US poised to tighten travel rules to guard against Omicron
James ChappleThe US government is poised to tighten its travel rules to guard against the spread of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19, according to reports in the US press.
Several US titles report details of a new draft public health order drawn up by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which hints at reducing the current 72-hour pre-departure testing window to just one day.
This would apply to all prospective arrivals, vaccinated and unvaccinated, regardless of point of departure. It is also reported that travellers could be required to be re-tested for Covid-19 three to five days after their arrival.
The Washington Post further reports other proposals under consideration include a seven-day self-isolation requirement, even if travellers’ pre-departure and day three to five tests – should they become necessary – come back negative.
The paper, though, states these measures are not currently in the draft but could be written in if there is support for them, citing officials.
It is understood a new package of measures could be announced by president Joe Biden as early as Thursday (2 December), and would come as a major blow to people’s US travel plans less than a month after the country reopened its borders for the first time for 20 months.
Like the UK and much of the EU, the US has barred travellers from a number of southern African countries following the emergence of the Omicron variant in South Africa.
In a statement reported by The New York Times, CDC spokesperson Jason McDonald said: “CDC is working to modify the current global testing order for travel as we learn more about the Omicron variant; a revised order would shorten the timeline for required testing for all international air travellers to one day before departure to the United States.
“This strengthens already robust protocols in place for international travel, including requirements for foreign travellers to be fully vaccinated."
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