US changes Covid testing requirements for international visitors
Here’s what these new rules will mean for Aussie visitors.
Travellers heading to the US will no longer require a negative Covid-19 test before entering the country, the U.S. Centre for Disease Control has announced.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has now shifted to a new phase, due to the widespread uptake of highly effective Covid-19 vaccines, the availability of effective therapeutics, and the accrual of high rates of vaccine- and infection-induced immunity at the population level in the United States,” the CDC said in a statement. “Each of these measures has contributed to lower risk of severe disease and death across the United States.”
The relaxation of this requirement, which came into effect in January 2021, is good news for both travellers and the industry alike, which have struggled to keep up with the ever-changing regulations for international travel since borders reopened.
Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for Brand USA Aaron Wodin-Schwartz said the announcement was a “huge win” for the travel industry, with the U.S. Travel association estimating the relaxed pre-departure testing requirement would bring an additional 5.4 million visitors into the country this year.
“We believe this is one of the final steps to fully welcome the world back to the United States and eventually achieve the goals of the newly-launched National Travel and Tourism Strategy to welcome 90 million international visitors who are estimated to spend $279 billion by 2027,” he said.
The rule change will go into effect at midnight on Sunday, June 12 (ET), and will apply to all travellers departing on or after that time.
So what does this mean for Australians planning to visit the U. S?
You still need to be vaccinated
If you are over the age of 18 and not a legal permanent resident, citizen or national of the US, then yes. Children under 18 are not required to be fully vaccinated to enter the US.
It’s still worth checking regulations before travelling
Due to the ever-evolving situation regarding Covid-19, it’s worth checking prior to travelling to the US and other countries for any changes which may be made to entry requirements.
In a statement, the US CDC explained it “ … continues to evaluate the latest science and state of the pandemic and will reassess the need for a testing requirement if the situation changes.”
Taking a test before flying is still recommended
The CDC recommends travellers should take a test prior to flying, on arrival at their destination and if they have been in close contact with a person infected with Covid-19.
“CDC continues to recommend that those travellers boarding a flight to the U.S. get tested for current infection with a viral test as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than 3 days) and not travel if they are sick,” it states.
Wearing a mask on public transport and indoor settings is also encouraged, although this is no longer mandatory.
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