If you need a shot of Vitamin Sea, heres one more option. After the Maldives, which reopened last week, it is the gorgeous island of Seychelles that will soon welcome travellers. Per reports, the African island nation will start accepting commercial passenger flights starting 1 August.

Among the early birds are Etihad Airways and Ethiopian Airlines, who will fly twice a week to the Seychelles from Abu Dhabi and Adis Abbaba respectively. More airlines are likely to join the party, as per the Seychelles News Agency.

As per the plan, only visitors from countries classified as Low Risk and Medium Risk will be permitted for now. India is not on either list. The list of Low Risk countries includes China, Japan, Thailand, New Zealand, Norway and Belgium. Persons travelling from these countries will need a negative PCR test results not older than 72 hours, or an antigen test. The list of Medium Risk countries includes Italy, Spain, Greece, Denmark, South Korea, Singapore, Canada and Sri Lanka. Visitors from these countries will have to provide a negative PCR test resultan antigen test will not do as it is considered less reliable. There are other health guidelines too including a restriction on resort-hopping. For the first seven days, visitors cannot stay in more than two accommodations/liveaboards, and they cannot book private residences at any point during the stay. (Check the full list of guidelines for travellers here).

So how has Seychelles been coping with COVID? The island with a population of less than 100,000 has logged 100 cases of COVID-19 so far. Of these, 73 are active and 27 persons have recovered. To keep things under control, Seychelles is permitting only arrivals by private jets, chartered flights and private yachts from low risk countries till 1 August. But with new safety protocol in place, the island will gradually start opening to the rest of the world.

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With these rules, Seychelles will reopen to travellers from 1 August - Cond Nast Traveller India