US imposes new and stricter rules for international travel

As per the latest reports, the United States has imposed a ban on entry of visitors from Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini,Namibia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique. This move comes just after three weeks of lifting a blanket pandemic travel ban on more than 30 countries.

With the emergence of the new variant of COVID-19, Omicron, rules of international travel are changing again. In all likelihood, outright travel bans will further complicate international travel that was just starting to pick up pace.

Starting Monday, the United States of America will be imposing stricter testing requirements for inbound travellers, including US citizens.

Reports have it that air travelers flying to the US will now be required to provide proof of a negative COVID result to the airlines, which has been taken within one day of their departure. Both fully vaccinated travellers as well as US citizens will have to abide by this rule.

Earlier, vaccinated visitors, citizens, and permanent residents only had to show a test within three days of departure for the United States.

Reportedly, there is no requirement for travellers to undergo COVID test upon landing in the country. However, the CDC has expanded a program to offer free, voluntary tests to travellers upon arrival to help detect variants, and most recently the Omicron variant.