The U.S. is planning to ease travel restrictions for fully vaccinated foreign travellers as of early NOV 2021, according to USA Today.
According to White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients, non-U.S. citizens will have to show proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test within three days of departure.
It’s a good news, bad news story for Canadian airlines who will welcome the additional traffic, however, the CDC has issued a concurrent contact tracing order which means passenger data must be supplied to American authorities.
In a few weeks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will require all U.S.-bound airlines to collect and provide passenger information - including the phone number and email address - to aid in contact tracing efforts, reports CNBC.
The U.S. has banned incoming non-essential travel since the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020. Reports say the country has been under increased pressure recently to reopen its borders, particularly from the E.U. The U.S Travel Association also pressured its government to reopen, saying that it "loses $1.5 billion in potential travel exports" as long as it remained closed to Canadian tourists.
Recently, Open Jaw reported the White House was making moves to reopen travel along with a vaccine mandate, which has now been confirmed.
With Canada having reopened the border to Americans in AUG, the reestablishment of both southbound and northbound flights should see a more normalized winter season.
Doesn’t really help any border towns does it? Can’t just go for the day. Have to get a PCR test to cross the border going and then another to come home. Cost $200.00+ and at least an overnight stay. Plus we have approximately 78% of eligible Canadians fully vaccinate as opposed to 54% eligible US citizens.