The United States Finally Wants To Open To Vaccinated Foreign Visitors. The U.S. will ease travel restrictions for international visitors who are vaccinated against Covid-19 in November, including those from the U.K. and EU, the White House said Monday.
WASHINGTON, Aug 4 (Reuters) – The Biden administration is developing a plan to require nearly all foreign visitors to the United States to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as part of eventually lifting travel restrictions that bar much of the world from entering the United States, a White House official told Reuters on Wednesday.
The United States Finally Wants To Open To Vaccinated Foreign Visitors
Noncitizens visiting the United States will have to show proof of vaccination and a negative Covid test taken within three days of departure, said Jeff Zients, who is leading the nation’s Covid response efforts for the White House.
The changes were said to take effect last November, which the airline industry expects will spur holiday bookings. “They must show proof of vaccination prior to boarding a U.S.-bound airplane,” Zients said during a press briefing.
Airlines Clamored for Lifting of Restrictions
Airlines and other travel industry groups have clamored for the U.S. to lift the restrictions for months. The Trump administration had first issued the rules, which now apply to more than 30 countries, in March 2020. President Joe Biden upheld those rules in January, shortly after taking office.
The Biden administration is also tightening rules for unvaccinated U.S. citizens returning home. They will need to test one day before departure and test again after returning. European and British officials have lifted the entry ban for the U.S. and other visitors since vaccines became widely available, the Biden administration hadn’t reciprocated.
Allowing more international travelers into the U.S. would have wide-ranging impacts. A ban on much non-U.S. citizen travel has had broad effects on industries including airlines, retail, and restaurants.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will also require airlines to collect and provide passenger information to aid contract tracing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will also require airlines to collect and provide passenger information to aid contract tracing.
U.S Airlines Strong Advocates for a Stringent
Allowing more international travelers into the U.S. would have wide-ranging impacts. A ban on much non-U.S. citizen travel has had broad effects on industries including airlines, retail, and restaurants.
″U.S. airlines have been strong advocates for astringent, consistent policy and are eager to safely reunite the countless families, friends, and colleagues
Who have not seen each other in nearly two years, if not longer,” Nicholas Calio, president of Airlines for America, the lobbying group for the largest U.S. carriers, said in a statement. You can get more details here.
