COVID-19 vaccination registration card issued by the Centers for Disease Control
Bill Clark | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images
U.S. airlines and more than two dozen other industry groups on Monday called on the Biden administration to form a plan by May to lift international travel restrictions, including digital passport standards for vaccines, after cross-border travel was devastated by the pandemic. Covid.
Airlines for America, which represent major US airlines such as American, United, Southwest and others, have sent a letter to Jeffrey Zients, White House Covid-19 response team coordinator, saying the guidelines should exempt vaccinated people from international testing rules.
Among other recommendations, the groups called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to update its guidelines to say vaccinated people can travel safely, according to a copy of the letter viewed by CNBC.
“To be clear, at this time, we do not support the elimination or relaxation of basic public health protections, such as the universal mask mandate, the international testing requirement, physical distance or other measures that have made travel safer and reduced transmission. virus, “said the letter, which was also signed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the largest union of flight attendants and other industry groups.” However, data and science show that the right public health measures are now in place to effectively mitigate the risk and allow the safe removal of entry restrictions. “
Most non-Americans who have recently been to Europe, Britain, and Brazil have been barred from entering the United States since March, when then-President Donald Trump set the rules, while Covid-19 spread throughout the United States. world. In January, President Joe Biden expanded entry restrictions and added South Africa to the list due to rising infections and new, more contagious variants.
The group also called on the White House to set standards for digital health documents that can show immigration officials evidence of vaccinations or test results.
Meanwhile, airlines and officials have been looking for ways to use the digital vaccine or health passports to help stimulate travel and, ultimately, replace travel restrictions. The European Union last week proposed a digital health certificate with a QR code containing the vaccine and the results of the Covid-19 test.
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian told NBC Nightly News last week that he expects digital passports to be needed for vaccines for international travel.
The White House declined to comment and indicated a travel recommendation that CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky gave on Monday.
“This is not the time to travel,” she told a news conference.
“We are concerned not only about what happens when you are on the plane, but also about what happens when people travel, that is, they leave, mingle, mingle with people who are not vaccinated,” she said.