The US government has extended its existing Covid-19 entry requirements for another three months to mid April.
The current regime, which requires international visitors to the US to be fully vaccinated against the virus, had been due to end on Sunday (8 January) but it has now been extended to 10 April by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The rules were first put in place in October 2021 as the US prepared to reopen its borders to international travellers in November 2021 after being closed for 20 months due to the pandemic.
The requirements apply to any non-US citizen who will still need to provide proof of receiving at least two Covid vaccine doses or an acceptable single-dose vaccine such as the Johnson & Johnson jab.
Foreign airlines are also required not to allow any non-US travellers who do not fulfil these vaccination rules to board their flights to the US.
The US’s move to extend its Covid entry rules came as China finally reopened its border to international travellers on Sunday (8 January) after nearly three years. The country has also ended its quarantine regime as part of the relaxation of its zero-Covid policy.
Several European countries have already implemented new testing rules for arrivals from China, while the EU has also agreed that passengers from China should provide a negative test – a move that has been met with criticism from airline and airports organisations.