US eases warning to dozens of countries including pre-Olympics Japan

The US has eased its warnings against travel to dozens of countries including Olympics host Japan and much of Europe, raising hopes that widespread vaccinations will bring a return to normal travel, AFP reported,

Close US allies and neighbors including Canada, Mexico, France and Germany also received upgrades, with the State Department asking Americans to reconsider travel but ending its blanket advice not to go at all.

The State Department also elevated 11 nations to say that Americans can exercise normal precautions when traveling there —

Nations receiving a clean bill of health included Ghana, Senegal Singapore and South Korea and a sole European nation — Malta.

A State Department official said the changes reflect new recommendations a day earlier by the Centers for Disease Control, which called on Americans to be fully vaccinated before traveling but for non-vaccinated people to avoid trips.

“As conditions evolve, we regularly update our advice to US travelers,” the official said.