(Does not add CDC comments, planned task force meeting, Canada action)
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (Reuters) – A group representing major US airlines on Monday supported a proposal by public health officials to implement a global testing program that requires negative screening before most international air passengers return to the United States, according to a letter seen by Reuters. .
Airlines for America, which represents American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and other major carriers, also urged the Trump administration in a letter to Vice President Mike Pence “to move forward with recommendations to terminate current travel restrictions for travelers. from Europe, the UK and Brazil as soon as possible … simultaneously with the testing program. “
In November, Reuters reported that the White House was considering rescinding restrictions that prohibit most non-US citizens from traveling to the United States from the 26 members of the Schengen area that allow travel across open borders in Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Brazil.
“We believe that a well-planned program focused on increasing traveler testing to the United States will promote these goals in a much more effective way than the general travel restrictions currently in place,” said the airline letter.
Airlines support the proposal by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement “a global program to require testing for travelers to the United States,” the letter added.
A senior administration official said the CDC’s proposal to expand international testing requirements faces significant opposition at the top levels of management, including at Pence’s office. The White House coronavirus task force is due to meet on Tuesday and the issue is scheduled to be discussed, officials said.
The CDC on December 28 began to require all airline passengers arriving from Britain – including U.S. citizens – to test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of departure.
A CDC spokeswoman declined to comment on Monday, but the agency said last week that “efforts are underway in the U.S. to assess the risk reduction associated with testing and other recommended preventive measures … and to obtain some level of agreement on standards for a harmonized approach to testing for international air travel. “
Airlines are looking for at least 14 days before the new requirements take effect and “consideration of inadequate testing and availability of results in specific countries, rather than a general global requirement, is also required,” the letter said.
Starting on Thursday, Canada will require passengers aged five years and over to test COVID-19 negative before arrival. (Reporting by David Shepardson Editing by Chris Reese, Nick Zieminski and David Gregorio)
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