Biden administration lifts requirement for travelers entering U.S. to have negative COVID-19 test

WSB Cox articles
·2 min read
1

The Biden Administration announced Friday that it would lift the requirement that all travelers entering the United States first produce a negative COVID test.

The administration stated the U.S. was doing well enough with its vaccinations and treatments that if felt the move was justified, though the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control said it would re-evaluate that plan in 90 days.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

“I’m excited. Very excited,” said veteran traveler Bea Lewis of Atlanta. She returned home from a vacation in Abu Dhabi and Paris and said getting a COVID test overseas is both expensive and a hassle.

“You have to get a COVID test. Someone has to come to your hotel, usually, or you can find a place within the local city you’re in,” Lewis said. “You usually have to pay around $150, $200 for a test overseas, so it’s kind of annoying.”

TRENDING STORIES:

Health experts worry dropping the negative COVID test restriction will mean more COVID positive people on international flights and more cases here in the U.S.

“Halleluah!” said Sue Cone of Elbert County when she heard the news.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Cone leads a travel group from Elberton. They were heading out of Atlanta to fly to Germany to watch the famous Passion Play. Cone and her group visited Ireland six weeks ago, and she admits she tested positive for COVID before the flight home, so she had to remain behind for another eight days until she tested negative. Still, she thinks dropping that regulation is a good idea.

“I’m sure there’s a worry about it,” Cone said. “I don’t know what happened, but it seems like common sense has finally taken over.”

The restriction will remain in place until Sunday.