriot Autograph Collection five-star property on the Halifax Waterfront, featuring a custom-designed speakeasy, guest-only art gallery, cold plunge and hydrotherapy pools, a salt room, and even private yacht access. In the Annapolis Valley, an under-the-radar wine region on the western coast of the province, the Inn at the Winery at Grand Pré will open in summer 2021 in the family owners' renovated farmhouse. Nearby at the Grand Pré National Historic Site, O'TENTiks are available to book beginning this spring, which resemble a tent and cabin against the landscape of green meadows and weeping willows of the west coast.

Opening this summer, the Cape Smokey Tree Walk offers views of the Atlantic Ocean and experiential history of the Mi'kmaq people in Cape Breton. The tree walk will soar 285 meters above sea level with 561 meters of walkway. In the fall, a gondola will be installed that will take 4 minutes to transfer visitors from the base to the top of Cape Smokey and will be accessible year-round for skiers and borders in the winter and hikers and cyclists in the summer.

As Nova Scotia's 6th UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global Geopark tells the story of the supercontinent Pangea from 300 years ago. With a 102-mile drive along the Bay of Fundy shoreline, there are hiking trails, parks, museums, lighthouses, and beaches. Bookable experiences include kayaking adventures, boat tours, golfing, and museums.

New Brunswick

Hugging the southern coast of New Brunswick, the Fundy Trail Parkway is a 6,323-acre park and 19-mile parkway carved out of one of the last remaining coastal wilderness areas between Florida and Newfoundland & Labrador. Visitors can hike and drive through coastal cliffs, river estuaries, waterfalls, pristine beaches, and a 275-ft suspension bridge.

The Place Fort La Tour opens in June 2021 to commemorate more than 5,700 years of ceremonial, trade, and cultural history from the Harbor Passage on the Bay of Fundy. In addition, Le Pays de la Sagouine, a recreated village located on Flea Island, a small natural island in the middle of Bouctouche Bay, is celebrating 30 years of offering musical and theatrical Acadian history experiences for travelers.

Fils du Roy Distillery will become the first Canadian distillery to malt its own cereals in 2021 with the opening of an on-site malt house. Located on the Acadian Peninsula, the distillery will tap barley exclusively from local growers with plans to develop their own 700 acres to grow high quality barley. It's a rare opportunity for whiskey lovers to follow the entire process of production and distilling.

Newfoundland & Labrador

Located on the eastern Bonavista Peninsula, the Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark offers ten developed geosites that showcase the region's diverse geological, natural, and cultural landscape. Visitors will discover 600-million-year-old fossils, spectacular rock formations, traditional root cellar farming, and learn about geopark conservation and history.

Since opening in fall 2020, the Bumblebee Bight Inn and Brewery offers guests a taste of six inaugural beers, including sours made from seasonal local berries. Upstairs, visitors will find five individual four-star rooms to spend the night. Located in Pilley's Island, Green Bay South, there are walking trails, ocean tours, and historical sites nearby.

The charming boutique hotel of Hew & Draw Hotel, which opened in spring 2020, pays homage to the breathtaking wilderness of Western Newfoundland & Labrador with local coffee, toiletries, and wallpaper inspired by the province. Located in Corner Brook, it's a 90-minute drive from the soaring fjords, beaches, and bogs of Gros Morne National Park, and kayaking adventures are available nearby in the Bay of Islands.

Prince Edward Island

Oysters, mussels, and lobster take center stage during the annual four-day International Shellfish Festival, celebrating its 25th anniversary in September 2021. Held in conjunction with the Fall Flavours Festival each year, there are culinary competitions, celebrity chef appearances, kitchen parties, shucking competitions, and more. Each event showcases indigenous foods and agricultural products to put Canada's food island on the global map.

A four-season glamping resort is set to open in spring 2021 at the Nature Space Resort & Retreat Center, an outdoors-focused property that opened in 2020. The resort offers indoor and outdoor yoga retreats and kayaking excursions for guests to connect with the environment at St Peter's Lake in Morell, PEI.

About Atlantic Canada Agreement on Tourism (ACAT):

This project has been made possible through funding provided by the Atlantic Canada Agreement on Tourism (ACAT). ACAT is a nine-member pan-Atlantic initiative comprising the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the four Atlantic Canada Tourism Industry Associations, and the four Provincial Departments responsible for tourism.

For more information on the four provinces, visit these websites or follow on social media:

New Brunswick

Instagram: @DestinationNB Twitter: @SeeNewBrunswick Facebook: @DestinationNB

Nova Scotia

Web: http://www.novascotia.com Instagram: @VisitNovaScotia Twitter: @VisitNovaScotia Facebook: @NovaScotia

Newfoundland and Labrador

Web: http://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com Instagram: @newfoundlandlabrador Twitter: @NLtweets Facebook: @NewfoundlandLabradorTourism

Prince Edward Island

Web: http://www.tourismpei.com Web: http://www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca

Paris Doctors Warn Of Catastrophic Overload Of Virus Cases

PARIS (AP) — Critical care doctors in Paris say surging coronavirus infections could soon overwhelm their ability to care for the sick in the French capital’s hospitals, possibly forcing them to choose which patients they have the resources to treat.

The sobering warning was delivered Sunday in a newspaper opinion signed by 41 Paris-region doctors. Published by Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper, it comes as French President Emmanuel Macron has been vigorously defending his decision not to completely lockdown France again as he did last year. Since January, Macron’s government has instead imposed a nationwide overnight curfew and followed that with a grab-bag of other restrictions.

But with infections soaring and hospitals increasingly running short of intensive care beds, doctors have been stepping up the pressure for a full French lockdown.

The Paris-region doctors who wrote in Le Journal du Dimanche said: “We have never known such a situation, even during the worst (terror) attacks” that targeted the French capital, notably assaults by Islamic State extremists in 2015 that killed 130 people and filled Paris emergency wards with the wounded.

The doctors predicted that softer new restrictions imposed this month on Paris and some other regions won’t quickly bring the resurgent epidemic under control. They warned that hospital resources won’t be able to keep pace with needs, forcing them to practice “catastrophe medicine” in the coming weeks as cases peak.

“We already know that our capacity to offer care will be overwhelmed,” they wrote. “We will be obliged to triage patients in order to save as many lives as possible. This triage will concern all patients, with and without COVID, in particular for adult patients’ access to critical care.”

Macron remains adamant that not locking France down again this year, like some other European countries, was sound, even as more than 2,000 deaths per week push the country ever closer to the milestone of 100,000 people lost to the pandemic. The country now counts more than 94,400 dead.

“We were right not to implement a lockdown in France at the end of January because we didn’t have the explosion of cases that every model predicted,” Macron said last week. “There won’t be a mea culpa from me. I don’t have remorse and won’t acknowledge failure.”

Mexico Complains Of Mask-Less Tourists, Closes Ruin Site Chichén Itzá

(AP) — Authorities in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula complained Friday about tourists not wearing face masks, as Mexico braces for a surge of Easter Week visitors.

The acting police chief of the Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo patrolled the streets of the resort of Tulum, reminding people to wear their masks and complaining about how few people did.

“It is regrettable to see how undisciplined things have become,” said Lucio Hernández Gutiérrez. “It was truly frustrating to see hundreds of people walking around without face masks,” noting that tourists were the worst offenders.

“It really is embarrassing that we have to get to this point, of asking people (to wear masks), when we should be conscious of the risks we face,” he said.

Federal authorities have decided to close the Chichén Itzá Maya ruin site in neighboring Yucatan state from April 1-4 to avoid the possible spread of coronavirus. The sprawling temple complex is Mexico’s second most-visited archaeological site, and usually draws about 1.8 million visitors per year.

And for the second year in a row, Latin America’s most famous re-enactment of the crucifixion of Christ will be held without spectators in Mexico City. The multi-day ceremony will be broadcast instead.

The spectacle had drawn about 2 million spectators in recent years, but authorities said such big crowds would be too risky during the pandemic.

The detailed performance has played out in the borough of Iztapalapa since 1843, but was closed to the public in 2020 for the first time in 177 years because of the virus. It was first performed in 1843 after a cholera outbreak threatened the then-rural hamlet.

Airlines Return To Old Ways; Southwest Drops Boarding Change

As Americans slowly return to flying, airlines are dropping some of the changes they made early in the pandemic.

Southwest Airlines has gone back to boarding passengers in lots of 30. During the pandemic, it restricted boarding to 10 passengers at a time to create more space between them.

Airline spokeswoman Brandy King said that the change went into effect on March 15. She said that when Southwest started boarding in smaller groups last May, face masks weren’t as common, and people were just getting accustomed to social distancing in public places.

Southwest and several other airlines that once blocked middle seats now sell out flights if they can. The last holdout is Delta Air Lines, which has extended empty middle seats through April 30.

A search of Delta flights in May showed middle seats for sale. A Delta spokesman said the airline hasn’t decided whether to extend the middle-seat ban, and if it does, passengers in middle seats can be moved to window and aisle seats.

Many airlines are also bringing back snacks and drinks after halting service last year to limit contact between flight attendants and passengers. Some, but not all, have resumed selling alcohol —Southwest is still dry; other airlines vary service by flight length and whether passengers are in first-class.

Tuesday marked the 13th straight day that more than 1 million passengers went through U.S. airport checkpoints, according to the Transportation Security Administration. Traffic is still down about half from the same period in 2019, however.

Travelore Cruise News: U.S. CDC Order Limiting Cruises To Remain Effective Until Nov. 1: CNBC

(Reuters) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will keep its stringent framework for a resumption of cruise ship operations until Nov. 1, rebuffing an industry body's push to lift the order early, CNBC reported here on Wednesday.

The CDC did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Cruise Lines International Association had urged the CDC to allow for a return to sailing from U.S. ports by early July, arguing that the health agency's stance did not reflect the accelerated roll out of vaccines or cruise operators' safety advancements.

The CDC in October issued a “conditional sailing order” that comprised a framework for a phased resumption of cruises, requiring testing and additional safeguards for crew members, as well as simulated voyages to test cruise ship operators’ ability to mitigate the risk of virus transmission.

At the time it said the order would remain in effect until Nov. 1, unless it decided otherwise or if the virus was no longer deemed a public health emergency.

Shares of cruise operators Carnival Corp, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings fell in afternoon trading.

Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila

Hawaii Gets Tourism Surge As Coronavirus Rules Loosen Up

HONOLULU (AP) — Tourists are traveling to Hawaii in larger numbers than officials anticipated, and many are wandering around Waikiki without masks, despite a statewide mandate to wear them in public.

Hawaii’s “Safe Travels” program reported that about 28,000 people flew into and throughout the islands on Saturday, the highest number of travelers in a single day since the pandemic began, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Monday.

Before the pandemic, Hawaii had about 30,000 arrivals daily. When quarantine rules were put in place early in the pandemic, arrivals plummeted and the state’s tourism-dependent economy tanked.

In October, state officials launched a pre-travel testing program that allowed visitors to sidestep quarantine rules. But travel remained sluggish until the second week in March, when spring break tourists started arriving in the islands.

Travel company Pleasant Holidays president and CEO Jack Richards told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that the agency’s bookings increased 30% over the last two weeks.

“We haven’t seen travel demand for Hawaii this strong for over a year,” Richards said. “I thought we would have a U-shaped recovery; it’s V-shaped. January and February were terrible, but we’ve gone from zero to 150 mph in two weeks.”

Hawaii News Now reported that officials are receiving complaints about visitors not wearing masks. With a few exceptions, people in Hawaii are still required to wear masks while in public.

“I’m a believer that if you’re outdoors, you can remove it,” said Glenn Day, a visitor from Indiana.

Visitors said rules in their home states are different than those in place in Hawaii.

“We carry our masks around and if we walk into an establishment we’ll wear one, and if people look like they’re uncomfortable with us around, we’ll put one on. But otherwise, like I said where we come from, people are really not required to wear them,” Wisconsin visitor Larry Dopke said.

“I’m not wearing one right now, I’m outdoors,” said Todd Hasley who was visiting from Idaho. “Boise city has an indoor mask mandate. The rest of the state has a mask recommendation.”

Some lawmakers expressed concern about a possible backlash from residents.
“
I think we’re all going to have to be prepared for a potential surge in tourism,” said Hawaii state Rep. Scott Saiki, a Democrat. “I think we have to be prepared because the public may have a response to a sudden surge.”

Such a reaction could hinder economic recovery.

“Pushing back against tourism is the same thing as telling your neighbor they shouldn’t have a job,” said Carl Bonham, executive director of the University of Hawaii’s Economic Research Organization.

Hawaii requires all visitors and returning residents to get negative pre-travel COVID-19 tests before flying to the state to be exempt from the 10-day quarantine rule.

The island of Kauai has additional measures that will be in place until April 5. All visitors to Kauai must either spend three days on another island or quarantine at a county-approved resort for three days and then get second, post-arrival tests.

Violating the state’s coronavirus mandates, which are outlined in Hawaii Gov. David Ige’s latest emergency proclamation, is a misdemeanor that is punishable by up to a $5,000 fine, a year in prison, or both.

Each island county’s police are responsible for enforcing the rules. Messages from The Associated Press seeking comment from the Honolulu Police Department regarding enforcement of mask rules in Waikiki was not immediately returned.

Tim Sakahara, a spokesman for Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, said in an email that the city recently put up banners throughout Waikiki reminding people to wear masks and remain socially distanced.

“These banners provide a tool to help Honolulu Police officers do their jobs in gaining compliance with COVID-19 rules,” Sakahara said. “The majority of residents and visitors are compliant with the rule or are cooperative when informed of it.”

However, some residents have also opposed wearing masks. Two people were arrested and two others were cited during a weekend anti-mask rally in Waikiki.
Hawaii has had among the lowest rates of confirmed coronavirus infections in the U.S.

Air Travelers Top 1.5 Million For First Time In Over A Year

More than 1.5 million people streamed through U.S. airport security checkpoints on Sunday, the largest number since the pandemic tightened its grip on the United States more than a year ago.

It marked the 11th straight day that the Transportation Security Administration screened more than 1 million people, likely from a combination of spring break travel and more people becoming vaccinated against COVID-19.

Airline executives say they have seen an increase in bookings during the last few weeks.

However, passenger traffic remains far below 2019 levels.

The TSA said Monday that it screened about 1.54 million people on Sunday, which appeared to be the largest number since March 13, 2020. It was more than triple the 454,516 people that TSA reported screening on the comparable Sunday a year ago, and the seven-day rolling average of screenings has doubled since Feb. 1.

Still, the number of people passing through airport checkpoints Sunday was about one-fourth below the number on the closest Sunday in 2019.

Maple Celebrations Return In Some States, With Precautions

Maple season is a time-honored tradition in the Northeast, when sap starts to flow in maple trees and is collected and boiled into syrup, with visitors coming to sugar houses to see the operations firsthand.

But the pandemic forced some states to cancel or postpone their annual sweet celebrations last year, and now some producers are welcoming back the public with safety precautions in place.

Maple weekends are happening Saturday and Sunday in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and Maine’s annual celebration is being held March 27-28 with precautions recommended by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. But those statewide events are off for a second year in a row in Vermont, the country’s top maple producer, and New York.

Maine Maple Sunday was postponed last spring, which was a disappointment for syrup producers, some of whom counted on it for 50% of their annual sales.

“It was a huge loss last year,” said Jo-Ann Merrifield, who said the event normally accounts for 75% of sales at Merrifield Farm in Gorham, Maine. That included valued added products like nuts and candy, in addition to syrup.

Her farm normally would have about 4,000 to 5,000 visitors over the weekend. This year, the event is scaled back. Gone are the free samples of maple ice cream, the pancake breakfast, blacksmith demonstration and animals, she said. But people can still purchase products as well as enjoy coffee and a pastry, she said.

Despite the loss of the maple open house weekends in Vermont, some producers say sales have been up with more people staying home and cooking for themselves.

“I just think people are staying home more and using more syrup,” said Jim Wells, of Olde Carriage Sugarwoods in Charlotte, Vermont, who said his sales increased at a local market, online and to people stopping by the house. “I almost ran out of syrup, which is unusual.”

Others reported a drop in sales after restaurants that they supply shut down.

Sales are down slightly for Turkey Street Maples, in Chocorua, New Hampshire, because restaurants weren’t using as much syrup, but grocery stores are still taking their syrup, which they also sell online and curbside, said Kate Stanley.

New Hampshire is having a maple month, with some producers allowing limited visitors, with social distancing, face masks, and other requirements.

Normally about 600 people visit Turkey Street Maples during their maple weekend. They usually have two or three other businesses come and sell their products but this year, their event next weekend will be smaller, she said.

The sugarhouse is too small to have other people inside and maintain a safe distance but French doors built into it allow people to see the process from outside, Stanley said.

“We’ve pared it back to just us and another local farm,” she said.

By LISA RATHKE

2 Royal Caribbean Lines To Resume Caribbean Cruises In June

MIAMI (AP) — Two Royal Caribbean cruises will resume in June, ending a yearlong hiatus, but passengers 18 and older must test negative for COVID-19 before getting on a ship.

The company’s Celebrity Cruises subsidiary said Friday that its Celebrity Millennium ship will relaunch on June 5 from St. Maarten. One itinerary will stop in Aruba, Curacao and Barbados, and another will stop in Tortola, St. Lucia and Barbados.

Celebrity Cruises CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said returning to the Caribbean “marks the measured beginning of the end of what has been a uniquely challenging time for everyone.”

Royal Caribbean Group’s namesake line will start a week later with a voyage leaving from Nassau, the Bahamas on the Adventure of the Seas.

In both cases, passengers 18 and older will be required to test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of boarding the ship.

With the Caribbean such a popular destination, “It’s not entirely surprising to see both Celebrity and Royal Caribbean finding a way to return to the region,” said Colleen McDaniel, editor or Cruise Critic, a website that reviews cruises. “But it is massive news for the cruise industry, and for the Caribbean itself.”

In the Dutch Caribbean country of St. Maarten, tourism accounts for nearly 80% of all jobs, and nearly 80% of tourists arrive on cruise ships.

Shares of Miami-based Royal Caribbean rose more than 2% Friday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has held up cruise ship operations in U.S. waters since March 2020, although it has laid out guidelines for cruises to resume with conditional sailing certificates.

The Caribbean is a popular destination for American customers. So is Alaska, but the Canadian government has banned cruise ships carrying more than 100 passengers through February 2022, which will stop many ships from visiting Alaska this summer. The ships accounted for most of Alaska’s 1.3 million visitors in 2019, before the pandemic.

Sweden Named The World’s Most Sustainable Tourist Destination

The global market research company Euromonitor International named Sweden the most sustainable holiday destination of 2021. The result was announced at ITB, the world's largest travel fair, in Germany.

Euromonitor International compared the sustainability of 99 countries in terms of environmental, social, and economic sustainability, transport, housing, risks, and the demand for sustainable tourism. The survey also revealed that 66 percent of the world's consumers want to act more sustainably when it comes to travel.

"We are pleased that Sweden is at the top of the global sustainability rankings, especially as we know that more and more consumers and tourists in the world want to live, trade and travel more sustainably," said Susanne Andersson, CEO of Visit Sweden.

"Sweden's sustainability focus will be a strong and solid competitive advantage as global travel resumes. We see that more and more countries and destinations have realized the potential that more sustainable tourism brings and there are currently major investments and preparations underway around the world to bring more sustainable travel to the market, when the time is right," according to Susanne Andersson.

The international research agency Euromonitor International compared the results of 99 countries. Sweden came first, followed by Finland, Austria, Estonia, and Norway. This puts Scandinavia at the top of a new global survey on which countries are the most sustainable tourist destinations in the world.

Visit Sweden is Sweden’s national tourism organization. Its mission is to promote Sweden as a destination and brand to attract more short and long-term foreign visitors. Having more visitors travel to Sweden - and stay longer while there – mean increased business opportunities for the Swedish tourism industry, economic growth, and higher employment throughout the country.

Website: visitsweden.com

Stone Tablet Marking First Amendment Freedoms Finds New Home In Philadelphia At The National Constitution Center

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A four-story, 50-ton marble tablet engraved with the text of the First Amendment, previously displayed on the facade of the now-shuttered Newseum in Washington, will find a new home in Philadelphia across from Independence Hall.

The National Constitution Center, which sits in an area of the city billed as America’s most historic square mile, will erect the tablet in an atrium overlooking Independence Hall, the UNESCO World Heritage Site where both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were adopted.

The district is also home to the Liberty Bell and the First Bank of the United States.

The tablet is engraved with the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and the right to petition the government. It’s a gift from the Freedom Forum, the creator of the Newseum, a museum dedicated to the First Amendment. It was sold to Johns Hopkins University and closed in 2019.

“It’s so meaningful to bring the text of the First Amendment to Philadelphia,” National Constitution Center President Jeffrey Rosen said in a statement. He said it would “inspire visitors for generations to come.”

A dedication ceremony is planned for later this year.

EU Sets Out Virus Pass Plan To Allow Free Travel By Summer

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s executive body proposed Wednesday issuing certificates that would allow EU residents to travel freely across the 27-nation bloc by the summer as long as they have been vaccinated, tested negative for COVID-19 or recovered from the disease.

With summer looming and tourism-reliant countries anxiously waiting for the return of visitors amid the coronavirus pandemic, the European Commission foresees the creation of certificates aimed at facilitating travel between EU member nations. The plan is set to be discussed during a summit of EU leaders next week.

“We all want the tourist season to start. We can’t afford to lose another season,” European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova told Czech public radio. “Tourism, and also culture and other sectors that are dependent on tourism, terribly suffer. We’re talking about tens of millions of jobs.”

The topic of vaccine certificates has been under discussion for weeks in the EU, where it proved to be divisive. The travel industry and southern European countries with tourism-dependent economies like Greece and Spain have pushed for the quick introduction of a program that would help eliminate quarantines and testing requirements for tourists.

But several other EU members, including France, argued that it would be premature and discriminatory to introduce such passes since a large majority of EU citizens haven’t had access to vaccines so far.

To secure the participation of all member countries, the commission proposed delivering free “Digital Green Certificates” to EU residents who can prove they have been vaccinated against COVID-19, but also to those who have tested negative for the virus or can prove they recovered from it.

“Being vaccinated will not be a precondition to travel,” the European Commission said. “All EU citizens have a fundamental right to free movement in the EU, and this applies regardless of whether they are vaccinated or not. The Digital Green Certificate will make it easier to exercise that right, also through testing and recovery certificates.”

According to data compiled by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, less than 5% of European citizens have been fully vaccinated amid delays in the delivery and production of vaccines. The European Commission says it remains confident that it can achieve its goal of having 70% of the EU’s adult population vaccinated by the end of the summer.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the travel certificates “will help boost tourism and the economies that rely heavily on it.” Europe’s aviation industry urged EU governments to ensure the passes are operational in time for the peak of the summer travel season.

The commission proposed that all vaccines rubberstamped by the European Medicines Agency should be automatically recognized, but also offered governments the possibility to include other vaccines like Russia’s Sputnik or China’s Sinovac, which haven’t received EU market authorization.

The European Commission guaranteed that “a very high level of data protection will be ensured” and said the certificates will be issued in digital format to be shown either on smartphones or paper.

EU officials also hope that vaccine certificates will convince the member states which have introduced travel restrictions aimed at slowing down the pace of new infections to lift their measures. The EU’s executive arm has previously warned six countries that their travel-limiting measures, which in Belgium go as far as a ban on nonessential trips, could undermine the core EU principle of free travel and damage the single market.

The commission said the certificates should be suspended once the World Health Organization declares the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

If agreed by the EU leaders, the proposal will need to be approved by EU lawmakers to enter into force.

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN

“3-2-1 Getaway” Offers Free Admission To Three Top Brandywine Valley Attractions In Wilmington, Delaware

WILMINGTON, Delaware – The Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau is bringing back its “3-2-1 Getaway” travel offer just in time for spring. The package, a $118-plus value, features free admission for up to four people to three of the area’s top attractions with a minimum two-night stay at any participating hotel.

Sarah Willoughby, executive director of the Bureau, said, “This is an excellent value. And spring into early summer is when our gardens are in full bloom. It’s one of the best times of year to visit Chateau Country.”

The “3-2-1 Getaway” package includes admission for two adults and up to two children (ages 17 and under) to Hagley Museum and Library; Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library; and Mt. Cuba Center. It is available for stays from April 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021.

The package can be purchased directly from participating hotels. Click here for a complete list of hotels offering the package. Many of the hotels are currently offering reduced rates and special offers.

Participating hotels include Courtyard Newark at the University of Delaware (accepting reservations June 1, 2021), DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Wilmington, Embassy Suites Wilmington/Newark South, Hampton Inn and Suites Wilmington/Christiana, Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Wilmington/Newark, Homewood Suites by Hilton Downtown Wilmington, Homewood Suites by Hilton Newark/Wilmington South, HOTEL DU PONT, The Inn at Montchanin Village and Spa, Residence Inn Wilmington Downtown, Sheraton Suites Downtown Wilmington, and Springhill Suites by Marriott Newark Downtown.

To limit touch points due to COVID-19, tickets will be delivered electronically to guests’ mobile phones. Reservations are not required at any of the attractions. However, it is recommended that guests call Winterthur in advance if they would like to tour the estate house as space is limited. Go to www.winterthur.org/visit for more information.

All three attractions included in the package are former du Pont family estates and gardens.

Hagley Museum and Library is where the du Pont story began. The original riverside gunpowder mills and workers’ quarters are located here as is the original du Pont family home and gardens. Visitors can also stroll its 235-acres and follow the Powder Yard Trail along the Brandywine Creek. This trail explains the process of how the DuPont Company made blasting powder and gunpowder. Visitors will also discover the purpose of many buildings and sites throughout the powder yards.

Mt. Cuba Center is home to more than 1,000 native plants, many of which are threatened by extinction. It consists of 630 acres of historic pastures, fields, ponds, native forests, a woodland wildflower garden, and formal landscapes. In July 2020, Mt. Cuba earned the title of “Best Botanical Garden” in USA Today's 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards.
At Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, visitors can take a self-guided tour of the mansion and explore the glorious 60-acre garden on a narrated tram ride or a stroll through its 25 miles of trails. The 1000-acre estate’s reflecting pool (formerly the du Pont family swimming pool) and its playful koi are other highlights. Kids will love walking through the mystical Enchanted Woods.
For more information on these attractions and other things to see and do in Greater Wilmington, Delaware and the Brandywine Valley, go to VisitWilmingtonDE.com.

About the Region

Wilmington & the Brandywine Valley is in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic region and less than a two-hour drive from both New York City and Washington. Steeped in American history and the legacy of the famed du Pont family, Greater Wilmington is a destination marked by sharp contrasts – town and garden, past and present, historic and hip. From renowned gardens, world-class museums, colonial towns, outdoor adventure, festivals and an ever-growing craft beer and restaurant scene, each experience is more vibrant, more unique and more authentic than the last.

Alcatraz Reopens For Indoor Tours After Yearlong Closure

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Alcatraz, the historic island prison off San Francisco, opened up Monday for a limited number of indoor tours, which had been off-limits for more than a year due to the pandemic.

Face masks and social distancing are still required at the island, which once housed Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. Ferries to Alcatraz are operating at 25% capacity, carrying about 150 passengers instead of the usual 600.

Access to the infamous cell house will also be limited only to visitors who sign up for the audio tour in advance.

Safety modifications have been made throughout the island including social distancing markers, increased cleanings and hand sanitizing stations.

Food service will not be available on the ferries or on the island.

In August, the popular tourist destination opened to an outdoor-only experience, to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Alcatraz usually hosts up to 5,000 tourists a day. For now, that number will be reduced to about a thousand.

US Air Travel Rises To Highest Levels Yet Since Pandemic Hit

The number of people flying in the United States has eclipsed the year-ago level for the first time in the pandemic period, although travel remains deeply depressed from 2019.

The Transportation Security Administration said 1.34 million people passed through U.S. airport checkpoints on Sunday, topping the 1.26 million people that TSA screened on the comparable Sunday a year ago.

It marked the fourth straight day that TSA saw more than 1 million people pass through its checkpoints. That has not happened since March 2020, when travel was collapsing as the number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. grew rapidly and governments enacted more travel restrictions to curb the spread of the virus.

However, Sunday’s screenings were still 45% lower than on the comparable day in 2019, and screenings in March are running 53% lower than the same period two years ago.

Several airlines report that after dismal sales in January and February, more people have bought tickets to travel in spring or summer as infection rates decline and more people get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said Monday that bookings began picking up five or six weeks ago.

Since the pandemic hit, air travel has picked up a few times — mostly around holidays — only to drop back down. This time, the recovery “seems like it’s real,” Bastian said on a J.P. Morgan investor conference.

Airline stocks rose in morning trading. American Airlines rose nearly 9%, United Airlines was up more than 6%, Delta gained more than 3% and Southwest Airlines added 1%.

By The Associated Press

Paris May Face New Lockdown As ICUs Fill Up

PARIS — Officials say the Paris region may be headed toward a new lockdown as new variants of the virus fill up intensive care units and limited vaccine supplies drag down inoculation efforts.

Special medical planes dispatched patients from the Paris area to less-saturated regions over the weekend.

“If we have to lock down, we will do it,” the head of the national health agency, Jerome Salomon, said on BFM television Sunday. “The situation is complex, tense and is worsening in the Paris region.”

Salomon acknowledges that a nationwide 6 p.m. curfew “wasn’t enough” in some regions to prevent a spike in cases, notably of the variant first identified in Britain.

The French government has been relying on curfews for months -- along with the long-term closures of restaurants and some other businesses -- to try to avoid a costly new lockdown. But localized outbreaks are raising questions about the government’s virus-fighting strategy.

Salomon says France has more people in intensive care for COVID-19 and other ailments – about 6,300 -- than the overall number of ICU beds it had going into the pandemic.

France has reported 90,315 virus-related deaths, among the world’s highest death tolls.

Now The World Is Opening Up For Spring And Summer, These Fun Fashions Will Safely Enhance Your Experiences...

Vue Shields are worn just like glasses with an ultra lightweight design that sits comfortably on the face and feature an all-over UVA and UVB coating. They come in men’s and women’s styles, as well as a unisex clear version, and all have anti-fog coatings to minimize the impact of climate conditions. For more information and how to order, please visit: https://vueshield.com/

The Shmask is the first ever shirt with an attached face mask that you can’t lose, drop, or forget at home because it’s attached. Made with super-soft natural and breathable Modal fabric and available in a variety of stylish designs for women, men and children including tie-dye, stripes, solids in both long and short sleeves. CDC compliant with two layers of tightly woven natural fabric in face area and an adjustable taut seal around mouth and nose. Adjustable ear loops for different face shapes and sizes. $55. Available at: https://www.shmask.com/

Tel Aviv’s Jewish Museum Reopens After $100 Million Upgrade

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — From Queen Salome to the late RBG, from Moses to Sandy Koufax, Tel Aviv’s newly revamped Museum of the Jewish People attempts the ambitious undertaking of bringing almost 3,000 years of Jewish history and tradition under a single roof.

The museum — formerly known as Beit Hatfutsot and newly branded as ANU, Hebrew for “We” — reopened to visitors this week after more than a decade of renovations costing $100 million.

Its exhibition space has tripled, making it the largest Jewish museum in the world, officials say. Its old galleries with dioramas and models from when it first opened in 1978 have given way to cutting-edge exhibits with interactive touchscreens and original artwork.

Close to a third of the renovation was financed by the Nadav Foundation of Russian-Israeli Leonid Nevzlin, a former oil magnate. Another $52 million came from other U.S.-based philanthropists and foundations, and $18 million from the Israeli government. Nevzlin’s daughter Irina, the wife of Israeli Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, serves as chair of the museum’s board of directors.

The refurbished museum adopts a fresh approach to telling the story of the Jewish people, said chief curator Orit Shaham-Gover. It focuses on the diversity of Jewish culture and the accomplishments of the Jewish people, not just its tragedies, she said.

“Everyone walking in here needs to see themselves regardless of gender, denomination, ethnic background,” said Dan Tadmor, the museum’s CEO. “This is our story and you need to feel part of it.”

Scattered through 72,000 square feet (6,690 square meters) of galleries are historical artifacts and mementos: a jawza — a type of stringed instrument — belonging to 20th-century Iraqi musicians known as the Al-Kuwaity brothers, one of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s signature collars, a Book of Esther scroll from pre-Inquisition Spain, and a monumental carved stone from a first-century A.D. synagogue on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

A major draw is the original artwork highlighting lesser-known historical figures such as Ottoman Jewish philanthropist Dona Gracia Mendes Nasi and the legendary Ethiopian warrior queen Yodit. Visitors can use a digital bracelet to capture memorable elements — from literary quotations, to recipes and family trees — and take them home by email.

Shaham-Gover, the curator, said the open-space gallery of contemporary Jews is “a celebration of life and culture and lights and colors.”

“The museum is not a muted temple,” she said. “It’s about life. So you come here, you have sounds, you have light and colors. It’s part of you.”

Its grand opening comes as the fundamental issue of who is a Jew has resurfaced in Israeli politics ahead of this month’s fourth parliamentary election in two years.

The Supreme Court recently ruled that people who had undergone Reform and Conservative conversions to Judaism in Israel would qualify as Jews when applying for citizenship under Israel’s Law of Return. The decision has outraged Israel’s powerful ultra-Orthodox religious establishment, which has long held a monopoly over conversions, along with members of the ruling Likud party.

Upon entering the main gallery, visitors encounter life-sized projections of Jews from a kaleidoscope of different affiliations and lifestyles — from Reform to ultra-Orthodox and everything in between — explaining how they define their Jewish identity.

Anat Lieberman, a museum visitor from the town of Ramat Gan, said the presentation of people from “all colors of the rainbow” was moving, and showed that it was a museum “for the entire Jewish people.”

Tadmor avoided touching on the politics of the issue and insisted the institution does not take a stance on the question of who is a Jew.

“We’re nonpolitical. We don’t favor any denomination. We’re floating 20,000 feet above all of that,” he insisted. “We just want to make sure that everyone is represented and you don’t come out feeling like ‘I’m transparent.’”

Bird’s Eye View Of EPCOT Reveals Stunning Expansion

Disney is adding a brand new section to the existing France pavilion inside the World Showcase at EPCOT. This new expansion will debut Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction at Walt Disney World. Fans are eagerly anticipating an opening date for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and the rest of this new addition.

While we do not yet have an official opening date, we do have some incredible bird’s eye view photos of this new land, thanks to pilot and photographer, Jonathan Micheal Salazar (@TheDisneyPilot on Instagram).

We have been keeping a close eye on the expansion coming to the France pavilion. Disney has opened a small portion of the new area which contains restrooms and what will be home to a new grab-and-go snack window called, Le Creperie De Paris.

Thanks to these photos we can see the beautiful Ratatouille-themed fountain that will be directly outside of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction entrance. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is an attraction that can be found at Disneyland Paris, EPCOT is bringing this beloved attraction to the U.S.

You also get a sense of how large this new area will be when it opens for guests. Additionally, you can see the backside of the temporary structure that is separating the new courtyard from the recently opened walkway.

As you can see from the aerial photos, the Disney Skyliner also offers great views of the courtyard, so be sure to look outside your window next time you travel on the Skyliner to or from EPCOT!

So, when will the expansion of the France pavilion and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure open?

Disney has stated that Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will open with the rest of the France expansion in 2021. While we still do not have a date, we hope to see one as we get closer to the 50th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney has even added a sign under the revealed archway for the upcoming Ratatouille attraction saying “opening 2021”!

Source: https://insidethemagic.net/

Kaua'i Rejoins Hawai'i's Safe Travels Pre-Travel Testing Program Starting April 5

Beginning April 5, Trans-Pacific travelers visiting Kaua'i may bypass the state's 10-day travel quarantine by participating in Hawai'i's Safe Travel's Pre-Travel Testing Program. Travelers will no longer have to stay in an Enhanced Movement Quarantine (EMQ) or Resort Bubble property in order to receive a quarantine exemption.

Before visiting Hawai'i's Garden Island, here's what you need to know:

Take a pre-travel test from one of the State of Hawai'i's Trusted Testing and Travel Partners within 72 hours from the final leg of departure from the Continental U.S. to Kaua'i (or first point of arrival to Hawai'i if traveler has a layover on another island).

Tests taken from any other lab will not be accepted. Approved Trusted Testing Partners can be found at: https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel-partners/

Create a Safe Travels account and complete the mandatory State of Hawai'i Travel and Health form: https://travel.hawaii.gov/

Upload your negative test results to your Safe Travels account before traveling to Kaua'i. COVID-19 test results may also be printed and provided by hardcopy. Travelers arriving without uploading or providing a hardcopy of their negative test result will not be accepted and be placed in a mandatory 10-day quarantine. Wearing masks are mandatory while on Kaua'i.

While post-travel tests are not mandatory, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to advise travelers to take a pre- and post-travel test as an added safety measure. The following Kaua'i hotels have committed to supporting post-travel testing to its guests:

Grand Hyatt Kaua'i Resort & Spa

The Cliffs at Princeville

The Club at Kukui'ula

Timbers Kaua'i at Hōkū'ala

Sheraton Kaua'i Resort at Coconut Beach

The Point at Po'ipū

Hanalei Colony Resort

Kōloa Landing Resort

The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas

Sheraton Kaua'i Resort & Villas

Marriott's Kaua'i Beach Club

Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club

Marriott's Kauai Lagoons – Kalanipu'u Suite Paradise

"Kaua'i businesses are excited and ready to welcome back visitors safely," said Sue Kanoho, Executive Director of the Kaua'i Visitors Bureau.

The Hawai'i State Department of Health also encourages all travelers to download the free, AlohaSafe Alert app to get COVID-19 exposure notifications and help keep Kaua'i safe and healthy.

For more information and to download the AlohaSafe Alert app, please visit: http://www.alohasafealert.org

For more information about the State of Hawai'i Safe Travels program requirements, please visit: https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel/getting-to-hawaii/

For more information on COVID-19 on Kaua'i and the travel rules, please visit: http://www.kauai.gov/COVID-19

German Museums Tentatively Reopen As Virus Restrictions Ease

COLOGNE, Germany (AP) — More than 100 Andy Warhol originals have been hanging on the walls of Cologne’s Museum Ludwig since mid-December with nobody to view them after coronavirus restrictions shut down galleries across the country.

That changed on Tuesday as the doors were opened to limited numbers of guests, after authorities eased restrictions to allow some museums, galleries and certain other cultural venues to begin receiving visitors again.

“We’ve been working on this exhibit for three and a half years and for the last few weeks it was ready, but couldn’t be shown,” curator and museum director Yilmaz Dziewior told The Associated Press.

“You can imagine how happy we all are here at that house that finally the audience for whom we created the exhibition can also see it.”

Museums throughout Germany closed at the beginning of November as coronavirus cases increased. Under new regulations, museums in areas with fewer than 50 new infections weekly per 100,000 residents can open without major restrictions, other than standard mask, hygiene and distancing rules.

When the rate is between 50 to 100 as in Cologne, tickets are being limited to online purchase and restricted in numbers. For the Warhol exhibit they quickly sold out through Sunday. A new batch will go on sale Monday so long as the coronavirus numbers don’t change dramatically.

The ex­hi­bi­tion was organized by the museum in concert with London’s Tate Mod­ern in col­lab­o­ra­tion with the Art Gallery of On­tario, Toron­to and the As­pen Art Mu­se­um, Col­o­ra­do.

It seeks to illuminate the influence of Warhol’s immigrant background and his own homosexuality through his works, as well as how he dealt with death and religion, the museum said.

“Just as his celebri­ty por­traits and Co­ca-Co­la bot­tles held a mir­ror up to Amer­i­can so­ci­e­ty, Warhol stands for a di­verse, queer coun­ter­cul­ture that found its ex­pres­sion not least in his New York stu­dio, the Fac­to­ry,” the museum said in its description of the exhibition.

Cologne resident Karl Eiband was one of the lucky ones who got tickets to Tuesday’s opening of the exhibit, and said that for him it restored a little piece of one of the many things he has been missing during the pandemic lockdown.

“Like my evening beer, I miss art,” the 44-year-old said. “And since I don’t have the resources to hang a tiny Warhol in my living room, I visit the Museum Ludwig because it’s my living room for culture and art.”

The exhibit, “Andy Warhol Now,” runs through June 13.

At Dubai Airport, Travelers’ Eyes Become Their Passports

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Dubai’s airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, can already feel surreal, with its cavernous duty-free stores, artificial palm trees, gleaming terminals, water cascades and near-Arctic levels of air conditioning.

Now, the key east-west transit hub is rolling out another addition from the realm of science fiction — an iris-scanner that verifies one’s identity and eliminates the need for any human interaction when entering or leaving the country.

It’s the latest artificial intelligence program the United Arab Emirates has launched amid the surging coronavirus pandemic, contact-less technology the government promotes as helping to stem the spread of the virus. But the efforts also have renewed questions about mass surveillance in the federation of seven sheikhdoms, which experts believe has among the highest per capita concentrations of surveillance cameras in the world.

Dubai’s airport started offering the program to all passengers last month. On Sunday, travelers stepped up to an iris scanner after checking in, gave it a good look and breezed through passport control within seconds. Gone were the days of paper tickets or unwieldy phone apps.

In recent years, airports across the world have accelerated their use of timesaving facial recognition technology to move passengers to their flights. But Dubai’s iris scan improves on the more commonplace automated gates seen elsewhere, authorities said, connecting the iris data to the country’s facial recognition databases so the passenger needs no identifying documents or boarding pass. The unusual partnership between long-haul carrier Emirates, owned by a Dubai sovereign wealth fund, and the Dubai immigration office integrates the data and carries travelers from check-in to boarding in one fell swoop, they added.

“The future is coming,” said Major Gen. Obaid Mehayer Bin Suroor, deputy director of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs. “Now, all the procedures have become ‘smart,’ around five to six seconds.”

But like all facial recognition technology, the program adds to fears of vanishing privacy in the country, which has faced international criticism for targeting journalists and human rights activists.

According to Emirates’ biometric privacy statement, the airline links passengers’ faces with other personally identifying data, including passport and flight information, retaining it for “as long as it is reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected.” The agreement offered few details about how the data will be used and stored, beyond saying that while the company didn’t make copies of passengers’ faces, other personal data “can be processed in other Emirates’ systems.”

Bin Suroor stressed that Dubai’s immigration office “completely protects” passengers’ personal data so that “no third party can see it.”

But without more information about how data will be used or stored, biometric technology raises the possibility of misuse, experts say.

“Any kind of surveillance technology raises red flags, regardless of what kind of country it’s in,” said Jonathan Frankle, a doctoral student in artificial intelligence at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. ”But in a democratic country, if the surveillance technology is used transparently, at least there’s an opportunity to have a public conversation about it.”

Iris scans, requiring people to stare into a camera as though they’re offering a fingerprint, have become more widespread worldwide in recent years as questions have arisen over the accuracy of facial recognition technology. Iris biometrics are considered more reliable than surveillance cameras that scan people’s faces from a distance without their knowledge or consent.

Despite concerns about overzealous surveillance in the UAE, the country’s vast facial recognition network only shows signs of expanding. Last month, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who also serves as Dubai’s ruler, announced the country would begin trials of new facial recognition technology to cut down on paperwork in “some private sector services,” without elaborating.

During the pandemic, the skyscrapper-studded city of Dubai has advanced an array of technological tools to fight the virus in malls and on streets, including disinfectant foggers, thermal cameras and face scans that check for masks and take temperatures. The programs similarly use cameras that can record and upload people’s data, potentially feeding the information into the city-state’s wider biometric databases.

California OKs Reopening Of Ball Parks, Disneyland

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California has cleared a path for fans to hit the stands at opening-day baseball games and return to Disneyland nearly a year after coronavirus restrictions shuttered major entertainment spots.

The state on Friday relaxed guidelines for reopening outdoor venues as a fall and winter surge seemed to be ending, with COVID-19 infection rates, hospitalizations and deaths plummeting and vaccination rates rising.

New public health rules would allow live concerts at stadiums and sports arenas to reopen with limited attendance April 1. Amusement parks also will be permitted to reopen in counties that have fallen from the state’s purple tier — the most restrictive — to the red tier.

In all cases, park capacities will be limited, and COVID-19 safety rules such as mask-wearing requirements will apply.

The move followed a week of milestones, with California ramping up vaccinations for the poorest neighborhoods, counties reopening more businesses and Gov. Gavin Newsom passing a measure aimed at encouraging schools that have restricted students to online learning to reopen classrooms this month.

“Steady opening is consistent with the data. As cases decline, we want to return to work and school,” said Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, clinical professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California. “Outdoor activities in particular have always been low risk. Opening these sites makes sense.”

The reopening can’t come too soon for Kenny King Jr., a resident of Pleasant Hill in the San Francisco Bay Area who became an annual Disneyland passholder a decade ago. He typically takes his family to the Southern California park five times a year, but the last visit was just over a year ago for his birthday.

King, 38, said he’s excited to return with his 8-year-old daughter, who had just started enjoying rides such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain, and to take his 2-year-old son, who was mesmerized by the lights and sounds when he visited last year.

“That’s something that we just made our family thing — Disney trips,” King said. “We’ll sit there at the house sometimes and we’ll be like ‘man, I just miss Disneyland.’ ”

Also applauding were the thousands of workers who were laid off by Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm and other big locations. Ten thousand lost their jobs alone at Disneyland and its related attractions in Orange County, not to mention the knock-on effect to nearby restaurants and hotels.

Andrea Zinder, president of the local United Food and Commercial Workers Union that represents Disney workers, said employees are “excited to go back to work and provide Californians with a bit more magic in their lives.”

Most of the major theme parks are in Southern California, which is still in the purple category. However, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties were expecting to reopen within the next few weeks as their COVID-19 numbers fall.

Only 16 of 58 counties currently are in the red tier, and two small counties are in the orange tier. None are yet in the yellow tier, the lowest and least restrictive.

Theme parks in the red tier will be limited to 15% capacity.

Outdoor sports will be limited to 100 people in the purple tier but will increase up to 67% in the yellow tier.

The San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics all announced they will have fans in the stands for opening day April 1. The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants both start their seasons on the road and said they would announce their plans later.

Teams and event organizers can only sell tickets regionally in the purple tier. In the other tiers, teams and organizers can sell tickets to anyone living in California. No concessions will be allowed in the purple tier, while in others, concession sales will only be available at seats.

Richard Haick of San Pablo, California, already bought ticket vouchers for the Oakland A’s return and hopes to take his 10-year-old son to a game soon. His son plays Little League baseball and is very excited to attend games.

“It’s nice to have, even in a reduced capacity, some sense of normal,” said Haick, a 45-year-old photographer.

The quicker pace of reopening is tied to a new plan to vaccinate California’s most vulnerable residents. Once 2 million people across 400 ZIP codes in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods receive at least one vaccine dose, it will be easier for counties to exit the state’s most restrictive tier. Once 4 million people in those neighborhoods are vaccinated, counties will be able to open up even more.

It all puts California in a drastically different position than a year ago, when Gov. Gavin Newsom imposed the statewide stay-at-home order that restricted travel, shuttered businesses and forced millions of people onto unemployment. California still has among the most severe restrictions of any state and continues to discourage out-of-state visitors.

The state is pinning its hopes of a full reopening on inoculating enough of its 40 million residents to halt widespread COVID-19 infections.

More than 10 million doses had been given only three months since the first shot was given, the Department of Public Health said.

Just over 3 million people have been fully vaccinated, or about 10% of the population 16 and older.

There are hopeful signs. This week, the seven-day average rate of positive results from tests dropped this week to 2.2%, a record low.

Although pressure has been building to reopen the economy, health officials said the changes in guidelines were a cautious and measured rather than a wholesale approach.

“We will .... keep our foot on the brake, not the gas, our eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and navigate based on data and science,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the state Health and Human Services Agency.

By ADAM BEAM and KATHLEEN RONAYNE
___
Associated Press writer Janie Har in San Francisco contributed to this story.

The Difference Between Two Flexible Travel Insurance Options, Cancel And Interruption For Any Reason Coverage

By: Jeremy Murchland, Seven Corners President

Whether it be for work or leisure, over the course of the past year, frequent travel has come to a standstill due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. With the recent development of a long-awaited vaccine, many are eager for mobility and hopeful to begin making travel arrangements for the upcoming year as the world tries to return to a sense of normalcy.

However, as 2020 revealed the unpredictability of the pandemic, travelers may still be reluctant to book trips due to lingering uncertainty. Travelers need assurance that they and their wallets will be protected when booking their next trip. That’s why the travel insurance industry offers protection plans that allow for cancellation or interruption of travel plans for any reason. As the world is becoming more restless to get back on our feet, Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR), and a newer benefit, Interruption for Any Reason (IFAR), are great additions to coverage plans that can provide customers with the confidence they need to book their next trip during these trying times.

Seven Corners, a global travel insurance company, has experienced an increase in calls from customers asking how CFAR and IFAR could be of benefit. Our team put together frequently asked questions and answers regarding what CFAR and IFAR are, what they cover and how they can be useful when preparing for a trip.

What is CFAR?

CFAR is an optional benefit offered on certain trip protection plans that allows travelers to cancel trips for any reason not otherwise covered. Customers will be reimbursed up to the maximum benefit amount shown in the schedule of benefits for the unused, forfeited, prepaid non-refundable payments or deposits for the travel arrangements you purchased for your trip, when you cancel your trip 48 hours or more before your scheduled departure date for any reason not otherwise covered by the policy.

When is CFAR beneficial?

CFAR can help travelers if they must cancel trips due to change of mind, financial hardships or reluctance to travel due to lingering concerns over COVID-19. Most especially, since the onset of COVID-19, travelers want the option to cancel their trip if they become fearful about traveling. Fear is not a covered reason for trip cancellation, so CFAR is the only way to ensure you can cancel if you’re afraid to travel. Additionally, if travelers are nervous about planning international trips such as honeymoons, spring break plans or destination weddings due to COVID-19 concerns, CFAR may be a good option.

What is IFAR?

IFAR, Interruption for Any Reason, is an important option for coverage plans in today’s travel climate that gives travelers the option to interrupt their trip once it has already begun. IFAR is being added to plan designs in response to the large increase in travelers purchasing CFAR during the COVID-19 outbreak of 2020.

When is IFAR Beneficial?

IFAR could be beneficial to travelers for a variety of reasons. Here are a few examples:

Three days into the first leg of your trip you have a disagreement with your host and want to leave, so you decide to go to your next destination early.

You are traveling and learn your dog at home is ill, and you wish to return home early.

You have a falling out with a friend with whom you are traveling and want to come home early.

You have an unexpected financial crisis and want to go home early.

You receive a call while traveling and learn your house was destroyed by a fire or tornado, and you want to return home immediately to see what remains and take appropriate next steps.

You are not comfortable with the steps your resort is taking regarding COVID-19, so you decide to return home early. With IFAR coverage, if one must interrupt their trip, travelers will be reimbursed up to the maximum benefit amount shown in the schedule of benefits for the additional transportation cost to either:

Join your trip if you must depart after your scheduled departure date or travel via alternate travel arrangements; or Rejoin your trip from the point where you interrupted your trip to the next scheduled destination; or Transport you to your originally scheduled return or final destination of your trip.

What is the difference between IFAR and CFAR? You should add CFAR to travel plans if you could potentially cancel your trip before you’ve departed, and CFAR typically requires you to cancel 48 hours or more before your scheduled departure date. IFAR comes into play after you’ve already departed on your trip but no sooner than 48 hours after departure.

Both CFAR and IFAR reimburse you for 75% of your nonrefundable and insured trip costs if you cancel or interrupt for a reason not otherwise covered.

What is the cost of CFAR and IFAR?

Travelers can expect most CFAR benefits to increase trip insurance costs by 40% to 50% because the plan now includes much wider coverage for trip cancellation. IFAR is a much less expensive option. With CFAR and IFAR, travelers can cancel or interrupt their travel plans for any reason they wish. The increase in price occurs because the insurance company now bears an increased risk.

How do I know if I qualify for CFAR or IFAR?

To qualify for CFAR and IFAR travelers must:

Purchase the benefit within the time sensitive period. This is typically 20 days after you make your initial trip deposit or payment. Insure the full cost of any subsequent arrangements added to your trip within 15 days of the date of your payment for them.

For CFAR, you must cancel your trip two or more days prior to the scheduled departure date of your trip. For IFAR, you must interrupt your trip 48 or more hours after the actual scheduled departure date.

It is important to note these benefits do not cover penalties associated with travel arrangements not provided by the travel supplier for the trip.

Effective March 1, Seven Corners is updating their RoundTrip plans to include optional IFAR. The new RoundTrip Choice plan will also include primary medical coverage for accidents and illnesses that occur on your trip and an increased amount of trip delay coverage. Both Choice and Basic have increased emergency accident and sickness medical coverage and additional covered reasons for trip cancellation and interruption.

CFAR and IFAR are beneficial travel insurance options for travelers eager to return to normalcy. With these flexible travel insurance benefits, travelers have a way to expand coverage for unforeseen cancellations or interruptions that could affect travel plans.

Mexico City Launches Latin America’s Latest Cable Car Line

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico City has launched the first of what it hopes will be several cable-car lines serving the poorer outskirts of the city of 9 million.

Thursday’s inauguration of the first leg of the “Cablebus” line marks the latest chapter in Latin America’s love affair with cable cars, which are seen in much of the world as largely for tourists and ski slopes.

The neighboring State of Mexico already has a cable car serving one northern Mexico City suburb, and the city’s own first line was also built on the poor, crowded north side.

Cable cars are seen as a cheaper, quicker way to bring public transport to poor communities located high up hillsides. Since they’re airborne, the car lines also don’t have as many difficulties with Latin America’s notoriously difficult issues of chaotic development, bad traffic and lack of rights-of-way.

By June, the line will run almost 9.2 kilometers (6 miles) from Cuautepec, a working class neighborhood on the northern edge of Mexico City, to the nearest subway and bus station. The stretch inaugurated Thursday covers just 1.7 kilometers (1.06 miles) of that route, to the neighborhood of Tlalpexco.

At present, officials explained, residents at the top of the hill in Tlalpexco have to board crowded, small vans that travel much more slowly. Plus, they don’t have the nice view the cable cars offer from their big windowed cars that can seat 10 passengers at a time. The cars run on electricity and can travel about 13 miles (20 kilometers) per hour, far faster than most traffic in the city.

“There are nearly a million inhabitants living in the area around the Cablebus, and they make their trips in small vans that descend through narrow streets, and that may take, from the highest point ... as long as 55 minutes or an hour,” Guillermo Calderon, director of the electrical transportation system Mexico City.

Traditional transport solutions like bus or subway lines are almost impossible here, both because there are no rights of way in the densely packed slums, and they are crowded along hillsides on steep 15-degree slopes.

Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said a second cable car line is being built in Iztapalapa, another working class neighborhood, to the east.

“Having the best transportation for the poorest parts of the city reduces inequality,” Sheinbaum said.

Cuautepec resident Evelyn Sánchez said that, like most people here, her biggest challenge is getting to the nearest subway station.

“It does take us a long time, and now with this, well now it is going to be a lot quicker,” Sánchez said.

The city of Medellin, Colombia, launched its cable cars in 2004. Since then, many other Latin American cities have followed suit, ranging from from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to La Paz, Bolivia.