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The White House announced that the US will officially reopen its borders to revive the economy and politics, which have been plagued by numerous problems after 18 months of lockdown focused on combating the pandemic. This plan opens opportunities for many people abroad to reunite with family and loved ones or reconnect with businesses in the US.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those who have received both doses of the vaccine still need a negative COVID-19 test result within 3 days or a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding a plane. After arriving in the U.S., travelers are advised to get tested again within 3-5 days and do not need to quarantine. According to Reuters, the CDC will update its guidelines further starting October 25th, including contact tracing for international travelers.
According to the announcement, travelers considered fully vaccinated are those who have completed their second dose at least two weeks before entering the United States.
In addition, the CDC will accept vaccines that have been approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the WHO. The CDC announcement also stated: "While we do not recommend vaccine mixing, we see this practice becoming increasingly common in many countries. Therefore, this will be accepted in vaccination records."
"The recommended time interval between the first and second doses varies depending on the type of vaccine. However, if two different vaccines are given, the second dose should be administered at least 17 days after the first," the CDC stated.
Additionally, the US will also consider exceptions for unvaccinated individuals, including children. Further details will be released by the US on November 8th.
The US is considered to be too cautious and lagging behind many countries in approaching the 'new normal,' with the number of international tourists entering the US having plummeted since the pandemic began, costing the country more than $250 billion.
Previously, the administration of former President Donald Trump had ordered restrictions on air travel to the United States from many countries around the world starting in January 2020. In addition, non-essential travel was banned at the land borders between the US and Mexico and Canada from March 2020.
Nick Calio, CEO of Airlines for America, said that U.S. airlines have seen a significant increase in international ticket sales in recent weeks, following the White House's announcement of plans to lift restrictions.
