WASHINGTON Kyodo - - No vaccine will be required for foreign tourists traveling to the country starting Nov. 8, the White House announced Friday, lifting entry restrictions against non-U. nationals. S. citizens from China, Europe and some other countries were introduced in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
White House Assistant Press Secretary Kevin Munoz tweeted that the new policy will apply to both international air travel and land travel. Last month, the White House had said the vaccination requirements, effective when an airport was slated to begin in early November, would affect people.
Vaccinated air travelers will not be required to quarantine upon entry into the United States.
As the pandemic accelerated beginning of last year, the United States essentially barred entry to non-U. States? S. citizens if they had been in certain countries within the preceding 14 days.
The countries were Brazil, Britain, Italy, India, Iran, Iran, India and a group of European countries with open-border agreements, such as France, Germany and South Africa.
All air passengers entering the United States have also been required to receive a virus test within three days before flying and submit written documentation of their laboratory test results to airlines.
Europe-Europe countries have been increasingly frustrated by the U.S. passport ban, which has remained in place even when more people get shots.
The U.S. government announced last month that under the current rules, foreign nationals boarding U.S. bound airplanes must show proof that they are fully vaccinated in addition to the additional requirement of testing negative for the novel coronavirus within three days prior to departure.