Biden Administration Imposes New Covid Vaccine and Testing Requirements for International Travelers

The Biden administration announced Monday new covid-19 guidelines and requirements for travelers entering the United States.

Starting November 8, U.S. citizens and long-term residents who are not vaccinated against covid-19 will have to present a negative covid test taken one day before re-entering the country. Fully vaccinated Americans will have to be tested no longer than three days before travel.

Foreign, non-immigrant adults entering the United States will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with a few exemptions. Those coming from countries with vaccination rates under 10 percent will have to provide a compelling reason for entering the U.S.

Children under 18 are also exempt from the new vaccine requirements, as are people with some medical issues.

This new measure comes as the administration moves away from country-by-country travel restrictions.

“It is in the interests of the United States to move away from the country-by-country restrictions previously applied during the COVID-19 pandemic and to adopt an air travel policy that relies primarily on vaccination to advance the safe resumption of international air travel to the United States” Biden’s statement says.

Biden also detailed new guidelines, whereas airlines will have to confirm non-exempt foreign travelers have been vaccinated before boarding U.S.-bound flights.