Biden White House to impose new travel restrictions to combat omicron variant

President Biden — who barred travel from South Africa and surrounding nations on Monday — is considering imposing more stringent travel requirements for individuals entering the U.S. as fears of winter case spikes and uncertainty surrounding the omicron variant loom in the public consciousness.

The White House is expected to announce its plans as part of an enhanced winter COVID-19 strategy on Thursday.

“The CDC is working to modify the current Global Testing Order for travel as we learn more about the omicron variant; a revised order would shorten the timeline for required testing for all international air travelers to one day before departure to the United States,” said Jade Fulce, spokeswoman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The administration is also considering requiring all travelers to get retested within three to five days of arrival, regardless of vaccination status, The Washington Post reported.

Although many challenges will need to be addressed in order for authorities to enforce many of the proposed measures, they appear to underscore the fear brought about by the omicron variant, which has so far been detected in nearly 20 countries.

There is a report today that the omicron variant has reached the U.S. through someone who recently arrived in California from South Africa. 

Canada reported the first North American cases this past weekend.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky hinted at new rules during a COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday.

“As we have done throughout the pandemic, CDC is evaluating how to make international travel as safe as possible, including pre-departure testing closer to the time of flight and considerations around additional post-arrival testing and self-quarantines,” Walensky noted.