US lifts Covid tests for inbound air travelers
The US administration is finally dropping the need for a negative Covid-19 test for inbound travelers.
After months of concerted pressure from the travel industry it will be lifted on Sunday at midnight, an official said.
Now is the time to ease the restriction, based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
The CDC will review the decision after three months.
“If there is a need to reinstate a pre-departure testing requirement – including due to a new, concerning variant – CDC will not hesitate to act.,” the official said.
According to the official, said the government will work with airlines this weekend to make it smooth transition.
The travel industry has repeatedly said the negative test requirement has hampered the recovery of it inbound tourism.
The rule was put in place in early 2021 and then tightened by the Biden administration, to show proof of a negative test within a day departure.
It had already been dropped for land border crossings.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom recently called the testing rule ‘nonsensical.’
“The Biden administration is to be commended for this action, which will welcome back visitors from around the world and accelerate the recovery,” Roger Dow, president of the U.S. Travel Association, said.
“International inbound travel is vitally important to businesses.”
Ray Monty
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