MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Unvaxed travelers allowed back into the US shortly

The measure becomes effective May 11 together with the end of the health emergency

The United States administration of President Joseph Biden has lifted the mandatory requirement of Covid-19 vaccination for travelers wanting to enter its territory, effective May 11, it was announced in Washington DC. The measure was in force since 2021.

Also, May 11 will mark the end of the health emergency decreed in 2020 by then-President Donald Trump (2017-2021) against the coronavirus pandemic, as established by a law approved by Congress and ratified by President Joe Biden.

“Today we are announcing that the Administration will end Covid-19 vaccination requirements for federal employees, government contractors, and international air travelers on May 11, the

same day the health emergency ends,” the White House said Monday.

Since 2021, the United States has required foreign travelers to undergo a vaccination test “in order to stop the spread of new variants entering the country.”

The White House justified the end of this requirement because Covid-19 deaths in the United States have decreased by 95% since January 2021 and hospitalizations have fallen by 91%. In addition, worldwide deaths due to the coronavirus are “at their lowest levels since the beginning of the pandemic.”

The Executive recalled that nearly 270 million Americans have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, which has allowed the country to enter a “different phase.”

“Our Covid-19 vaccination requirements strengthened immunization across the country and the vaccination campaign has saved millions of lives,” the White House claimed.

With more than one million deaths, the United States is the country in the world with the most deaths from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Around 230 million people nationwide (69% of the population) have completed the Covid vaccination schedule.