USA starts to ease COVID restrictions

Author: Louise Pieterse

Last update: February 22nd, 2022.

The USA has still not reached a consensus on vaccine passport mandates. At a federal level, the Supreme Court blocked vaccine mandates for large private businesses, but vaccination is still becoming mandatory for certain healthcare workers.

Twenty states in the USA, many of them Republican, have banned vaccine passports in some form, while 10 states are currently using them. Several states remain undecided on the matter.

Current EU travel restrictions on American citizens due to Omicron have put the need for a USA COVID pass back in the spotlight. COVID travel restrictions highlight the importance of a cohesive, interoperable vaccine certification system.

While local regulations vary, vaccine passports are deemed essential for international travel. Many citizens are left in the dark as their states have nixed the implementation of COVID certificates.

Meanwhile, many countries in (and out of) Europe have made COVID passes mandatory for entrance to large events and certain non-essential services, such as bars and restaurants.

Every EU member state and a dozen non-member states have been issuing the EU Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC) since June 2021. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for the EUDCC to be viewed as a global standard.

Vax pass and mask mandates eased

The number of new cases in many states has fallen by more than 80% since the height of the Omicron wave, prompting many state regulatory boards to soften restrictions.

Seattle will no longer require a US COVID passport from March 1st and Washington D.C. will also stop requiring the pass as cases in the state has seen a decline of nearly 90% in cases.

“Our public health experts believe that now is the appropriate time to lift vaccine verificaºtion, based on the high rates of vaccine coverage and the decrease in new cases and hospitalizations across the country,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine.

Seattle will however continue to require masks in indoor public spaces regardless of whether a person is vaccinated or not.

Newark in New Jersey is another major city that has stopped requiring a US COVID pass along with Minneapolis and Philadelphia.

Many states are starting to lift their mask mandates but Hawaii has announced that masks will still be mandatory indoors to prevent any further outbreaks.

Hawaii’s governor, David Ige, explained that the state will still decide when to lift the mandate as the decision is based on science and the government places a priority on community safety.

“Hawaii ranks second (to last) in the nation when it comes to COVID deaths, in part because of the indoor mask requirement and other measures that have proven successful in protecting our community from this potentially deadly virus,” he said.

Hawaii has also shortened its quarantine time for unvaccinated arrivals from 10 days to 5 days.

Which US states are issuing COVID vaccine passports?

Ten US states are currently using vaccine passports to secure safe access to non-essential services.

The states of New York, California, and Hawaii were the first to accept the use of COVID passports. Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, and Louisiana followed suit shortly after.

NYC vaccine passport: the ‘Key to NYC’

New York’s Excelsior Pass has been met with great anticipation and dubbed the “Key to NYC” by the local government. Indoor dining, fitness centers, events, and large gatherings are requesting proof of vaccination for access.

Since August 16th, New York City citizens need proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter certain venues such as restaurants, gyms, and performance venues.

Besides the Excelsior Pass, only available to people vaccinated in NY, citizens can show proof using other certificates (digital or paper) like NYC Covid Safe, CDC Vax Card, and NYC Vax Record.

Former New York governor Andrew Cuomo also said the city is “working to get New Yorkers back to the office by utilizing Excelsior Pass at their office buildings, enabling more people to get back to work safely.”

“It is time for people to see vaccinations as literally necessary to living a good, full, and healthy life,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

California: vaccine card required

Over 70% of California’s population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. They are now able to access a digital copy of their California Vax Pass.

California has lifted restrictions for vaccinated people, like mask-wearing or gathering in certain areas. Proof of vaccination is mandatory at events with more than 1000 people.

The city of San Francisco is requiring vaccine cards for access to non-essential indoor services such as restaurants, museums, and gyms.

School, state, and local government employees in California must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by mid-October or take weekly tests to prove they are not COVID positive.

State Epidemiologist, Dr. Erica Pan, said that “We are better enabling Californians to verify their vaccination status to ensure our state is in a better position to encourage the best practices in reducing the spread of COVID-19.”

Hawaii vaccine card: O’ahu and Maui

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi recently announced the Safe Access O’ahu program which, from September 13th, has required proof of vaccination for access to the following:

Children under 12 and people able to provide a recent negative COVID test result are exempt from the vaccination requirement.

Maui requires proof of vaccination for access to high-risk non-essential activities such as indoor dining, entertainment, or fitness (from September 15th).

Hawaii requires a negative COVID test result or 10 days of quarantine for travelers flying between islands. The Hawaiian vaccine card eliminates this requirement for vaccinated individuals, simplifying travel.

Vaccinated Hawaiians can access a digital record of vaccination via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.

“I know that this change has been widely anticipated and it will make it easier for residents to return home and for visitors to come and enjoy our islands,” said Gov. David Ige.

Hawaii reopened its borders to fully vaccinated American tourists for non-essential domestic travel on November 1st, 2021.

Colorado COVID pass in the works

Vaccine passports in Colorado are not mandatory yet, but the topic is being considered by the local government.

Governor Jared Polis asked that unvaccinated government employees wear masks at work. They also have to be tested twice a week.

The SMART Health Card, a standardized digital copy of the Colorado vaccine card, is available on the myColorado app.

Louisiana vaccine passport: voluntary basis

This is another state where vaccine passes are not mandatory, but many private businesses have started to require them for indoor gatherings.

New Orleans is the frontrunner and many bars and restaurants are requiring proof of vaccination for entry.

Citizens can download their digital vaccine card on the LA Wallet app.

Illinois ‘Vax Verify’ system

Illinois’ Immunization Portal, Vax Verify, allows residents over 18 years of age to prove their vaccination status to the businesses requiring it.

Public schools in Chicago have mandated vaccines for all teachers and staff and the “Vax Pass” has been used throughout the summer for certain events and concerts.

“With the current surge in cases, more people are making the decision to get a COVID-19 vaccine and this new tool will aid residents in confirming their vaccination where needed”, explained Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike.

Washington: vaccine required for workers

Although not a COVID passport per se, Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced on August 9th that “most state workers, and on-site contractors and volunteers” are now required to be vaccinated “as a condition for employment”.

In Washington, the due date for state workers to be fully vaccinated is October 18th. “We have a duty to protect them from the virus, they have the right to be protected, and the communities they serve and live in deserve protection as well,” explained Inslee.

While not required to do so, all Washington citizens – especially higher education students, and local government or state officials – are also encouraged to get the jab.

Michigan: Michigan Immunization Portal

Michigan residents older than 18 can access their state medical records through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ new portal.

Elizabeth Hertel, the director of MDHHS, explained that “The Michigan Immunization Portal allows [residents] to find their record from their computer or smartphone and save a copy for their records. This will also allow anyone who has misplaced their COVID-19 vaccination card to print a record of their vaccination.”

Minnesota: Docket App

The Docket App provides a secure and digital way for Minnesotans to access all their vaccination records. The Minnesota Department of Health aims to use this system in the future for residents to easily keep a record of their vaccination.

“We recognize the importance of having a secure and convenient way to find, view, and share your and your family’s immunization records, such as needing records for school or child care,” said the MDH’s Infectious Disease Division Director Kris Ehresmann.

Ehresmann added that “the Docket app gives Minnesotans a digital option to access their immunization history in MIIC, check what vaccines you or your children may be due for, and see what vaccines you may need in the future. This is vital to making sure people are protected from preventable diseases.”

Which states have banned vaccine passports?

Twenty states across the USA have officially banned the use of COVID vaccine passports, including use for travel.

These states have also banned businesses from requiring vaccination for entry and will not request certificates for large gatherings.

The following states have banned COVID passes:

Recently, a scandal erupted in Florida when the Leon County government was found to be requesting proof of COVID-19 immunization for employees despite the statewide ban, resulting in a $3.5 million fine.

Businesses asking for the USA COVID passport in Florida were also fined $5,000 for every patron that was questioned.

Utah has also banned the use of COVID vaccine passports but is not stopping private businesses from requiring proof of vaccination.

The concern for privacy is perhaps the largest. There is widespread concern that private companies will hold COVID pass users’ information.

This brings the second argument of security. Some hackers have falsified vaccine records and are selling fraudulent certificates online.

Can I travel to the US with my vaccine passport?

The Whitehouse made a big move towards opening USA borders for tourism as they announced quarantine free travel for all vaccinated travelers starting November 8th, 2021.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, expressed his support for the idea of mandating vaccinations for those traveling by air, domestically and internationally.

“I would support that if you want to get on a plane and travel with other people, you should be vaccinated,” said Fauci.

Unvaccinated US citizens returning to the States must still present a negative PCR test, no more than 24 hours old, and book another test upon arrival.

Vaccinated citizens returning home just need a negative PCR test if they are over the age of 2 years old.

The CDC has confirmed that mixed COVID-19 vaccine doses (a common occurrence outside of the US) will be considered a valid form of full vaccination for incoming travelers.

Land borders with Mexico and Canada also opened in November to vaccinated travelers.

Current COVID-19 statistics in the USA

The USA accounts for over 20% of the world’s total COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic.

The highly contagious Omicron variant caused new infections to skyrocket during the winter with a new record of more than 900,000 cases per day being set on 7 January.

By the end of February, these numbers have dramatically fallen to just under 30,000 new cases per day.

Over 550 million vaccine doses have been administered in the US as of February 22nd. Almost 65% of the USA’s population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Tragically, over 960,157 COVID-19-related deaths have been recorded in the USA since February 2020.