Everyone Flying to the United States Needs to Get a New Negative COVID-19 Test Within 24 Hours

US President Biden today announced in a national TV live-streamed press conference that every traveler to the United States needs to provide a COVID-19 test done within 24 hours of departure.

This applies to visitors, business travelers, diplomats, and U.S. residents, and U.S. citizens.

This new regulation applies to anyone, even to fully vaccinated passengers.

The mask mandate on planes will also be required.

This is a major change for holiday travelers.

هن World Tourism Network applauded the U.S. Government for this step but is saying the U.S. is not going far enough.

The Hawaii-based World Tourism Network (WTN) is calling for a mandatory fast PCR test for international flights given at airports before boarding an international flight. Such a test can be given and a result can be received within 15 minutes. This is already standard in Israel.

World Tourism Network is also calling to require a second COVID-19 test within two days after arrival. The second point would be to suggest a flu shot if travel occurs during the flu season with the U.S. This would avoid confusion in test results.

Non-vaccinated passengers should be quarantined until the results of a second test is in, according to the WTN تجويز.

The President applauded the South African Government for stepping up and contributing to the world in publishing a timely report warning about the new Omicron strain. The U.S. President made it clear that South Africa must be applauded, not labeled.