US issues new regulations for 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 imposed travel restrictions early last year on travelers from more than 30 countries, including the United Kingdom and Brazil, and the Biden administration has 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 ban list. Exemptions from the vaccine requirement apply to travelers under the age of 18, or those who have medical reasons that prevent them from being vaccinated.
Foreign travelers ages 2 to 17 who are traveling to the U.S. will still need to get tested for COVID-19 three days before departure, if they are traveling with 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 ask to share that information with federal officials./.
