(CNN) — Many travelers in the United States and abroad have been waiting for it. The travel industry has been pushing for it. And this Sunday comes the end of the requirement that travelers test negative for covid-19 before entering the US.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mentioned a “new phase” of the pandemic in a statement confirming the rule change.
“The widespread acceptance of highly effective vaccines against COVID-19, the availability of effective therapies, and the accumulation of high rates of vaccine-induced immunity and infection at the population level in the United States” have helped reduce the risk of severe disease. and death, the agency said.
Navigating the ever-changing entry requirements around the world has been a source of great confusion for travelers around the world.
Here’s what we know about how the new policy will affect arrivals in the US:
When will the pre-trip testing requirement be lifted?
The requirement ends on Sunday, June 12 at 12:01 am ET.
That means flights leaving the US from a foreign country at or after that time no longer have to submit a negative test result or recovery documentation within the last 90 days of COVID-19.
Departures before that time will require testing.
Is the decision final?
Like many measures directed at covid-19, the rules are subject to change.
“CDC continues to evaluate the latest science and the status of the pandemic and will re-evaluate the need for a testing requirement if the situation changes,” the agency said in a statement.
A senior Biden administration official told CNN on Friday that the CDC will reevaluate its decision in 90 days.
Do foreigners arriving in the US still need to be vaccinated?
Yes. The vaccination requirement for foreign arrivals has not changed.
Travelers over the age of 18 who are not US citizens, US nationals, lawful permanent residents, or immigrants must be fully vaccinated to travel to the US, with limited exceptions.
Children under the age of 17 are not required to be vaccinated.
What about unvaccinated Americans?
The end of the test requirement applies to all travelers who were previously required to submit negative test results, and the vaccination requirements to enter the United States do not apply to US citizens.
What is the CDC recommendation for travel?
The CDC still recommends that travelers stay up-to-date on vaccinations and get tested for infection before and after travel and after any known exposure to someone with COVID-19.
The CDC also continues to recommend the use of face coverings in indoor public transportation settings. Masks are no longer required.
Are arrivals at ferry ports and land borders affected by the rule change?
No. The rule change applies to air travel.
Proof of covid-19 has not been required to enter through a land or ferry port. Non-US travelers over the age of 18 must be fully vaccinated to enter the US.
What does CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen have to say about it?
There were good reasons for having the testing requirements at other points during the pandemic, said Dr. Leana Wen, a CNN medical analyst, but those reasons no longer apply.
“Having the test requirement is not doing much, if anything, to keep the coronavirus out of the US and instead is creating a significant barrier for people who want to travel abroad and come back,” Wen said by email.
“Of course, if people have symptoms or exposure while traveling, they should get tested and, if they test positive, follow CDC isolation guidelines.”
CNN’s Elizabeth Cohen and Kaitlan Collins contributed to this report.