Just in time for the summer holiday travel season, the Biden administration is set to announce today an end to the COVID-19 testing requirement for air travelers to the United States. As of midnight this Sunday, June 12th, 2022, the United States will no longer require proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours of entering the country for all air travelers.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the United States has restricted international travel as a public health measure. The most recent version of these restrictions required that all air passengers provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test no more than one day before boarding their flight to the United States along with proof of vaccination. The rule applied to all travelers over the age of two, regardless of vaccination status or citizenship, with some exemptions for travelers with proof that they had recently recovered from COVID-19.

The United States has required a negative COVID-19 test for entry to the United States for more than a year. According to a senior White House official, the policy change is based on “science and data”, both of which show the requirement is no longer necessary. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) will reassess the decision in 90 days and plans to continue assessing the need for a testing requirement on an ongoing basis.

We await the official announcement from the White House and the CDC. Safe travels, everyone!

UPDATE June 13, 2022: The CDC has officially released its statement rescinding the requirements for negative pre-departure Covid-19 testing as of June 12, 2022. White House assistant press secretary Kevin Munoz announced the U.S. would "end Covid-19 testing requirement for air travelers entering the country" in a tweet . Foreign national air travelers to the US are still required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to fly to the United States, with only limited exceptions.