President Joe Biden is scheduled to announce new Covid-19 testing criteria for travellers entering the United States on Thursday, in an effort to stem the spread of the new Omicron variant, which has been identified in at least 23 territories so far.
Even if they are fully vaccinated, anyone entering the country, including Americans, will need to present proof of a negative Covid test performed within one day of leaving. Fully vaccinated tourists had to produce proof of a negative test within 72 hours before departure previously. Unvaccinated passengers were required to provide a test within one day of boarding a plane.
The requirements are due to be in effect next week.
According to a Washington Post report, travellers may also be required to self-quarantine for seven days, regardless of whether their test results are negative or whether they have been vaccinated, though these regulations will likely be implemented later. Those who do not follow the regulations will be fined. Three to five days after arriving in the country, everyone entering the country may also need to retest.
President Biden placed travel bans on southern Africa, where the Omicron variant was initially discovered, just days before the revelation. He stated that he did not think that additional travel bans would be required.
