SACRAMENTO, Calif. — New travel restrictions have been released from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The guidelines state that all air travelers older than two years old and coming to the United States from a foreign country will be required to show proof of a negative coronavirus test in order to be allowed entry.
A negative test will need to be taken no more than one day before travel.
The U.S. will accept any SARS-CoV-2 viral test (nucleic acid amplification test, NAAT, or antigen test) with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — including at home tests.
Air travelers who have recovered from coronavirus within the last 90 days may show documentation or recovery in lieu of a test to board their flight. Airlines will be required to check the results.
The new travel restrictions take effect regardless of a person’s vaccination status, as health officials begin to investigate the new coronavirus variant, omicron. The variant was reported to the World Health Organization on Nov. 11 and later designated a variant of concern by the United States.
The first confirmed case of the omicron variant in the United States was confirmed on Dec. 1, 2021.
“Despite the increased attention of omicron, delta continues to be the main variant circulating in the United States,” the CDC wrote on Dec. 5.
If a person tests positive for the virus, they will be denied boarding by the airline, according to the CDC.
“Airlines must refuse to board anyone who does not present a negative test result for COVID-19 or documentation of recovery,” the CDC wrote.
The new travel restrictions do not apply to those driving into the United States.
