Here’s what you need to know about the new travel rules.
All travelers flying to the USA must now provide proof of negative COVID-19 test, taken no more than three days before the flight, or boarding will be denied.
The order was initially announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on January 12 and formalized in an executive order that President Joe Biden signed last week.
International travel still fell considerably compared to last year, but there was an increase in the number of Americans flying to beach locations like Mexico, which did not require quarantine on arrival. This order is an attempt to mitigate the risk of travelers spreading COVID-19 as new variants of the virus emerge and the country struggles to launch the vaccine.
“We ask people to postpone their travels if they can,” said Deputy Secretary for Consular Affairs Ian Brownlee on Tuesday, “and whether they should absolutely travel to get information.”
Brownlee warned that travelers will be responsible for covering their own medical and accommodation expenses if the test is positive or cannot be tested abroad.
“The main message is that this is not really a time for people to engage in discretionary travel and that all travel should be postponed until we have better control over how to control this virus and accelerate our vaccination strategies,” Director of the CDC for the Global Migration and Quarantine Division Marty Cetron said.
Here’s what you need to know about the new travel rules:
Does the request apply to American citizens?
The request applies to all travelers aged 2 years and over, including US citizens and legal permanent residents.
What type of coronavirus test do I need to do?
Travelers can do a quick, PCR or home test as long as the sample is tested in the laboratory. Travelers must bring written documentation of the laboratory test result – paper or electronic.
If I get the vaccine or the test is positive for antibodies, do I still need to get tested?
All travelers, regardless of vaccination or antibody status, must have a negative COVID-19 test or recovery documentation.
What if I recently had COVID-19?
If you have proof of a positive COVID-19 test within three months and are safe to end the isolation, you can travel with the positive test documentation and a letter from a health professional or public health official saying that you are authorized to travel.
What if my trip lasts less than 3 days?
You still need a test, but it can be done in the United States – as long as within the window of three days before your flight to the United States.
Who checks the tests before boarding my flight to the USA?
Airlines are tasked with verifying the negative test result or recovery documentation for all passengers before boarding. If the passenger does not have it, the airline is instructed to deny the passenger boarding.
What if my test is positive when abroad?
You must isolate yourself and delay the trip until you recover from COVID-19.
Are there any exemptions?
The CDC said that exemptions “can be granted in an extremely limited way when an emergency trip (such as an emergency medical evacuation) must take place to preserve someone’s life, health against serious danger or physical safety and testing not can be completed before the trip “.
Should I quarantine when I arrive in the USA?
There is no mandatory quarantine, but the CDC recommends that travelers take the test three to five days after travel and stay at home or self-quarantine for seven days.
“Even if your test is negative, stay home for 7 full days,” said the CDC. “If you don’t get tested, it is safer to stay home for 10 days.”
Conor Finnegan of ABC News contributed to this report.