In an attempt to contain the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking to strengthen testing standards for international passengers coming to the United States. A new rule would also make it mandatory for all international air travelers arriving in the US to provide a negative test from within one day, rather than the three days currently allowed for vaccinated travelers. “As we learn more about the omicron variant, the CDC is planning to change the existing global testing order for travel. A revised rule would reduce the timeframe for necessary testing for all foreign travelers to one day before departure to the United States,” a CDC spokesperson was quoted as saying by The Hill.
However, the agency did not specify when the change would go into effect. The decision comes as President Joe Biden-led US administration is considering a wide range of approaches to deal with the new Covid variant, despite the fact that much about its potential threat remains unclear. Travel from several southern African countries has already been restricted by the administration.
