New US COVID Test Rules Do Not Apply to Land Border Crossings
December 3, 2021 Marsha Mowers
The new US travel rules requiring a COVID test be taken within 24 hours before entry will not apply to travellers who cross borders by land.
The new restrictions take effect Monday, December 6 and require all travellers by air to the USA, regardless if you’re fully vaccinated, to have proof of a negative COVID test taken within 24 hours of departure.
A White House statement on Thursday said, “This tighter testing timeline provides an added degree of public health protection as scientists continue to assess the Omicron variant.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned against blanket travel bans, calling them ineffective, but it did issue a new travel advisory this week recommending that those over 60 or who have certain health conditions postpone travel plans for the near future.
Canada has also changed its requirements earlier this week, the day it took effect that all travellers boarding a federally run airline or train in Canada had to be fully vaccinated. There is still no confirmed date for Canada’s new restrictions.
Details can be found on the Government of Canada website here and the CDC website here.
About the Author
Marsha Mowers made the move to editorial side of travel after many years working in destination marketing where she represented places such as NYC and Las Vegas. Her experience on “both sides” of the industry has put her in a unique position to provide valuable context to both readers and trade partners. Marsha also serves as Director of Content for TravelPulse Canada
