WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Biden administration is “actively pursuing” the extension of mandatory COVID-19 tests to passengers on domestic flights in the United States, a senior official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday.
In a call with reporters, Dr. Marty Cetron, director of the Global Migration and Quarantine Division at the CDC, was asked if new internal travel testing requirements could be used. Cetron responded that there were “ongoing conversations that analyze what types and locations of testing might be … We’re actively looking at this.”
Last week, President Joe Biden instructed US agencies to make recommendations to “impose additional public health measures on domestic travel” and to consider the new requirements for people crossing land borders. Reuters reported on Friday that administration officials said it could include the need for negative COVID-19 tests before flying domestically.
“We realize that there has been a dramatic evolution and an increase in both testing platforms and testing capacity. I think this is a really important part of our toolkit to fight this pandemic, “Cetron said.
On Tuesday, the new CDC rules came into force that require almost all international air travelers over the age of 2 to submit a negative coronavirus test performed within three calendar days of the trip or proof of recovery of COVID-19 to enter the United States.
In talks with airline officials, the CDC said it was also considering the need for internal testing. Some airline officials worry that such requirements could reduce the already weak demand for air travel.
The CDC said on Sunday it would not grant exemptions to exempt travelers from some countries with limited testing capacity. Many US airlines have applied for exemptions.
Acting Secretary of State Ian Brownlee told reporters that the CDC “does not currently issue federal quarantine orders,” but recommends self-quarantine for seven days after returning from a trip and obtaining post-arrival COVID-19 tests. .
Brownlee said that “the main message to American citizens who intend to travel abroad remains the same: seriously reconsider going abroad right now. If you are abroad now, it will be harder to come home for a while. ”
Reported by David Shepardson, edited by Rosalba O’Brien