U.S. Extends COVID Vaccine Requirement for Travelers from Foreign Countries
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Photo by CDC on Unsplash
The U.S. will extend its requirement for foreign travelers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The requirement was set to expire on Jan. 8 but has been extended to April 10, according to an amended order from the Transportation Security Administration. The order is for both non-citizens and non-immigrants.
The requirement first went into effect when President Biden issued a proclamation on Oct. 25, 2021, restricting entry into the U.S. for foreigners without proof of vaccination. China is currently dealing with a major outbreak of COVID-19, so fears are high about a resurgence of the virus. A new omicron subvariant has also surfaced that has health professionals concerned.
The Centers for Disease Control states that XBB.1.5 has caused more than 40% of new coronavirus infections in the United States. However, according to the CDC, there no reason to conclude that XBB.1.5 causes more severe illness than previous variants.