USA to drop remaining Covid vaccine rules for travellers this month
Brits will soon be able to travel on USA holidays without needing to show their Covid vaccine status.
Non-US travellers entering the country will no longer be required to be fully vaccinated against the disease from May 12, the Department of Homeland Security announced Monday.
The country had already eased restrictions for vaccinated travellers last year, with those who were fully jabbed able to enter without needing a Covid test.
The US had some of the strictest rules determining entry for non-citizens which remained in place for 2020, 2021 and much of 2022.
The country had a near total ban on arrivals from most nations until that was replaced with a block on non-vaccinated visitors.
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The travel restriction will be lifted later this month (Getty Images)The decision to lift the vaccine requirement came after the US House of Representatives voted through a bill proposing the measures in February, with all Republicans voting in favour of the plans.
At the time the White House expressed its concern about lifted the jab requirement, saying it had "allowed loved ones across the globe to reunite while reducing the spread of Covid-19 and the burdens it places on the health care system in the United States."
The travel industry has welcomed the news and said it would lead to a boost for business.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: "The relaxation of the vaccination requirement for foreign nationals removes barriers for frictionless travel to the USA, our heartland for nearly 40 years.
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"It will give a boost to transatlantic customer demand as a busy summer approaches. Virgin Atlantic has now resumed services to all of its 12 transatlantic destinations, including new routes to Austin and Tampa and longstanding favourites New York, Orlando and Los Angeles, with a premium, personalised experience onboard and at the airport, delivered by our amazing people."
It remains to be seen whether lifted the vaccine restrictions leads to a spike in cases and deaths in the country.
Deaths from Covid in the US peaked in early 2021 and 2022 at around 4,000 per day, with around 1.1million people having lost their lives to the disease.
It is the country with by far the biggest official Covid death toll, with 400,000 more people dying there than Brazil in the unwanted runners-up position.
The unjabbed from across the US will soon be able to enter the country (Getty Images)Now between 100 and 200 people are dying each day in the US with Covid.
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For tourism purposes, you'll need an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) to enter the US, which can be obtained by applying online through the US government website.
Recent US visa rule changes caused some confusion among holidaymakers.
Under US law, anyone who has travelled to a country on its international terrorism list is unable to enter.
If you've been to Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and/or Yemen since 2011, you have to jump through a whole series of hoops to be allowed into the US.
In his final days of office, Donald Trump added Cuba to that list.
While many feared that anyone who had visited the sun drenched island in the past 11 years would not be elligible for an ESTA, it's since been confirmed that the rule only applies for those who have been since January 12, 2021.
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