The United States has changed its entry and testing requirements recently. The United States added a new travel ban on Africa. It looks like we could see even more changes, with an announcement expected as early as tomorrow.
There are new testing rules for international travel.
According to the Washington Post, the Biden administration is preparing to introduce new testing rules for international travel due to fears of the new omicron coronaviruses variant. An announcement is expected tomorrow.
It is expected that the United States will require all international travelers to be tested within one day of returning to the United States, while unvaccinated travelers need to be tested within three days.
The idea of requiring all travelers to be retested three to five days after arriving in the United States is being considered for both Americans and visitors.
The two testing measures are detailed in a draft public health order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is under review by officials at the Health and Human Services Department and the White House. There is no timetable for the new potential rules taking effect. One source said they could be put into practice within a week or two.
The United States could add more stringent testing requirements.
Is it possible for the US to add aQuarantine for international travel?
It was initially reported that there were discussions about a potential seven day quark for those arriving in the United States regardless of vaccine status. There were reports that this could be added at a later point.
The good news is that a White House official has stated that this isn't under consideration at the moment. That is not surprising, since the legality of that for Americans is questionable and this would have been impossible to enforce.
There isn't a self-quarantine coming for now.
My take on the new rules.
There are a few thoughts as a non-scientist and non-epidemiologist.
I think it is unlikely that testing will be required within three to five days of arrival in the United States, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was required within one day of travel.
The federal government can't even figure out a way to get digital vaccine credentials, let alone manage something like this, for a testing requirement upon arrival.
If testing had to happen within one day of travel, it wouldn't be a big deal since the US accepts rapid antigen testing, which is easy to get, and results are available within minutes.
For the past five years, I have taken tests for coronaviruses for international travel, and for four of them, my ID wasn't even checked, so anyone could have taken the test on my behalf.
It seems odd to focus on this if the goal is to control coronaviruses, since the omicron variant is not in the United States.
International travel could get more complicated.
The bottom line.
The Biden administration is expected to announce a tighter testing requirement for international travel as early as Thursday. A second test may be required three to five days after returning to the United States.
I don't think it's a big deal that the testing requirement for vaccine travelers is changing from three days to one day, since it's easy to get a rapid test. I don't think a post-arrival test requirement is that big of a deal, because it seems very difficult to enforce.
What do you think about the new testing requirements in the United States?
