Avian Flu Diary: CDC Expands Negative COVID-19 Test Requirement to All Air Passengers Entering the United States

Scheduled airline traffic around the world, circa June 2009 – Credit Wikipedia

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Although it seems much longer ago, today marks just 30 days since the UK Health Secretary Announced The Detection of A New COVID Variant circulating in Southern England. One that was believed to transmit more readily than previous strains, and that has practically turned the COVID pandemic upside down.

Dubbed B.1.1.7 or VOC 202012-1, this more transmissible variant is believed responsible for a huge spike in COVID cases in the UK London Mayor Declares `Major Incident' As COVID Cases Rise, and appears robust enough that many fear if unchecked, it will become the dominant COVID variant globally.

In hopes of limiting international spread of this COVID variant, many countries quickly banned or restricted travel to and from the UK (see Canada, India & Italy Join Growing List Of Countries Banning Travel To/From The UK), while some countries went even further (see Japan Bans Entry To All Foreign Nationals Over COVID Variant Fears).

Some countries, including the U.S., opted for a less disruptive policy, and only required a recent negative COVID test for passengers prior to departure from the UK (see CDC: Negative COVID-19 Test Required from Air Travelers from the UK Starting Dec 28th).

But as we've seen, the B.1.1.7 variant has now been detected in dozens of other countries, and another - perhaps even more worrisome variant - 5017.V2 has emerged in South Africa, and is starting to spread internationally as well.

Add in yet another variant recently reported from South America, and the narrow requirement to only require negative COVID tests from travelers from the UK becomes an increasingly porous policy.

Admittedly, with dozens of B.1.1.7 cases already detected in the United States, and that number likely a huge undercount - it is too late to prevent entry - but hopefully a reduction in the number of new introductions would provide more time for rolling out the vaccine.

Yesterday the CDC announced the expansion of the COVID-19 test requirements to all air passengers entering the United States. First the media announcement:

CDC Expands Negative COVID-19 Test Requirement to All Air Passengers Entering the United States
Media Statement
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Contact: Media Relations
(404) 639-3286
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expanding the requirement for a negative COVID-19 test to all air passengers entering the United States. Testing before and after travel is a critical layer to slow the introduction and spread of COVID-19. This strategy is consistent with the current phase of the pandemic and more efficiently protects the health of Americans.
Variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus continue to emerge in countries around the world, and there is evidence of increased transmissibility of some of these variants. With the US already in surge status, the testing requirement for air passengers will help slow the spread of the virus as we work to vaccinate the American public.
Before departure to the United States, a required test, combined with the CDC recommendations to get tested again 3-5 days after arrival and stay home for 7 days post-travel, will help slow the spread of COVID-19 within US communities from travel-related infections. Pre-departure testing with results known and acted upon before travel begins will help identify infected travelers before they board airplanes.
Air passengers are required to get a viral test (a test for current infection) within the 3 days before their flight to the U.S. departs, and provide written documentation of their laboratory test result (paper or electronic copy) to the airline or provide documentation of having recovered from COVID-19. Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers or documentation of recovery before they board. If a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger.
“Testing does not eliminate all risk,” says CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, MD, “but when combined with a period of staying at home and everyday precautions like wearing masks and social distancing, it can make travel safer, healthier, and more responsible by reducing spread on planes, in airports, and at destinations.”
This order was signed by the CDC Director on January 12, 2021 and will become effective on January 26, 2021.

You'll find further details on the CDC's Testing and International Air Travel webpage.

Air travel requires spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces. Social distancing is difficult in busy airports and on crowded flights, and sitting within 6 feet of others, sometimes for hours, may increase your risk of getting COVID-19. How you get to and from the airport, such as with public transportation and ridesharing, can also increase your chances of being exposed to the virus.

Testing before and after travel can reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. Testing does not eliminate all risk, but when paired with a period of staying at home and everyday precautions like wearing masks and social distancing, it can make travel safer by reducing spread on planes, in airports, and at destinations.

Here’s what to know:
Get tested 1-3 days before your flight.
Get tested 3-5 days after travel AND stay home for 7 days after travel.
Even if you test negative, stay home for the full 7 days.
If you don’t get tested, it’s safest to stay home for 10 days after travel.
Always follow state and local recommendations or requirements related to travel.
Delay your travel if you are waiting for test results.

(Continue . . . )

You can read the full 9-page PDF CDC Order HERE.

Realistically, these changes likely come too late to make a huge difference with the spread of the B.1.1.7 variant in the United States, but these new requirements might prove useful in limiting the number of 501Y.V2, E484K, and other as-yet-unidentified VOCs (Variants of Concern) introductions in the months ahead.