After more than year of requiring a negative COVID-19 test to enter the United States, a measure put in place by the Trump administration in January of 2021, the Biden administration is lifting the restriction.
According to CNN, a senior advisor and CDC stated that the lift goes into effect at midnight on Sunday.
The Covid-19 pandemic has now shifted to a new phase, due to the widespread uptake of highly effective Covid-19 vaccines, the availability of effective therapeutics, and the accrual of high rates of vaccine- and infection-induced immunity at the population level in the United States. Each of these measures has contributed to lower risk of severe disease and death across the United States.
A senior official also says the lift of the restriction is “based on the science and data.” Though the restriction will be removed, the CDC will reassess within 90 days.
It’s also reported that Biden will work with airlines to make the transition as smooth as possible.
As you may know, the travel industry pushed for this measure to end because many felt it was impacting international travel.
Robert Isom, CEO of American American Airlines called the ban “nonsensical.”
Roger Dow, president of the U.S. Travel Association, stated:
The Biden administration is to be commended for this action, which will welcome back visitors from around the world and accelerate the recovery of the U.S. travel industry. International inbound travel is vitally important to businesses and workers across the country who have struggled to regain losses from this valuable sector.
Previously, air travelers had to submit a negative COVID-19 test a day before flying into the U.S.
Roomies, how do y’all feel about this?
