WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. government urges all UK travelers to test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of start on Monday amid concerns about a new coronavirus variant that may be more mobile.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a statement on Thursday that all travelers coming from the UK must pass a negative test to fly to the United States. The decision was overturned after the Trump administration told U.S. airlines Tuesday that it did not intend to conduct any test to reach UK passengers.
The CDC said an order would be signed on Friday and is effective Monday.
The decision comes as a new infectious coronavirus outbreak emerged in Britain that has forced many countries to close their borders to travelers from there.
A representative from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCDO) said on Friday that they are “in close contact with the US authorities and are working swiftly to minimize unrest,” states that FCDO regularly updates online advice.
“British passengers should follow the instructions of the U.S. authorities, and speak to their airlines for the latest travel options in the first instance.”
On Thursday, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines said they were asking all passengers on flights from the United Kingdom to the United States to pass a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours. after their departure.
The CDC said late Thursday that passengers must pass a negative test through either a PCR or Antigen test. The CDC said that “viruses are constantly changing through migration, and a preliminary analysis in the UK suggests that this new variant could be up to 70% more mobile than changes that were changing. previous circulation. “
The CDC noted that President Donald Trump has blocked the entry of almost all foreign nationals who have visited the United Kingdom in the past 14 days, who have flown to the US from Reduce Britain by about 90%.
Under the new policy, passengers departing from the UK for the United States are required to provide the airline with written documents of their test results (in hard or electronic form), the CDC said. Airlines must test negative test results for all passengers before boarding. If passengers choose not to take a test, the airline must refuse to board.
Delta’s policy, which was extended from its decision Monday to call for the screens on UK flights to JFK New York Airport, is effective December. 24, while United’s requirement begins December. 28.
On Monday, the three airlines flying from London to JFK Delta, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic – at the request of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo – agreed to screen British passengers.
U.S. airlines have already largely stopped flying back to the United Kingdom, as well as the rest of Europe.
Reciting with David Shepardson; Edited by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Diane Craft