The U.S. government mandates travelers wear face coverings on all public transportation, including on commercial airline flights and in airports, and is moving to require quarantines for inbound international passengers, Report mentions, citing foreign media.
“In light of the new Covid variants that we are learning about, we are instituting now a new measure for individuals flying into the United States from other countries,” says newly-inaugurated President Joe Biden on January 21. ”In addition to wearing masks, everyone flying to the United States from other countries will need to test before they get on that plane, before they depart, and quarantine when they arrive in America.”
Wearing a mask, Biden adds, is a “patriotic duty.” He warns that ”things are going to continue to get worse” before they improve.
Biden’s order requires mask-wearing ”in airports and on specific modes of public transportation, including on many airplanes, trains, and maritime vessels and intercity bus services,” says the White House.
The move comes after Biden ordered all federal employees and contractors to wear masks on federal property, including in national parks.
“To the extent feasible, travelers seeking to enter the United States from a foreign country shall be…required to produce proof of a recent negative Covid-19 test before entry,” says the order, published by the White House. Inbound passengers will also be required to comply with quarantine and isolation guidelines.
Earlier it was reported that Joe Biden would prevent then-current leader Donald Trump from lifting restrictions imposed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic on entry to the United States from several countries.
From January 26, Donald Trump was going to lift the restrictions on entry for a specific group of people previously imposed due to COVID-19: foreigners who recently visited the Schengen area, Great Britain, Ireland, and Brazil. However, he left restrictions on the PRC and Iran.