The US Government has now removed requirements - intended to curtail the spread of COVID-19 - that have been in place since 28 May 2020 for use of specific airports and enhanced health screening for international air arrivals.
Until this month, restrictions were placed upon persons arriving in the US by air who had within the previous 14 days visited any of these countries:
- China, except for Hong Kong and Macau
- Iran
- Schengen Area of Europe
- UK
- Ireland
- Brazil
Such persons were required to undergo enhanced health screening upon arrival, and to enter the US through one of these 15 airports:
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York;
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Illinois;
San Francisco International Airport (SFO), California;
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Washington;
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Hawaii;
Los Angeles International Airport, (LAX), California;
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Georgia;
Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD), Virginia;
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), New Jersey;
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Texas;
Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Michigan;
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Massachusetts;
Miami International Airport (MIA), Florida;
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Florida; and
George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport (IAH), Texas
The US CDC has now removed these requirements for enhanced screening and specific airports because:
"We now have a better understanding of COVID-19 transmission that indicates symptom-based screening has limited effectiveness because people with COVID-19 may have no symptoms or fever at the time of screening, or only mild symptoms. Transmission of the virus may occur from passengers who have no symptoms or who have not yet developed symptoms of infection. Therefore, CDC is shifting its strategy and prioritizing other public health measures to reduce the risk of travel-related disease transmission."
In August, a coalition of 18 airline and airport groups had called on the US Government to create a "globally accepted framework" of COVID-19 testing protocols, so that lucrative transatlantic routes - with traffic down 90% since spring - can begin to recover.
