White House announces new testing time frame for travelers coming into the US

President Joe Biden announced new travel rules Thursday in the wake of growing concern over the newly discovered omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus.

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Under Biden’s plan, international travelers coming to the United States will be required to test for COVID-19 within a day of departure, regardless of their vaccination status.

The current requirement called for testing at least 72 hours before traveling, for vaccinated travelers.

The new testing rules will apply to both foreign nationals entering the country and to U.S. citizens. Biden is scheduled to announce his plan during a visit to the National Institutes of Health on Thursday

The plan will be released a day after health officials announced the United States’ first confirmed case of the omicron variant.

According to The Washington Post, three White House officials confirmed the change in the testing window. The officials also acknowledged that additional quarantine measures are under consideration but said there are no plans to implement them now.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is said to be working to modify the current global testing order for travel. The agency recommends all passengers get a viral test 3-5 days following travel.

Unvaccinated travelers should quarantine upon arrival, according to the agency.

For more on the plan to fight the omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus:

>> Coronavirus: Transportation mask mandate to be extended through March

>> Government to require insurance companies to cover cost of at-home COVID-19 tests

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