Posted June 15, 2022
Travel has never been so difficult since the start of COVID-19. While it almost never happened at the beginning, as times progressed and we learned how to cope with the virus, we also learned how to travel during it. Safety precautions were put in place and protocols enforced, all so people could visit family, go on work trips, or even just take a typical vacation. These protocols, never meant to be permanent, are slowly being repealed. Majorly, the requirement of testing for the Coronavirus before entering the United States from a foreign area is being revoked. This change to international travel is major, showing just how far the world has come since the beginning of the pandemic, but are we ready for these changes?
The Original Requirement for International Travel
At the beginning of the pandemic, the CDC required one of two things while traveling out of and back into the country. First, was the straightforward negative test result at the end of your trip to prove you weren’t carrying COVID-19. This test was not to be taken more than three days before boarding your plane, in order to make sure it was as accurate as possible based on your latest encounters. The second option is proof of recovery from COVID-19. Based on CDC guidelines, if you had the Coronavirus 90 days prior to your flight and recovered, you could safely fly without needing to get tested due to the antibodies that are still in your system. In order to use this approach, you would need to bring your positive test result as well as a letter from a licensed healthcare provider. All of this must be from no more than 90 days before your flight leaves the ground, and that was not a lenient rule of international travel.
Previously, if you were to take this test and show a positive result, you would have to delay travel for 10 days, and self-isolate during that time frame. Although this was an unrealistic requirement for many, and unexpectedly spending an extra almost two weeks on vacation was most likely not an easy thing for people to do, it was a safety precaution that kept people healthy and was crucial to limit disease spread, according to CDC guidelines. While some in desperate scenarios would find other ways to enter the United States, like flying into Mexico or Canada, which don’t require negative tests to enter, and crossing into the United States by driving over the border, it was always guaranteed that at least your close quarters flight was safe.
What the Change Can Mean
First announced on the 10th, as of June 12th proof of a negative test result prior to entering the United States, or proof of recovery, is no longer necessary. This is a concept long-awaited by many, with people within the travel industry stating this was no longer a needed requirement “based on the science and data” according to CNN. With the growing amount of immunity due to vaccines, as well as prior infection, and the amount of resources now available, the risk of the disease has lowered a considerable amount, making people in the industry question when this move would be made.
With this international travel decision recently being made, the CDC states they can revoke this new rule at any point in time if they see it necessary due to variants increasing the spread or any other reason. They state they will continue to monitor the science and the numbers, and ensure they will keep the public updated on any changes and developments and the reasoning behind them. While it is exciting to see this as another step for the virus to disappear from our lives, it is not to be taken lightly. With this comes a higher risk of traveling, and some may not feel safe or able to do so anymore. Only time will tell how this new rule plays out.
Have You Been Negatively Affected By This Decision?
Safety during these trying times can be hard to maintain, and there is always a possibility you are at risk. If you feel like you have been harmed by the drop of the testing requirement upon entering the United States, contact Covid-19 Injury Lawyers today and see what legal power you have.
Posted in COVID-19.