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As of Sunday, June 12, the Biden administration officially dropped the mandate requiring all international travelers to present a negative COVID-19 test before entering the U.S. The decision comes just in time for the surge in summer travel—both for Americans going abroad and foreign visitors headed to the U.S.
An official from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the decision to lift the testing mandate was based on the latest science and the current state of the pandemic. Though the CDC has deemed pre-arrival testing unnecessary, the health agency also stated that it would reassess the decision in 90 days and continuously reevaluate as necessary.
“If there is a need to reinstate a pre-departure testing requirement — including because of a new, concerning variant — CDC will not hesitate to act,” the CDC official told Reuters.
Leaders across the travel industry have applauded the decision as a critical component in the recovery process for the tourism industry.
“The Biden administration is to be commended for this action, which will welcome back visitors from around the world and speed up the recovery of the U.S. travel industry,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow.
While pre-departure testing is no longer required, non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. residents still need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the country via air. This rule does not apply to U.S. citizens and residents.
Jessica is a freelance journalist on a quest to see and experience everything our gorgeous planet offers and share her experiences with her fellow travelers. Jessica has written for several world-class Travel Magazines.