Starting in November, all international travelers entering the U.S. will be required to show proof of full vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test.
The move, announced Monday, will see the Biden administration streamlining foreign travel restrictions that began during the Trump administration and were expanded earlier this year. White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeff Zients, per a report from the Associated Press, said that fully vaccinated travelers will not be required to quarantine.
Additionally, the Biden administration will update the testing rules for unvaccinated American citizens. The new policy represents a “stronger” approach to ensuring mid-pandemic safety, Zients explained, due to the fact that it’s a policy based on individuals rather than specific countries. As for exactly when the new policy will be put in place, Zients said it’s currently set to take effect in early November.
Complex has reached out to a White House rep for comment. In a tweet Monday morning, President Biden again urged those who still haven’t been vaccinated to “please” change that.
“We have the tools to put this pandemic behind us, but we all have to do our part,” Biden said.
As for the current vaccination situation within the U.S., there’s still quite a bit of work left to be done. The CDC is now reporting that around 55 percent of the total U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Thanks to the still-rampant spreading of misinformation, including from public figures with a wide reach, the fight to increase vaccination rates nationwide continues.
For those in the States, you can quickly and easily make an appointment at this site.
On Wednesday, Biden is set for a virtual COVID-19 Summit focused on the expansion and enhancement of “shared efforts” to defeat the pandemic. Among the four themes of the global event, the administration will push for equitable vaccine access, and more.
