It just got a little easier to fly to the U.S.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that home tests will now satisfy the COVID-19 test requirement for passengers boarding\u00a0international flights to the U.S.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The CDC announced in January that all passengers ages 2 and older must present a negative coronavirus test taken no more than three days before their flight or proof they recovered from the virus within the past three months.\u00a0Those who don’t will be denied boarding.<\/p>\n
In its updated FAQ about the requirement, the CDC said\u00a0a home test must be a\u00a0SARS-CoV-2 viral test, either NAAT or antigen,\u00a0that has emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And a telehealth service associated with the test manufacturer must supervise\u00a0the test remotely and issue a detailed report that confirms the negative test result and person’s identity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘Hot spots still a little too hot’: <\/strong>More than half of Americans won’t consider international travel as countries reopen<\/span><\/p>\n Traveling this summer?\u00a0<\/strong>Federal mask mandate extended into September for planes, trains, buses<\/span><\/p>\n Trade group Airlines for America applauded the news.\u00a0“This is an encouraging step in facilitating the international travel process, while continuing to prioritize the safety and well-being of all travelers and employees seeking entry to the U.S.,” the organization said in a statement.<\/p>\n But travelers from the U.S. who are going abroad need to check travel information for their destination before packing a test to use on the way home.\u00a0The CDC noted that some countries may restrict importing tests that aren’t authorized or registered there.\u00a0<\/p>\n In early April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave the\u00a0green light\u00a0for fully\u00a0vaccinated Americans\u00a0to travel at low risk but\u00a0noted\u00a0that international travel poses additional risks, including possibly spreading new COVID-19 variants. The\u00a0agency\u00a0and the\u00a0U.S. State Department\u00a0still have many countries at their highest alert level due to COVID-19.\u00a0<\/p>\n