US Lifts Travel Restrictions on African Countries with Omicron Outbreaks

Travelers Allowed Entry Starting from the 31st

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The United States will lift the entry ban on eight African countries imposed to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant on the 31st of this month.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

U.S. media outlets unanimously reported this on the 24th (local time), citing senior administration officials.

Since the 29th of last month, the United States has prohibited entry to travelers from eight countries where the Omicron variant emerged: South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi.

Accordingly, travelers from these countries can enter the United States if they have a negative COVID-19 test result obtained within 24 hours before boarding a flight to the U.S. and proof of vaccination completion.

The U.S. took action to limit the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, but with 73% of COVID-19 infections in the U.S. confirmed as Omicron, there is no longer a basis to maintain the restrictions.

A senior administration official explained that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended lifting the restrictions because progress had been made in gathering information on Omicron, existing vaccines were found to be effective in preventing Omicron, and Omicron had already spread worldwide, rendering travel restrictions ineffective.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.