Tuesday, 21 September 2021 05:54

US easing foreign travel restrictions, requiring vaccines

Rate this item
(0 votes)

President Joe Biden will ease foreign travel restrictions into the U.S. beginning in November and allow foreign nationals into the country if they have proof of vaccination and a negative Covid-19 test, the White House said Monday.

The new rules replace a hodgepodge of restrictions that had barred non-citizens who had been in certain countries in the prior 14 days from entering the U.S. It would allow families and others who have been separated by the travel restrictions for 18 months to plan for long-awaited reunifications.

White House Covid-19 coordinator Jeff Zients announced the new policies, which will require all foreign travelers flying to the U.S. to demonstrate proof of vaccination before boarding, as well as proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within three days of flight. Biden will also tighten testing rules for unvaccinated American citizens, who will need to be tested within a day before returning to the U.S., as well as after they arrive home.

Fully vaccinated passengers will not be required to quarantine, Zients said.

The new policy will replace the patchwork of travel bans first instituted by President Donald Trump last year and tightened by Biden earlier this year that restrict travel by non-citizens who have in the prior 14 days been in the United Kingdom, European Union, China, India, Iran, Republic of Ireland, Brazil and South Africa.

Those travel bans had become the source of growing geopolitical frustration, particularly among allies in the UK and EU where virus cases are far lower than the U.S., and the easing comes ahead of Biden meeting with some European leaders on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly this week.

“This is based on individuals rather than a country based approach, so it’s a stronger system,” Zients said.

The EU and UK had previously moved to allow vaccinated U.S. travelers into their territories without quarantines, in an effort to boost business and tourism travel. But the EU recommended last month that some travel restrictions be reimposed on U.S. travelers to the bloc because of the rampant spread of the delta variant of the coronavirus in America.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will also require airlines to collect contact information from international travelers to facilitate contact tracing, Zients said.

It was not immediately clear which vaccines would be acceptable under the U.S.-system and whether those unapproved in the U.S. could be used. Zients said that decision would be up to the CDC.

The new policy will take effect in “early November,” Zients said, to allow airlines and travel partners time to prepare to implement the new protocols.

 

AP

May 03, 2024

Passion, freedom and impact: The 3 ingredients of business success

More than 10 years ago I founded my then "small" business that today has more…
May 01, 2024

Overwhelming majority of Nigerians have lost confidence in INEC, survey reveals

Yiaga Africa, a prominent election observation group, reveals in its latest report that only 23…
April 27, 2024

Adults are sharing the things they are no longer interested in now that they're older

It's natural for our preferences to change as we get older. So when asked, "What…
April 13, 2024

A new camera can undress people almost in real time—to send a message about AI

Nuca, a new deepfake camera, is an art project that shows how artificial intelligence can…
May 03, 2024

Two military officers face court martial over drone strike that killed 85 civilians in Kaduna

Nigeria's military has ordered two officers to face court martial proceedings over a drone strike…
May 03, 2024

Here’s the latest as Israel-Hamas war enters Day 210

Here's what's on the table for Israel and Hamas in the latest cease-fire talks Israel…
May 01, 2024

Wellspring Consulting proposes cybersecurity investment to boost Nigeria's economy

In a bid to rescue Nigeria from its economic challenges, Wellspring Consulting advocates for significant…
April 30, 2024

Finidi George is new Head Coach for Super Eagles

Former Nigerian winger Finidi George has been appointed as the head coach of the national…

NEWSSCROLL TEAM: 'Sina Kawonise: Publisher/Editor-in-Chief; Prof Wale Are Olaitan: Editorial Consultant; Femi Kawonise: Head, Production & Administration; Afolabi Ajibola: IT Manager;
Contact Us: [email protected] Tel/WhatsApp: +234 811 395 4049

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 NewsScroll. All rights reserved.