PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — People traveling to or from the United States by air should be aware of a change in COVID-19 testing requirements.
Previously, travelers needed to have proof of a negative COVID-19 test before entering the U.S. Effective Monday, however, international travelers must get tested — regardless of vaccination status or citizenship — no more than one day before entering the country.
Negative results must be shown to the airline before boarding.
Those who recently recovered from COVID-19 may instead travel with documentation of recovery, such as a positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before the flight's departure from a foreign country and a letter from a licensed health care provider or a public health official stating clearance to travel.
This testing policy isn’t just for people from other countries, but American citizens, as well. It’s up to the airlines to enforce this requirement for all travelers ages 2 and up. The State Department says exemptions would only be available, “on an extremely limited basis.”
This change is part of the Biden administration’s response to the omicron variant. Researchers in the U.S. and around the world are still learning about how transmissible it is and whether it leads to more severe disease.
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Dr. Anthony Fauci, on CNN, expressed cautious optimism with some of the early data in.
“Thus far it does not look like there is great degree of severity to it. But we really gotta be careful before we make any determinations that it is less severe or really does not cause severe illness," said
The new mandate is part of a nine-point plan rolled out by the White House to combat COVID-19 and the omicron variant:
1. Boosters for all adults
2. Vaccinations to protect kids and keep schools open
3. Expanding free at-home testing for Americans
4. Stronger public health protocols for safe international travel
5. Protections in workplaces to keep the economy open
6. Rapid response teams to help battle rising cases
7. Supplying treatment pills to help prevent hospitalizations and death
8. Continued commitment to global vaccination efforts
9. Steps to ensure preparation for all scenarios
People staying outside of the country at resorts or hotels should see what testing options are available, to appropriately coordinate testing. It's also important to check testing and vaccination mandates in place in countries you visit before leaving the U.S.
In the meantime, the U.S. travel ban on eight countries in southern Africa is still in effect.
“We all feel very badly about the hardship that that might have put upon not only South Africa but the other African countries. And for that reason, in real time, literally on a daily basis, we’re reevaluating that policy,” Fauci said.
The masking requirement on planes, trains and at transportation hubs has been extended and is in effect through March 18.
Meanwhile, officials stress that the delta variant is still the dominant strain in the country and, as winter approaches, case counts are up again. The U.S. is averaging 100,000 per day for the first time since early October.