WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is expected to announce soon that it will be lifting the requirement for international air travelers to get tested for COVID-19 before flying to the U.S.
A senior administration official told The Associated Press that the mandate will expire on Sunday at 12:01 a.m. and that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn’t believe the testing is necessary any longer.
The CDC will reevaluate the testing requirement every 90 days and could reinstate it if a concerning variant develops.
The travel industry has spoken out about the testing requirement for months, CNN reported. It was put in place in January 2021.
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have asked for the requirement to be done away with.
According to CNN, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) said, “I’m glad CDC suspended the burdensome coronavirus testing requirement for international travelers, and I’ll continue to do all I can to support the strong recovery of our hospitality industry.”