The federal government is poised to enact a policy that will require incoming travelers from overseas to show proof of a negative coronavirus test before entering the United States.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to announce the new policy on Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported, and it would go into effect on Jan. 26. The mandate on international arrivals would be a part of the federal government’s efforts to fend off the surge in infections of highly transmissible coronavirus mutations originating in the United Kingdom and South Africa.
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The draft policy has strong support from the airline industry, which was crippled by pandemic-related restrictions enacted last year to curb further transmission of the virus. Airline trade group Airlines for America has backed the proposal as a smarter alternative to blanket travel bans on several European countries and the U.K. The trade group includes the largest global airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.
“These entry restrictions should be removed concurrently with the testing program, which will provide yet another layer of safety in the travel journey,” Airlines for America President and CEO Nicholas Calio said in a letter to Vice President Mike Pence earlier this month.
