Both measures are due to come into force in November, although no specific date has been announced.
The scheme loosens and tightens existing rules, depending on which country an international traveler is coming from and their vaccination status.
What we know so far about what the new policies will mean:
Visitors from Mexico and Canada may soon enter by land and ferry
Land and ferry ports of entry will soon be open for tours, visits to friends and family, and other non-essential travel, provided visitors have been fully vaccinated. Senior administration officials said there would be no need for testing.
This is the first phase of the new policy, which is to be implemented in November.
Those traveling for essential reasons – students and truck drivers, for example – will still be allowed to cross borders until early January 2022, regardless of their vaccination status. At that time, the vaccination requirement will apply to all inbound foreign travelers arriving by land and ferries.
Currently, air travel from Mexico and Canada into the United States is permitted, with evidence of a negative Covid-19 test. Things will get tighter for foreign arrivals in November, when the vaccination requirement for all international air travelers goes into effect.
Rules still unclear for illiterate children
The Department of Homeland Security’s announcement regarding the land borders of Mexico and Canada did not address children, many of whom are not eligible for vaccination.
Air travel rules for unvaccinated children are also unclear, although unvaccinated Americans will still be allowed to travel into the US by air with more stringent testing.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki indicated on September 20 that “at this point, these rules would obviously apply to children as well.”
Whether similar rules would apply to illiterate children in other countries is not clear. CNN has sought clarification from the Department of Homeland Security.
The door is finally opening for people from countries hit by travel restrictions
In many cases for the first time in more than a year, vaccinated foreign nationals who have lived in those countries in the 14 days before entering the United States soon received proof of vaccination and a negative Covid-19 test within three days. will be allowed with on the day of his flight.
Unvaccinated travelers from other countries will no longer be allowed
The new rules set for November will require adult foreign nationals to provide proof of vaccination and a negative Covid-19 test result within three days of their flight.
So the door to America seems to be closed for unvaccinated travelers from other countries.
As noted above, travelers who do not enter the US via land or ferry from Canada and Mexico for essential reasons will be allowed until January, when the vaccination requirement is set to apply to all inbound foreign nationals. Is performed.
Non-vaccinated US citizens and permanent residents will still be allowed
There are unrelated American exceptions, at least for air travel.
They will be “subject to stringent testing requirements,” including a test within a day of the departure of their flight to the United States and an additional test upon their return, White House Covid-19 response coordinator Jeff Ziants said. He announced. New international air travel rules on 20 September.
The announcement on October 12 about Mexico and Canada’s land borders did not specifically address illiterate Americans, but the requirement for vaccinations is directed at “inbound foreign national travelers.”
CDC defines the meaning of ‘fully vaccinated’
The CDC has provided guidance on what it means to be “fully vaccinated.”
Matt Rourke/AP
Some vaccines not yet approved for use in the US will be accepted for travel.
“Last week, to help them prepare their systems, we informed airlines that vaccines authorized/approved by WHO or listed for emergency use would meet the criteria for travel to the US,” the CDC said in a statement. “CDC will issue additional guidance and information as travel requirements are finalized later this month.”
The agency did not respond to specific questions about land borders or the mix-and-match vaccination (receiving a single dose of two different vaccines) that Canada and several other countries offered.
All international air travelers will have to provide information for contact tracing
CDC is set to issue a contact tracing order that “will require airlines to collect comprehensive contact information for each passenger arriving in the United States and, upon request, to promptly provide that information to CDC, for those passengers.” To follow up with those who have been exposed to Covid-19 variants or to other pathogens,” Saki said on September 20.
The agency has yet to provide additional details about that order.
Americans can now go to Canada and Mexico
Canada recently opened its land border, as well as air access, to vaccinate international travelers.
Mexico has allowed foreign arrivals by air during the pandemic without any testing or proof of vaccination.
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