The changes were announced Thursday as part of a broader plan to boost the country’s tool arsenal in the fight against the virus as the world enters its third year of the pandemic.
The plan is also the Biden government’s latest move to curb the spread of the new, highly mutated Omicron variant, which was first reported to the WHO from South Africa a week ago. At least 23 countries have identified micron cases so far and that number is expected to rise in the coming days and weeks, the WHO said on Wednesday.
The United States joined the list after confirming the first case of the variant in Northern California on Wednesday.
Stricter pre-departure test protocols will apply to all incoming international travelers regardless of vaccination status and will begin next week, senior officials told reporters at a news conference late Wednesday. Previously, the US required proof of a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of departure, although this was more stringent only for vaccinated travelers last month. Unvaccinated travelers had to have a negative Covid test within one day of departure.
The Biden government’s new plan also urges businesses to “move fast” by requiring employees to be vaccinated or tested on a weekly basis, according to the plan. Such protocols are “particularly important” given the new variant, commented experts.
The government had given companies with 100 or more employees until January 4 to ensure that their staff were either vaccinated against Covid-19 or tested negative each week before entering the workplace. Unvaccinated employees also had to start wearing masks indoors at work on December 5th.
The Biden government’s Covid winter plan also includes more free home tests.
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