Anyone flying into the United States needs to take a Covid test. The new rule went into effect Monday. It applies even to Americans flying home from abroad.
The testing needs to be done no more than one day before air travel into the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control. The discovery of the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus has prompted the new testing requirement.
The only way to get out of the testing is to have documentation proving that you were infected with Covid within the last 90 days and to be cleared for travel by a public health official or licensed healthcare provider.
The testing applies to anyone age two and older who is flying into the U.S., whether vaccinated or not. The rule does not apply to land crossings, just air travel.
Rapid tests are acceptable, as are home tests, but only if done under the supervision of a telehealth official. If travelers test positive, they will not be allowed to fly and will have to isolate in whatever country they are in. Those who refuse testing may not be allowed to board flights into the U.S.
For more information, go to the News section of WGRT.com.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
