"US Plans to Allow Entry Only for Foreigners Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19" (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] In the future, it is expected that passengers who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be allowed to board flights to the United States.

On the 4th (local time), a major foreign media outlet reported that the U.S. is pushing for a plan to allow entry only to those vaccinated against COVID-19.

A White House official said in this regard, "The Biden administration has been operating an interagency task force to establish a new system in preparation for the resumption of travel."

The official explained that the new system includes a limited range of exceptions but involves a "phased approach" that means almost all foreign nationals traveling to the U.S. will need to have completed COVID-19 vaccination.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Currently, to enter the U.S., presenting a negative COVID-19 test result before boarding is sufficient, but this will significantly strengthen the requirements.

This policy is being prepared as a supplementary measure to lift entry bans on nationals from certain countries.

As vaccination spreads, U.S. allies such as the UK, Europe, and Canada have allowed entry to Americans or withdrawn self-quarantine guidelines, but the U.S. has been criticized for banning entry to foreigners who have stayed for more than 14 days in Europe, the UK, China, Brazil, India, and South Africa to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

In the case of China, where COVID-19 originated, the entry ban has not been lifted since February last year.

The U.S. travel industry is also strongly demanding the allowance of entry for overseas tourists who have been vaccinated. Philip Lovas, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tourism at the Department of Commerce, argued in a Washington Post op-ed that entry should be allowed for vaccinated individuals.

However, the official said that due to the increase in COVID-19 cases, the U.S. is not ready to lift travel restrictions immediately.

Additionally, challenges remain such as how to verify vaccination proof and whether to recognize Chinese vaccines not approved by the U.S.