UK Air Travelers To US Must Test Negative For COVID-19: CDC

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Air travelers from the United Kingdom to airports in the United States must now test negative for the coronavirus no more than 72 hours before their flight departs the United Kingdom, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.

The requirement comes after British authorities recently announced the discovery of a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2.

"Viruses constantly change through mutation, and preliminary analysis in the U.K. suggests that this new variant may be up to 70% more transmissible than previously circulating variants," the CDC said Christmas Eve in a news release.

"Passengers are required to get a viral test (i.e., a test for current infection) within the 3 days before their flight from the U.K. to the U.S. departs, and provide written documentation of their laboratory test result (in hard copy or electronic) to the airline," the CDC said. "Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers before they board. If a passenger chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger."

The new order from President Donald Trump is consistent with measures taken thus far in the coronavirus pandemic by the Trump administration to increase the ability of the United States to detect and contain COVID-19 proactively and aggressively, the CDC said.

The order was expected to be signed Christmas Day by CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield, then take effect Monday.