Transportation Safety Administration Agent at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.
Photographer: Sarah Silbiger / Bloomberg
Photographer: Sarah Silbiger / Bloomberg
The United States will require testing a negative Covid-19 test before allowing visitors to fly into the country from other nations, in an effort to help airlines recover at least some of their most lucrative international trips.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday that they approved the new anti-pandemic measure, which will take effect on January 26.
It requires travelers to receive a test within three days before leaving for the United States and provide written documentation of a negative result. Airlines must confirm the information before allowing passengers to board CDC said in the statement.
“Testing doesn’t eliminate all risks,” said CDC Director Robert Redfield, “but when combined with a period of stay at home and daily precautions such as wearing masks and social distancing, it can make travel safer, healthier and more responsible by reducing the spread on airplanes, airports and destinations “.
The rules are based on a federal one mandate beginning Dec. 28 that requires negative evidence for passengers flying to the United States from the United Kingdom, following the discovery of a new variant of the disease that is spreading more rapidly. Comprehensive testing would potentially help revive demand for travel between the United States and other nations, which have come to a halt in less than a quarter of 2019 due to virus fears and government travel restrictions.
The new standard would apparently replace a broader one entry ban for most non-US citizens traveling from 28 European countries, which was imposed by the Department of Homeland Security following a March 11 presidential proclamation. DHS addressed questions in this regard to CDC.
The trade group representing major U.S. airlines, Airlines for America, wrote to Vice President Mike Pence on Jan. 4 to support the move, saying it would promote essential economic activity while protecting people’s safety.
“We believe that a well – planned program focused on increasing passenger testing at the United States it will promote these goals in a much more effective way than the current general travel restrictions, ”the group known as A4A said.
Some of the most lucrative air routes in Europe have been the hardest hit by the pandemic. Passengers aboard U.S. airlines on transatlantic flights fell more than 85 percent last week compared to the same period last year, according to A4A data.
Canada said on Dec. 30 that it would require air travelers entering the country to obtain a negative test.