Covid-19: in the United States, the end of the health travel ban triggered in early 2020

JFK Airport, New York, in May 2021. AFP - ANGELA WEISS

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

The land and air borders of the United States will reopen this Monday, November 8, 2021, after twenty months of restrictions due to Covid-19 since early 2020. A real liberation for countless families who have sometimes remained separated since that time.

Advertising

Read more

Professional reasons, family reasons, sentimental reasons ... In Europe, Mexico, or even in Canada in particular, the

reinforced by Donald Trump in response to the coronavirus in early 2020, then confirmed the following year by Joe Biden upon his arrival in the White House has weighed heavily in the lives of many people.

More than thirty countries are affected by the

partial

of the restrictions.

But US authorities will continue to require negative tests within 72 hours.

They also intend to monitor the vaccination status of travelers.

On the other hand, notable confirmation, all vaccines approved by WHO will be accepted.

According to the emergency procedure put in place by the World Health Organization, this means that the vaccines from Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Pfizer / BioNTech, AstraZeneca;

Indian Covaxin and Chinese Sinopharm and Sinovac will all cross the US border, with Russian Sputnik V

.

Starting Nov 8: #Travel requirements will change for any passengers traveling to the United States by air.

Find out what you will need to do to board a flight to the United States: https://t.co/59VCRJmNb2.#CDC #Travel # COVID19 pic.twitter.com/k7nb4zsrXT

- CDC (@CDCgov) November 4, 2021

For air travel, the United States will request from Monday, in addition to proof of vaccination and testing, a system of contact tracing by companies in the sector.

Concerning the mainland, people without a particular essential reason, but who have been vaccinated, will be able to cross the border of Canada or Mexico.

Families will therefore be able to meet again, but once again on condition that whoever crosses the border is vaccinated.

Tourists,

.

An obligation which will not concern the truck drivers, nor the other people coming for compelling reasons, exempted until January, when the vaccination obligation will be valid for all the visitors.

In February 2020, President Trump imposed restrictions on all travel from China.

Then the following month, it was the turn of the European countries of the Schengen area.

More than Britain and Ireland a few months later, while borders with Mexico and Canada remained largely closed.

Some, among those who have a foot on both sides of the Atlantic, for example, have not seen their relatives since then.

Of course, it was still possible to cross the ocean to reach the European continent since last summer, but foreigners living in the United States and holding certain visas feared they would not be able to return.

► To listen again: Even before the Covid-19, the “travel ban” and its consequences, already (2018)

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

• United States

• Coronavirus

• European Union

• China

• Mexico

• Canada

• Tourism

• Economy

• Transport