The White House has said foreign adults must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the United States by early November.
White House spokesman Kevin Muñoz confirmed this on Twitter today.
“Today (the Biden administration) announced that starting in early November, the United States will require foreign adults traveling to the United States to be fully vaccinated,” Muñoz tweeted.
“This is a strict measure to stop the spread of COVID-19. “
The news is the first clear indication to the Biden administration that it is preparing to ease travel restrictions, first imposed in March 2020, at the start of the pandemic. However, there are still no details.
For example, it is unclear how the new policy will affect travel at the Canada-U.S. Land border, which is still closed for non-material reasons.
This ban was extended for 30 days until Oct. 21, according to a White House spokesperson.
Another burning question is what will happen to Canadians who receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which has never been approved for use in the United States.
New York Congressman Brian Higgins, long one of the most vocal critics of travel restrictions on Canadians, said the United States should have allowed recreational travel from Canada long ago.
“It is heartening to hear that the White House is making progress on an international public health response to protect air travelers,” Higgins said in a statement.
“However, it is inexplicable why there are no announcements regarding the relaxation of travel restrictions across land borders, as towns near the northern border rely heavily on cross-border trade.”
The White House said the upcoming new rules will apply to air travel and require passengers to show proof of vaccination before boarding, as well as a negative COVID-19 test taken no later than three days before boarding. trip.
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“Coffeeaholic. Lifelong alcohol fanatic. Typical travel expert. Prone to fits of apathy. Internet trailblazer.”