Covid-19: US to lift travel ban for fully vaccinated flyers from November

The United States has announced that it will lift Covid travel restrictions on all air passengers in November if they are fully vaccinated and undergo testing and contact tracing.

The unprecedented restrictions were imposed 18 months as the Covid pandemic hit the world.

Coronavirus response coordinator for President Joe Biden, Jeffrey Zients, told reporters the new "consistent approach" would take effect "early November."

Numerous safeguards will remain in place to suppress spread of the virus.

Foreign nationals flying to the US will be required to be fully vaccinated, Zients said.

The official added that passengers will need to show they were fully vaccinated before boarding planes bound for the United States, as well as providing proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within three days.

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It is still not clear if the new rule only applied to US-approved vaccines or if other brands, such as those produced in China, India or Russia, would also qualify.