The U.S. government is expected to require all international passengers to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test before boarding a U.S.-bound flight, sources close to the situation told the media.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plans to issue the order as soon as Tuesday (12), following weeks of discussions between federal agencies and the White House Task Force on Outbreaks. The order is expected to take effect Jan. 26, according to people familiar with the matter. The CDC and other administration officials are still refining the order.
The order is also said to apply to U.S. citizens returning to the United States.
A few weeks ago, the U.S. government required airline passengers from the United Kingdom to submit proof of a negative test for the virus before boarding because of the emergence of a more contagious variant of the strain in the United Kingdom. This new strain has now been found in other parts of the world, including the United States.
U.S. airlines have expressed support for the new requirement, but believe that enhanced testing protocols should replace travel restrictions and quarantine.
The Canadian government has begun requiring inbound international passengers to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test before boarding a flight to Canada. A Canadian airline trade group says the requirement is challenging to enforce.
Airlines for America said, “A carefully planned program designed to strengthen testing for travelers to the United States will achieve these goals more effectively than the blanket travel restrictions currently in place.”
Nick Calio, the association’s chief executive officer, wrote to Vice President Pence on Jan. 4 about the issue. Calio said the request should take into account countries with limited access to virus testing, and he suggested the administration provide rapid testing for the effort. He also addressed other complications, such as how to handle passengers making short international round trips.
The United States currently bans people from a number of countries (if they are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents) from entering the country, including the United Kingdom, European countries and China. Likewise, a number of countries, including most of Europe, also prohibit visits by Americans.
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