Covid-19 has ended a lot of stuff for a lot of people. The most obvious change has been to international travel, especially for Americans. As the virus has spread widely across the U.S. countries have put a halt to allowing American tourist within their border, but not Mexico.

Covid-19 has severly depreciated the American passport.

When you think about countries descending into violence, you wonder why people didn't get out while they could. Well, as of today Americans can only travel to: Albania, Belarus, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Mexico, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Zambia https://t.co/g38Rsoi8uv

— Reece Jones (@reecejhawaii) September 23, 2020

Once capable of unlocking so many countries, the U.S. passport is no longer helping Americans travel abroad. Instead, the American passport has now become a hindrance for global travelers. Most countries have placed restrictions on American tourists making the U.S. passport one of the weakest.

The countries banning the U.S. are doing so because of the state of the virus in the country.

It amazes me how many people are unaware that there’s a travel ban on all Americans due to Trump’s insane bungling of the pandemic. https://t.co/ZCoMrb4x5J

— kristen johnston (@thekjohnston) September 24, 2020

There have been more than 7 million cases of Covid-19 and more than 200,000 deaths from the virus. The U.S. remains the worst hit country and the global epicenter of the deadly virus. Many blame the lack of a national strategy to properly close down, test citizens, and contact trace those who have been exposed as the reason the virus has been so devastating in the U.S.

The various travel bans have kept families apart.

My partner is a doctor in England. Haven't seen him for 8 months and Trump won't let Brits into the U.S.

None of it had to be this way.

— Michael J. Stern (@MichaelJStern1) September 24, 2020

Other nations went into mush stricter lockdowns that the U.S. and got a handle of the virus. European countries have gotten the virus under control after months and the U.S. continues to see a large number of new cases daily.

One of the countries allowing Americans to visit is Mexico.

One of Mexico's most famous archaeological sites has reopened to tourists this week https://t.co/5lgj4Zo2Qb

— Lonely Planet (@lonelyplanet) September 24, 2020

Mexico is heavily reliant on the money made from the tourism industry. According to official statistics, the tourism industry is the third-largest contributor to the country’s GDP. Major tourist destinations like Cabo and Cancún saw dramatic dips in tourism leading to national and local figures to sound the alarm. According to The Washington Post, the questions was posed about when to allow the tourists from the U.S. back, not should they.

Los Cabos is one of the hardest-hit tourist destinations.

The real experience of traveling to a Mexico resort during a pandemic, from social distancing to safety precautions, Los Cabos is open for business https://t.co/YYV6dzUJyw pic.twitter.com/c8zh9s9I0b

— Forbes (@Forbes) July 13, 2020

The tourist destination saw a severe decline in tourists during one of the busiest times of the year. According to The Washington Post, the resort city has lost 80 percent of its revenue because of Covid-19. The virus has brought financial devastation to people across the world and the cities they live in aren’t immune to failing themselves.

“It’s life or death for us,” Rodrigo Esponda, the head of the Los Cabos tourism board, told The Washington Post. “There’s nothing else here. No industrial production. No farming or commercial fishing. It’s tourism or nothing.”

Yet, Los Cabos should be a warning sign to the rest of Mexico.

COVID-19 on the rise again in Tijuana and Northern Baja California https://t.co/mqfzsQEwsR

— WGNO (@WGNOtv) September 25, 2020

Cases in Baja California, the state where Los Cabos is located, saw new Covid case numbers triple from 50 a day to 150. The increase in infections is to be expected as the state rolled out the welcome mat for Americans coming to visit the resort town.

“There are some residents who say, ‘Why put my family’s life in danger by inviting more visitors, restarting more flights?’” Luis Humberto Araiza López, tourism minister of Baja California Sur, told The Washington Post. “It’s a delicate line between trying to support public health and economic growth.”

Despite this, there are some countries that Americans can travel to.

Mexico's archaeological sites are reopening to tourists. Teotihuacan is operating at 30% capacity, though the 3 main pyramids remain closed. Tulum also reopened its museums and archaeological zones. Yucatán is about to reopen its Chichén Itzá & Dzibilchaltún archaeological sites. pic.twitter.com/0ZykWmkFHp

— WindowSeat (@TheWindowSeatPH) September 22, 2020

The countries Americans can travel to without Covid restrictions are Albania, Belarus, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Mexico, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Zambia. As the world continues to open up, Americans who travel abroad are waiting for the U.S. government to get the virus under control. Until then, the U.S. passport is not the same it used to be.

READ: The U.S. Passport Was Once The World’s Strongest, It’s Fallen To 25th Place Thanks To Failed Leadership Amid Coronavirus

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For the first time in 114 years, the Times Square New Years Eve party has been canceled. The famous New Year’s Eve gathering is a major part of the New Year’s Eve celebration with people cramming into Times Square to watch the ball drop to mark the new year. This year, everything about the celebration is changing because of Covid.

New Year’s Eve in Times Square has been canceled.

One thing that will never change is the ticking of time and the arrival of a New Year. On December 31st, the Ball will drop in Times Square.

Times Square New Year's Eve 2021 is happening visually, virtually, safely. Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/5CE5ROZgTF

— Times Square (@TimesSquareNYC) September 23, 2020

The in-person celebration with crowds packing into the intersection to watch the ball drop is going virtual. Like the Emmys earlier this month, and countless other events, the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration is all virtual. The decision to cancel the in-person part of the Times Square Ball Drop is, well, Covid, of course.

“One thing that will never change is the ticking of time and the arrival of a New Year at midnight on December 31st,” Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance, said in a statement. “But this year there will be significantly new and enhanced virtual, visual and digital offerings to complement whatever limited live entertainment or experiences – still in development — will take place in Times Square. And because any opportunity to be live in Times Square will be pre-determined and extremely limited due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be the opportunity to participate virtually wherever you are.”

We still don’t have a lot of details about the virtual aspect of New Year’s Eve, we are all waiting.

Halloween’s been canceled, Thanksgiving’s been canceled, Christmas has been canceled, now New Years Eve gets the boot. There will be no ball drop or celebration in Times Square this year. pic.twitter.com/zas7j8hZyb

— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) September 24, 2020

According to a statement, the organizers realize that Covid has been the dominating force of 2020. The celebration always includes aspects of the major events from the previous year into the experience. The socially distanced handful of honorees and lack of an audience is a clear representation of the still real Covid crisis.

Some people are really upset about the decision to cancel the celebration.

This virus has wrecked everything. Wow. I don't know if any of you have been to Time Square on New Years Eve. I've been there twice and what an experience.https://t.co/ev9vmNecI1

— David Langley (@BlackIrish64) September 24, 2020

It is one of those iconic moments so many people dream of doing. It is a once-in-a-lifetime moment for so many. The Times Square Ball Drop is something that most Americans recognize thanks to the dominant role the ball drop played on New Year’s Eve growing up. It is basically tradition to have the NYE party playing on the TV.

New Yorkers are confused about why anyone would want to do that.

“And if you’re upset you can’t be in Times Square for New Years Eve, well, then you’ve never been in Times Square for New Years Eve” @FallonTonight #FallonTonight

— Taylor Williams (@t_will3612) September 25, 2020

New Yorkers avoid Times Square at all costs. It isn’t a convenient or super enjoyable part of town. It is packed with tourists who don’t know where they are going and NYE is about the worst it gets for Times Square. Now, the ball drop is impressive and something so many people consider an iconic moment in the holiday celebration.

“We will miss everyone this year but we will bring our celebration to you, whether you want to turn off and turn away from the bad news of 2020, or turn to the new year with a sense of hope, renewal and resolution, you’ll be able to join us virtually like never before as part of the Times Square 2021 celebration,” Jeff Straus, President of Countdown Entertainment, said in a statement.

But, mainly, people just want 2020 to be over.

Can't wait to get rid of 2020 and this virus! I wish things were normal and we can have my favorite holiday event as usual, but…that won't be the case because of 45! #ScrewYouTrump #VoteThemAllOut #BidenHarris2020ToSaveAmerica

— Michael Nebbia (@MadMikeNebbia) September 23, 2020

This year has been a hard year for so many. People have lost their jobs and their loved ones as the virus runs through the U.S. Covid-19 is still a real threat to people, especially the vulnerable population.

READ: Nearly 9,000 Unaccompanied Child Migrants Have Been Expelled From the U.S. Under Trump’s COVID-19 Restrictions

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