Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued orders to implement new travel policies. These orders will put in place a stringent and consistent global international travel policy.
The orders state that, beginning November 8, non-U.S. citizens will be required to be fully vaccinated to fly to the United States. There will be limited exceptions to this requirement for certain non-U.S. citizens. This rule will not apply to immigrants to the USA. Notably, children under the age of 18 will not be required to be vaccinated. See vaccine requirements here.
Fully vaccinated air passengers, regardless of citizenship, will continue to be required to show a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test taken no more than three days before they board their flight to the United States. However, in a change which may pose a hardship to many travelers, passengers who are not fully vaccinated will be required to present the results of a Covid test taken no more than one calendar day before departing to the United States.
Persons who are recovered from Covid, and hence have not vaccinated, or who have received only one vaccine shot, may be recognized as machlimim (recovered) by Israeli regulations. However, they will seemingly be considered not fully vaccinated by the United States, and will be required to present a test performed in the past day. Chaim V’Chessed is working to clarify this matter with major airlines operating out of Ben Gurion airport.
Travelers under age two are not required to present Covid tests before travel.
Additionally, all air passengers to the United States will be required to provide basic contact information to airlines before boarding. These travel requirements will be effective for air travel to the United States from any foreign country from midnight on November 8, 2021.
Further guidance on the very limited exceptions to these vaccination requirements, what constitutes acceptable proof of vaccination, and other operational details are available on CDC’s website. (Chaim V’Chessed)
{Matzav.com Israel}
