COVID test to come into US effective 1/26
- Thread starter JEK
- Start date
JEK
Senior Insider
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]The U.S. government is expected to require all international airline passengers to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test before boarding flights to the country, people familiar with the matter said.[/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is planning to issue its order as soon as Tuesday, following weeks of discussions among federal agencies and the White House coronavirus task force. The order is expected to go into effect Jan. 26, according to a person familiar with the matter. The CDC and other administration officials were still completing the order. [/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]The CDC order for universal testing of passengers, including for U.S. citizens returning from abroad, comes weeks after the Trump administration imposed a testing requirement for travelers from the U.K. over concerns about a more infectious strain of the virus that was detected there. Since then, the new strain has been found elsewhere in the world, and its presence in the U.S. has been confirmed.
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]The U.S. requirement comes during a difficult time for the aviation industry and international travelers who face a thicket of varied testing protocols and quarantine requirements around the world, including public-health advisories urging people to stay home.[/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]U.S. airlines have voiced support for the new requirement but argued that ramped-up testing protocols should take the place of travel restrictions and quarantines to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
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[FONT=var(--font-serif)]The Canadian government recently began requiring incoming international passengers to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test before boarding a flight to Canada. An airline trade group in Canada said the rule would be challenging to enforce. [/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]Airlines for America, a U.S. trade group, said that “a well-planned program focused on increasing testing of travelers to the United States will further these objectives in a much more effective way than the blanket travel restrictions currently in place,” according to a letter its chief executive, Nick Calio, sent on Jan. 4 to Vice President Mike Pence.[/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]Mr. Calio said the requirement should take into consideration countries where testing is limited, and he suggested the government make rapid testing available for the effort. He also touched on other complications, such as what to do with passengers who make short, international round-trips. [/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]The U.S. currently bans travelers from certain countries including the U.K., European nations and China if they are non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Americans are likewise barred from visiting many countries, including most of Europe.[/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]Before Covid-19 infection surged on both sides of the Atlantic in recent months, U.K. and U.S. officials had been working on developing a “travel corridor” that would afford passengers shortened quarantines after mandatory tests before departure and after arrival to avoid quarantines. For now, airlines have started to introduce testing protocols on certain routes that could eventually dovetail with international agreements to avoid quarantines.[/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]—Alison Sider and Andrew Tangel contributed to this article.[/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]Write to Michelle Hackman at Michelle.Hackman@wsj.com and Andrew Restuccia at Andrew.Restuccia@wsj.com[/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]Copyright ©2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8[/FONT]
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[FONT=var(--font-serif)]The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is planning to issue its order as soon as Tuesday, following weeks of discussions among federal agencies and the White House coronavirus task force. The order is expected to go into effect Jan. 26, according to a person familiar with the matter. The CDC and other administration officials were still completing the order. [/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]The CDC order for universal testing of passengers, including for U.S. citizens returning from abroad, comes weeks after the Trump administration imposed a testing requirement for travelers from the U.K. over concerns about a more infectious strain of the virus that was detected there. Since then, the new strain has been found elsewhere in the world, and its presence in the U.S. has been confirmed.
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]The U.S. requirement comes during a difficult time for the aviation industry and international travelers who face a thicket of varied testing protocols and quarantine requirements around the world, including public-health advisories urging people to stay home.[/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]U.S. airlines have voiced support for the new requirement but argued that ramped-up testing protocols should take the place of travel restrictions and quarantines to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
[/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]The Canadian government recently began requiring incoming international passengers to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test before boarding a flight to Canada. An airline trade group in Canada said the rule would be challenging to enforce. [/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]Airlines for America, a U.S. trade group, said that “a well-planned program focused on increasing testing of travelers to the United States will further these objectives in a much more effective way than the blanket travel restrictions currently in place,” according to a letter its chief executive, Nick Calio, sent on Jan. 4 to Vice President Mike Pence.[/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]Mr. Calio said the requirement should take into consideration countries where testing is limited, and he suggested the government make rapid testing available for the effort. He also touched on other complications, such as what to do with passengers who make short, international round-trips. [/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]The U.S. currently bans travelers from certain countries including the U.K., European nations and China if they are non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Americans are likewise barred from visiting many countries, including most of Europe.[/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]Before Covid-19 infection surged on both sides of the Atlantic in recent months, U.K. and U.S. officials had been working on developing a “travel corridor” that would afford passengers shortened quarantines after mandatory tests before departure and after arrival to avoid quarantines. For now, airlines have started to introduce testing protocols on certain routes that could eventually dovetail with international agreements to avoid quarantines.[/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]—Alison Sider and Andrew Tangel contributed to this article.[/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]Write to Michelle Hackman at Michelle.Hackman@wsj.com and Andrew Restuccia at Andrew.Restuccia@wsj.com[/FONT]
[FONT=var(--font-serif)]Copyright ©2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8[/FONT]
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garykool81
SBH Insider
It will be interesting to see how the details of this are ironed out over the coming days. Will they stick with RT-PCR tests only, or be willing to accept rapid antigen tests, etc.? The requirements for passengers incoming from the UK allow for either:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-UK-air-travelers.html
Speaking of antigen tests, does anyone know if the new antigen clinic in St. Jean provides "proof" of the test via email or written results? I am sure the main clinic doing RT-PCR testing in Gustavia does, but I haven't heard if the new antigen test site in St. Jean provides any sort of negative test proof.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-UK-air-travelers.html
Speaking of antigen tests, does anyone know if the new antigen clinic in St. Jean provides "proof" of the test via email or written results? I am sure the main clinic doing RT-PCR testing in Gustavia does, but I haven't heard if the new antigen test site in St. Jean provides any sort of negative test proof.
lvbookworm
SBH Insider
Well, that's disappointing. We were close to finalizing a trip this May, but I guess it will now be on hold. Jumping through all the hoops with testing to get there is one thing, but going through the testing requirement to get back home is something I don't want to stress about during vacation. I understand the reasoning behind the new restrictions, and I know many have already had to deal with this based on many state requirements (i.e. NY). I'll be interested to see how SBH handles the increased demand for testing for Americans returning home.
this is such a fluid situation - please don't fret about a May trip. We are coming in May as well, and between now and then, we will likely see several other changes to travel requirements. With the rolling out of vaccines ( i've completed mine, husband is on track for his) many issues will resolve. The travel industry, and world wide economies want us to travel - safely of course - and I think three to four months will make a difference here.
Because it was the "China virus" and couldn't come from anywhere else?
garykool81
SBH Insider
One does have to wonder how effective these measures actually are. COVID test accuracy continues to largely depend on where the virus is within its life cycle in your body, and there are many examples of people testing negative when they are actually infected.
The most glaring example to me is the high profile case of the UAE to New Zealand flight earlier last year, where an entire plane full of passengers with negative COVID-19 test results still managed to allow one positive passenger onboard, who in turn infected four others around them during the flight. (Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/07/health/coronavirus-airline-passengers-outbreak.html)
Part of me also wonders (and worries) that a negative test result ahead of boarding a flight in some cases solicits more risky behavior and a likelihood to not as closely abide by mask compliance for some passengers because they are lured into a false sense of security.
Lots of questions for sure.
The most glaring example to me is the high profile case of the UAE to New Zealand flight earlier last year, where an entire plane full of passengers with negative COVID-19 test results still managed to allow one positive passenger onboard, who in turn infected four others around them during the flight. (Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/07/health/coronavirus-airline-passengers-outbreak.html)
Part of me also wonders (and worries) that a negative test result ahead of boarding a flight in some cases solicits more risky behavior and a likelihood to not as closely abide by mask compliance for some passengers because they are lured into a false sense of security.
Lots of questions for sure.
Jim A
Senior Insider
On your first point I tend to disagree and think they are very effective but of course not 100%. Even if a test only detects 50% of people (obviously it's much higher) that may be positive or spread the virus to others due to those who contracted it after the test was taken or weren't yet at a point in "the cycle" or just inaccurate results, it's still effective and a good thing that we should be doing to help unless we are going to shut down air travel. A mask isn't 100% either but we wear them on the plane and elsewhere.
On your second point I so 100%, totally agree and think this is a point we don't hear talked about enough. It seems to give some people a false sense of security and they may act differently than they otherwise would have because the test result came back negative. It's like when a store takes your temperature before entering, sure it's a good thing to do, but I hope people aren't assuming they don't have to be as careful just because at that moment in time their temperature read "normal".
The antigen test should be OK. Here is what I received from a travel newsletter I subscribe to:
Effective January 26, those arriving stateside on any international flights will need to provide proof of a negative PCR or antigen test, the results of which must be from no more than 72 hours prior to departure, according to the CDC. Airlines will be required to confirm the negative test result for all passengers before they board and to deny boarding to those passengers who choose not to take a test.
The Red Cross in St. Barth provides free antigen tests by the St. John cemetery. I will check to see if they will be able to expand their testing to accommodate the new volume they will have.
Effective January 26, those arriving stateside on any international flights will need to provide proof of a negative PCR or antigen test, the results of which must be from no more than 72 hours prior to departure, according to the CDC. Airlines will be required to confirm the negative test result for all passengers before they board and to deny boarding to those passengers who choose not to take a test.
The Red Cross in St. Barth provides free antigen tests by the St. John cemetery. I will check to see if they will be able to expand their testing to accommodate the new volume they will have.
debd
Senior Insider
My read of the article was there were 86 people on board, and that the "requirement" was for a two week quarantine pre-flight v. testing. 5 of the 7 had taken a test, with negative results, but not all 7 had been tested.
The person who was the likely transmitter had tested negative, but note it was four or five days prior to the departure. Also, the airline did not require masks, either at the gate or on the plane, and 2 of the 7 passengers in question acknowledged not wearing a mask.
lvbookworm
SBH Insider
This would certainly help ease the stress level considerably. Will look forward to your findings.
garykool81
SBH Insider
Good catch! You're 100% correct. The article states that preflight testing was *not* required.
