Travelers head to the airport wearing masks.Photo: Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty
The United States plans to ease travel restrictions for fully vaccinated foreign visitors.
On Monday, White House coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients said that vaccinated foreigners will be able to visit the country starting in November. All travelers will be required to show proof of vaccination and a negativeCOVID-19test that was taken within three days of their departure, according toCNN.
While there won’t be any requirements to quarantine once inside the U.S., Zients said there will still be enhanced contact tracing in place and face masks will still be required on flights.
Unvaccinated Americans traveling back into the country will need to provide a negative test within one day of departure as well, and will need to test negative again when they arrive stateside.
These new changes are expected to take effect in early November,NBC Newsreported.
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E.U. and British officials previously lifted bans for travelers from the U.S. and other locations entering many of their territories in the spring, NBC News reported.
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“This vaccination requirement deploys the best tool we have in our arsenal to keep people safe and prevent the spread of the virus,” said Zients, perUSA Today. “Vaccines continue to show that they’re highly effective, including against the delta variant, and the new system allows us to implement strict protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
The Biden administration is now looking to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)to decide which vaccines qualify for entry into the country, according toThe Hill.
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Zients also said, per NBC News, that the CDC will issue a contact tracing order that will require airlines to collect information from travelers heading into the county, such as a phone number or email address. This will allow the organization to alert travelers if they have potentially been exposed to COVID-19.
Airlines will be required to keep the contact tracing information for a total 30 days, CNN said.
source: people.com
