Essential travelers must be vaccinated to enter the United States
WASHINGTON — The administration of President Joe Biden will require that visitors who are on essential trips, who are not residents and who cross the U.S. land border — such as truck drivers, emergency workers or the government — be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on January 22, according to official sources.
A senior administration official said the requirement, which the White House expected in October, aligns basic travel rules with those that took effect in early November for leisure travelers. The United States this month reopened its borders to people who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
The official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity and was not authorized to speak about the matter before Tuesday’s official announcement, said essential travelers entering by ferry would also need to be fully vaccinated on the same date.
The rules are for non-Americans. US citizens and permanent residents can enter the country regardless of their vaccination status, but they face additional testing requirements because authorities believe they contract and spread Covid-19 more easily, and to encourage them to get vaccinated.
The Biden administration has pushed back requirements for essential travelers more than two months from the time the non-essential visitor order went into effect (November 8) to avoid disruption, particularly among truck drivers who play a vital role in the economy. Trade in North America. While most cross-border traffic was closed in the early days of the pandemic in 2020, essential travelers were able to cross unimpeded.
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