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THE UNITED States (US) government under President Joe Biden has lifted the COVID-19 test rules for international travelers. Specifically, the rule that was removed was the obligation to submit a negative COVID-19 test result one day before flying to the US.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Covid-19 testing rules for international travelers will be lifted as of Sunday morning US time.
However, the CDC stressed that it will continue to monitor the situation surrounding the pandemic and reconsider the rules if the situation on the ground changes.
“This (revocation) was made possible because of the progress we have made in the fight against COVID-19,” told US Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, quoted from the TRT World page.
Roger Dow, president of the US Travel Association, called the repeal of the rule “another major step in restoring the world of aviation” domestically and internationally.
Although US domestic flights have almost recovered to pre-pandemic levels, international flights still tend to stagnate. Last May, US international air travel figures were still 24 percent below 2019 levels, according to trade group Airlines for America.
Many other countries have lifted COVID-19 testing rules to boost their tourism sectors. Some US health experts tend to agree with the CDC’s latest decision, and believe that lifting the rules will not trigger the spread of COVID-19 across the country.
The Covid-19 test rule one day before flying to the US was implemented in January 2021. The rule was put in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19, although some experts question its effectiveness because the virus has also been widely circulated at the US national level. [sources/photo special]
