The US would require all airline passengers arriving from Britain to check adverse for the coronavirus inside 72 hours of their departure, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention mentioned on Thursday.
The transfer comes as a brand new extremely transmissible variant of the virus, which first appeared in Britain, has led international locations to seal their borders to vacationers from there.
The brand new rule, which takes impact on Monday, will apply to People in addition to overseas residents, and would require passengers to indicate proof of a adverse outcome on a genetic take a look at, often called a P.C.R., or an antigen take a look at.
“This extra testing requirement will fortify our safety of the American public to enhance their well being and security and guarantee accountable worldwide journey,” the C.D.C. mentioned in an announcement.
Passengers shall be required to“present written documentation of their laboratory take a look at outcome (in onerous copy or digital) to the airline,” the C.D.C. mentioned, including that “if a passenger chooses to not take a take a look at, the airline should deny boarding to the passenger.”
The brand new guidelines have been a reversal for the Trump administration, which initially advised American airliners that the federal government wouldn’t require testing for vacationers from Britain.
United Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Strains had already introduced related insurance policies, requiring all passengers on their flights between Britain and the US to submit proof of a adverse take a look at outcome inside 72 hours of departure. British Airways had additionally been requiring adverse take a look at outcomes for passengers arriving in New York.
A number of of the airways introduced their insurance policies after a requirement from Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York that passengers arriving from London to John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport would want to offer documentation of a adverse take a look at outcome.
“We will’t let historical past repeat itself with this new variant,” Mr. Cuomo had written on Twitter.
Additionally on Thursday, Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey mentioned that passengers arriving at Newark Airport would want adverse checks inside 72 hours of departure to enter.
The American journey necessities are much less draconian than these of different international locations in Europe and Asia, which barred all vacationers from Britain after the brand new coronavirus variant emerged. Experts are skeptical that journey bans can cease the unfold of the variant. In truth, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the highest U.S. infectious illness skilled, mentioned there was probability that the variant was already within the nation.
“I don’t assume that that form of a draconian method is critical,” he said of a travel ban on “PBS NewsHour.” “I believe we should always critically take into account the opportunity of requiring testing of individuals earlier than they arrive from the U.Ok. right here.”
A recent study by British scientists discovered no proof that the variant was extra lethal than others. However the researchers estimated that it was 56 % extra contagious. The nation additionally introduced a ban on journey from South Africa after the well being secretary, Matt Hancock, mentioned two folks had been found with another variant that emerged in the African country. One other variant has additionally emerged in Nigeria.
The British authorities this week put a lot of England below newly tightened restrictions on journey and socializing, and warned that faculties and universities may quickly have to shut.
Vivian Wang contributed reporting.
