By Caribbean News Global 
ATLANTA, USA – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced it is expanded the requirement for a negative COVID-19 test to all air passengers entering the United States: This order was signed by the CDC director on January 12, 2021, and will become effective on January 26, 2021.
“Testing before and after travel is a critical layer to slow the introduction and spread of COVID-19. This strategy is consistent with the current phase of the pandemic and more efficiently protects the health of Americans,” a CDC news release said. “Variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus continue to emerge in countries around the world, and there is evidence of increased transmissibility of some of these variants. With the US already in surge status, the testing requirement for air passengers will help slow the spread of the virus as we work to vaccinate the American public.”
New requirements:
- Before departure to the United States, a required test, combined with the CDC recommendations to get tested again 3-5 days after arrival and stay home for 7 days post-travel, will help slow the spread of COVID-19 within US communities from travel-related infections. Pre-departure testing with results known and acted upon before travel begins will help identify infected travelers before they board airplanes.
- Air passengers are required to get a viral test(a test for current infection) within the 3 days before their flight to the US departs, and provide written documentation of their laboratory test result (paper or electronic copy) to the airline or provide documentation of having recovered from COVID-19. Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers or documentation of recovery before they board. If a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger.
“Testing does not eliminate all risk,” says CDC director Robert R. Redfield, MD, “but when combined with a period of staying at home and everyday precautions like wearing masks and social distancing, it can make travel safer, healthier, and more responsible by reducing spread on planes, in airports, and at destinations.”
Canada introduced pre-departure and entry COVID-19 negative results for all air travellers effective January 7, 2021. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has expressed deep frustration with Canada’s new COVID-19 testing requirement for all arriving air travelers due to come into effect as of January 7, 2021. The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), the 33 National Hotel and Tourism Associations throughout the region, which are part of our Federation, announced Monday that they requested reconsideration of the government of Canada.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), Airports Council International Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC) and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), jointly expressed their deep concerns about the new measures and restrictions imposed on air travel across Latin America and the Caribbean.
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