U.S. could require negative COVID-19 tests for passengers from Britain -
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[December 22, 2020]
By David Shepardson and Tracy Rucinski
WASHINGTON/CHICAGO (Reuters) - The U.S.
government is considering requiring that all passengers traveling from
the United Kingdom receive a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of
departure as a condition of entry, airline and U.S. officials briefed on
the matter said Monday.
A White House coronavirus task force discussed requiring pre-flight
tests after a meeting on Monday regarding the emergence of a highly
infectious new coronavirus strain in Britain that prompted dozens of
countries to close their borders to Britain.
Airline and U.S. officials said requiring testing for UK arrivals won
backing among task force members. The White House has yet to make a
final decision on the matter, they said.
Earlier, airlines operating flights from London to John F. Kennedy
International Airport voluntarily agreed to a request from New York
Governor Andrew Cuomo that they only allow passengers who test negative
to fly.
The three airlines - British Airways, Delta Air Lines and Virgin
Atlantic - said they would begin screening passengers on those routes
this week.
Major Transatlantic carriers, which have drastically cut flights during
the pandemic, have been implementing pilot COVID-19 testing between some
U.S. and European cities as a way to create safe "travel corridors" and
help reduce quarantines and government restrictions.
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Passengers arrive on a flight from London amid new restrictions to
prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at JFK
International Airport in New York City, U.S., December 21, 2020.
REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
Last month, task force members recommended the White House end the
restrictions that ban most non-U.S. citizens from entering the
United States if they have been in the United Kingdom, Ireland,
Brazil, and the 26 countries in the so-called Schengen border-free
area of Europe within the previous two weeks.
Some airline officials hoped the addition of new testing
requirements could help suspend the entry restrictions.
On Nov. 21, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued
new recommendations calling for testing before and after
international air travel.
CDC last month recommended international air travelers get tested
with a viral test 1-3 days before their flight to reduce spread
during travel and travelers should get tested 3-5 days after travel
and stay home for 7 days.
(Reporting by David Shepardson and Tracy Rucinski; Editing by
Stephen Coates)
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