US to require negative COVID-19 test from UK passengers

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - The UK passengers arriving in the US need to present a negative test result for coronavirus due to a new variant of the virus spreading in the country, the US health agency said late Thursday.

"The public health authorities in the United Kingdom recently announced the discovery of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a statement. "Viruses constantly change through mutation, and preliminary analysis in the UK suggests that this new variant may be up to 70% more transmissible than previously circulating variants."

Noting that earlier preventions taken by the President Donald Trump's administration have already reduced the UK air travel to the US by about 90%, the CDC said: "This additional testing requirement will fortify our protection of the American public to improve their health and safety and ensure responsible international travel."

Passengers are required to get a viral test within three days before their flight from the UK departs to the US and provide written documentation of their laboratory test result to the airline, according to the new guide. Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers before they board.

The CDC said the order will be signed on Friday and become effective on Monday.