New Delhi: The United States announced on Monday that the COVID travel ban imposed to prohibit travellers from entering the country will be lifted in November for those who are fully vaccinated.
This comes nearly 18 months after former president Donald Trump imposed a blanket ban on foreign travellers from entering the US at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020.
Vaccinated people from countries like India can now travel to the US with proof of their vaccination before they board a US-bound airplane.
"Today we're announcing a new international air travel system. This new system includes strict protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from passengers flying into the United States, protecting Americans and making international air travel safer," White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients told reporters during a virtual news conference, news agency PTI reported.
Jeff Zients said that the United States, with science and public health as its guide, has developed a new international air travel system that enhances the safety of Americans along with the safety of international air travel.
"Most importantly, beginning in early November, foreign nationals flying to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and they must show proof of vaccination prior to boarding a US-bound airplane," he informed.
Responding to a question on the existing quarantine requirements and travel ban for travellers from countries like India, Brazil, United Kingdom, China, Iran, and South Africa, the White House official said that the United States will move to this new and much stricter global system in early November.
"It will require for nationals to be vaccinated, to prove they're vaccinated, and then to go to the testing and contract tracing regimens," he said.
"That's right, for (fully) vaccinated travellers it is not required to be a quarantine going forward," he said in response to another question, the news agency reported.
The White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator informed that in addition to requiring nationals to be fully vaccinated, the new international air travel system will acquire other proven disease mitigation strategies, enhanced testing contact tracing, and masking.
As per the directives, fully vaccinated travellers will need to complete pre-departure testing within three days prior to departure to the United States and show proof of a negative test.
On the other hand, unvaccinated Americans will be able to return to the US but will have to fulfill stricter testing requirements. They will need to test within one day of departure and will be required to test again, post their arrival.
In the coming weeks, CDC will issue a contact tracing order directing airlines to collect current information from each US-bound traveller, including their phone number and email address.
With the given information, CDC, state and local public health officials will be able to follow up with inbound travellers, and those around them in case someone has potentially been exposed to COVID-19 or other pathogens.
"Importantly, this enhanced contact tracing system will do more than help us fight this virus. It will also strengthen our public health surveillance system against any future public health threats," said the White House official.
Earlier this month, President Joe Biden extended the masking requirement on airplanes and TSA doubled fines for passengers who refuse to mask.
It is simple masking that helps stop the spread of COVID-19, Jeff Zients said. "If you break the rules, be prepared for the consequences," he added.
Meanwhile, it informed that the CDC will determine which vaccine is acceptable for entry into the US.
(With Agency Inputs)