The new COVID-19 testing mandate causes Americans to struggle in a rush figuring out how to comply with the Biden administration’s new rules for anybody who travels to the United States.
The new COVID-19 testing mandate causes Americans to struggle in a rush figuring out how to comply with the Biden administration’s new rules.
The Spread of the new Omicron Variant
Ever since the Omicron variant was first discovered in Africa the Biden Administration has already set some implementation to lower the spread of the omicron in the U.S., apart from the mandates was the travel restriction and COVID-19 test before entering the U.S. Moreover, President Biden declared last week that in a response to the spread of the Omicron variant, all U.S.-bound international travelers must have a COVID test within one day prior the departure, regardless of their vaccination status or nationality.
However, The CDC shortened the time frame that foreign travelers must obtain a negative test before U.S. travel, from three days to one. many travelers left wondering where, when, and exactly how to get tested. The agency said that the new rules are to prevent the transmission and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, including the Omicron mutation and another virus variant, Furthermore, The only international U.S. bound travelers are exempt from the shorter testing requirement if they can prove that they have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days. The Biden Administration also extended the mask mandate for commercial flights, trains, buses, and airports until mid-March. It was previously set to expire in January.
Omicron Variant
Furthermore, Since holidays in the U.S., officials have been reporting for more than 100,000 new infections a day for the first time since early October. Thus, the CDC said that most of the cases are from the Delta variant, not from the new Omicron strain. Omicron cases have been confirmed in at least 17 states but all of them are only mild so far, with no deaths attributed to the new strain. Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Sunday at CNN’s “State of the Union.” “Thus far, it does not look like there’s a great degree of severity to it,”.
