As April 18 comes up fast (the date of the current mask mandate on aircraft expiration), many had been hoping that the US would also drop the requirement to test before departure for the US. That looks like it will not be happening.
US Not Dropping Pre-Departure Covid Test Requirement
This week, the US coordinator of the Covid response, Jeff Zients, responded to a reporter who asked about the pre-departure tests currently in place for heading to the US.
This was his response: MR. ZIENTS: Okay, on your second question: No, there are no plans to change the international travel requirements at this point.
As it currently stands (and as it was implemented last December), all travelers (regardless of vaccination status) that are traveling to the US need to have a Covid test conducted 1 day before their flight to the US departs (read more about it here). This applies to every traveler 2 years of age and older.
With a recent TripIt survey, conducted from April 1 – 4, 60% of travelers indicated that they want the testing requirement to be removed. 27% of those surveyed say they want the policy to remain while 13% say they do not have a preference either way.
Digging deeper, TripIt says that 44% of those asked say they’d be more likely to travel if the requirement was removed. Only 10% said they would be less likely would 46% saying it won’t affect their travel plans either way. Since a negative test means having to stay out of the US for at least an additional 5 days (and paying for last minute lodging as well as potentially missing work), that 44% of respondents makes total sense.
We have seen over and over again that pre-departure testing does not keep Covid out of the US. With countries around the world dropping testing requirements for vaccinated travelers, the US seems to be digging in on this testing requirement. Like the mask mandate on aircraft, this testing requirement across the board definitely seems (to me as well as many others) to be Covid theatre.
The US, unlike many other countries, never actually checks the testing, choosing rather to leave it to airline personnel to confirm that a test has been done. The problem with this is that there is no way to know if the test is actually legit and it puts added pressure on airlines. Plus, in my experience, the lines of people waiting to have their documents checked is actually the most packed in area of any airport I have been in – not exactly something that works if you want people to be separated a distance of 2 meters!
The only reason I can think that Mr. Zients said this is because the US is going to lift the mask mandate and they want to leave the testing requirement in place to ease out of the current protocols.
So much for following the science. And so much for the land of the “free”.
@NB- Are you “free” not to pay taxes and follow any traffic rules? Are you “free” to shout fire in a movie theater? I just hope that masking requirement is removed the summer, but if not, I will suck it up.
We are flying home from Athens in May. Are there any testing sites or home tests that anyone can recommend?
Here you go! https://runningwithmiles.boardingarea.com/flying-back-to-the-us-from-greece-here-is-where-you-can-get-a-covid-test-in-greece/
Awesome. Thanks vm!
Just found out that the tests sent by the US government to US households now have a $29 optional Telehealth option ! We brought a box with us on a trip to Italy and were surprised to see the option pop up on the app associated with the Test (after having booked a test at a local clinic!)
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Mr. Zients should have clarified his answer. If you are a triple vaccinated, Us citizen with a valid passport – nothing changes. If you are illegal migrant, drug smuggler, sex trafficker , gang member trying to enter our southern border – we will be dropping Title 42 making it much, much easier to to stay here once you cross illegally. Yours Truly ,JB
For the first time in my life I will be voting a straight republican ticket. I don’t care who is running. I will press the straight ticket option and everyone with an R by their name will get my vote. The democrats have failed this country.
must we get political ?
Yes, because the fact that the US left has installed a moronic and senile puppet into office is the reason why we are where we are.
[…] Not Dropping International Arrival Covid Test Requirements: Check out this post on Running with Miles. I must admit, I’m still hoping this requirement is gone (at least for U.S. residents) by the […]
The challenge with the pre-departure testing requirement is there is no enforcement or consistency in the application of how to report on compliance to the airline so they just wave people through if they flash up their phone with what vaguely looks like a pass.
Just a thought. When people in the US don’t travel internationally, don’t they spend more money in the US?
Just a thought. When people in the US don’t travel internationally, don’t they spend more money in the US?
Biden’s puppet masters won’t from it as it is a money maker for the testing sites worldwide. They are probably getting some kickback from it. Biden lied during his campaign that he would stop the Wuhan virus, but he has over 700,000 deaths associated with his tenure so far. Illegals can enter the country with no tests but us US Citizens and LEGAL residents have to test if coming by air or ship. Go figure. Thanks Mr. President for your leadership.