SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KRON) – People flying to the United States must abide to new travel restrictions beginning Monday.
The new travel restriction applies to all international travelers who are two years or older.
This is regardless of their nationality or vaccination status.
These restrictions come ahead of the winter season when the virus can spread more easily when indoors.
Biden announced the news 24 hours after the first omicron case was detected in the United States.
Since then, dozens of other cases have popped up across the country.
Here’s what travelers should know:
New testing requirements
Starting Monday, the U.S. will begin requiring all inbound international travelers to test for COVID-19 within one day of their flight to the U.S., regardless of their nationality or vaccination status.
That will replace a similar three-day requirement in effect since early November, when the administration scrapped country-specific travel bans.
“This tighter testing timetable provides an added degree of protection as scientists continue to study the omicron variant,” Biden said during a brief appearance to announce the latest measures against the virus.
Do testing requirements apply to children?
Yes, but children under 2 years old do not need to get tested. There is also an option for people who can prove they have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days. Learn more about these requirements here.
Do you have to get the test exactly 24 hours before travel?
No, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s policy specifies that travelers must get tested one day before the flight’s departure, but does not say it has to be exactly 24 hours before.
“The Order uses a 1-day time frame instead of 24 hours to provide more flexibility to the air passenger and aircraft operator,” the CDC says. “By using a 1-day window, test acceptability does not depend on the time of the flight or the time of day that the test sample was taken.”
That means if your flight is at 1 p.m. on a Friday, you could board with a negative test that was taken any time on Thursday, the agency explains.
Face mask rules
The Transportation Security Administration will extend the requirement to wear a mask on planes, trains, subways and other public transportation hubs including airports and bus terminals through the winter.
Fines, which were doubled earlier this year, will remain in a range of $500 to $3,000.
The mask rule has become a flashpoint on flights. Airlines have reported more than 5,000 incidents of unruly passengers to federal authorities since the start of the year, with about three-fourths of the events involving passengers who refuse to wear a mask.
Is testing and quarantine required after arrival?
No, it is not required. However, the CDC recommends that all travelers get tested three to five days after travel.
Travelers are advised to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and isolate and get tested if they do develop symptoms.
It is also recommended that those who are only partially vaccinated stay home and self-quarantine for a full seven days after travel, even if they test negative within three to five days after arrival.
Unvaccinated travelers who don’t get tested are advised to stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
If the traveler has recovered from a documented coronavirus infection within the past 90 days before travel, they do not need to get a test three to five days after travel, even if they’re unvaccinated, the CDC says.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.