(Do not add CDC comment, schedule task force meeting, Canada action)
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (Reuters) – A group representing major U.S. airlines backed Monday with a proposal by public health officials to implement a global testing program that requires negative testing before most international air passengers return to the United States, according to a letter that Reuters saw. .
Airlines for America, which represents American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and other major airline representatives, also urged the Trump administration in a letter to Vice President Mike Pence to continue with recommendations to lift current access restrictions on travelers. Europe, the UK and Brazil as soon as possible … simultaneously with the test program. ‘
In November, Reuters reported that the White House was considering lifting restrictions restricting most non-US citizens from traveling to the United States from the 26 members of the Schengen area across open borders in Europe, the United Kingdom , Can travel to Ireland and Brazil.
“We believe that a well-planned program aimed at increasing testing of travelers to the United States will advance these objectives in a much more effective way than the current travel restrictions,” the airline’s letter reads.
Airlines support a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) program to implement a global program to be tested for travelers to the United States, the letter said.
A senior administration official said the CDC’s proposal to expand international testing requirements stands at the highest levels of administration, including in Pence’s office. The White House Coronavirus Task Force is expected to meet Tuesday and the issue is expected to be discussed, officials said.
The CDC on December 28 began requiring all airline passengers arriving from Britain – including US citizens – to test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of departure.
A CDC spokesman declined to comment Monday, but the agency said last week that there is currently an effort in the U.S. to assess the risk reduction of testing and other recommended preventative measures … and to some extent of agreement on standards for a harmonized approach. to test for international air travel. ‘
Airlines are looking for at least 14 days before new requirements take effect and ‘consideration of inadequate testing and availability of results in specific countries, rather than a global requirement, is also needed’, the letter reads.
From Thursday, Canada will require air travelers five and older to be negative for COVID-19 prior to arrival. (Posted by David Shepardson Edited by Chris Reese, Nick Zieminski and David Gregorio)
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