The US issues new regulations applicable to international travelers.
The White House will require airlines to check for proof of Covid-19 vaccination from travelers flying to the US and provide contact information to federal officials.
The Biden administration has announced plans to lift travel restrictions for fully vaccinated international travelers starting November 8. The Trump administration, which imposed travel restrictions on travelers from more than 30 countries, including the UK and Brazil, extended them this year.
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The new rules, issued by President Joe Biden on October 25, will apply to foreign travelers, including those coming to the US from countries not on the banned list. The exemptions from the vaccine requirement apply to travelers under 18, or those with medical reasons that prevent them from being vaccinated.
Foreign travelers between the ages of 2 and 17 traveling to the U.S. will still be required to take a Covid-19 test three days before departure if they are accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult. Other exemptions include those traveling on non-tourist visas from countries with low vaccination rates. About 50 countries will qualify, but those exempted must present a letter from the U.S. government stating an urgent need to travel.
US health officials say a person is fully vaccinated two weeks after the last dose of the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines, or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
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In early October 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it would accept a combination of two doses of vaccines that have been authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or vaccines on the World Health Organization (WHO) emergency use authorization list. Both digital and paper copies of vaccine certificates will be accepted. The US CDC will also require airlines to collect and track contact information from travelers, and may require that information to be shared with federal officials./.
