US to drop negative Covid test requirement for air travellers
Officials said they were dropping the requirement due to the "tremendous progress" the country had made in the fight against the virus.
According to BBC News, the travel industry has been pushing for an end to the policy, which they say has deterred bookings, as families fear getting stranded abroad.
Policy to be evaluated
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will re-evaluate the policy in 90 days. The administration said it would "not hesitate to act" to reinstate the rule should new variants make officials believe it is necessary.
"We are able to take this step because of the tremendous progress we've made in our fight against the virus: We have made lifesaving vaccines and treatments widely available and these tools are working to prevent serious illness and death, and are effective against the prevalent variants circulating in the US and around the world," a senior official told reporters.
The US introduced rules requiring air travellers to test negative within three days of their flight - or provide proof of recent recovery from the virus - in January 2021. US President Joseph R. Biden tightened the policy to within one day of flying in December, as the Omicron variant pushed virus cases higher.
The measure did not apply to land crossings.
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