U.S. will not impose COVID-19 screenings for flights from Britain - sources

By David Shepardson and Tracy Rucinski

 

FILE PHOTO: Testing centre signage is seen outside the terminal building of Manchester Airport amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Manchester, Britain, December 3, 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble

 

WASHINGTON/CHICAGO (Reuters) - The U.S. government does not intend to impose COVID-19 screenings for passengers traveling from Britain after the emergence of a highly infectious new coronavirus variant there, people briefed on the decision said.

 

White House coronavirus task force members backed requiring negative pre-flight tests after a meeting on Monday, but the Trump administration has decided not to take any action for the time being, the people said.

 

Much of the world shut their borders to Britain after the discovery of a mutated variant of the novel coronavirus, though the European Union recommended on Tuesday that members roll back sweeping closures to allow some travel.

 

The U.S. government does not intend to impose COVID-19 screenings for passengers traveling from Britain after the emergence of a highly infectious new coronavirus variant there, people briefed on the decision said. This report produced by Jillian Kitchener.

 

Canada is implementing enhanced measures to screen travelers from Britain, including those arriving from other nations, its public safety minister said on Tuesday.

 

The three airlines that operate flights from London to John F. Kennedy International Airport - British Airways, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic - voluntarily agreed to a request from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo that they only allow passengers who test negative to fly.

 

The Trump administration has repeatedly refused to issue mandates for many federal COVID-19 safety policies for air travel, making only strong recommendations on issues such as mask wearing. President-elect Joe Biden has vowed to mandate masks in interstate air, bus and train travel after taking office on Jan. 20.

 

The White House in August scuttled an effort to require airlines to collect contact tracing information from U.S.-bound international passengers, Reuters reported.

 

The White House in July rejected a proposal to require facial coverings at U.S. airports, train and transit stations and onboard airplanes, trains and transit services and earlier dismissed proposals to require temperature checks of airline passengers.

 

Speaking on ABC's "Good Morning America," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said it is possible the new COVID-19 variant is already in the United States.

 

"You really need to assume it’s here already," Fauci said.

 

Michael Osterholm, a Biden COVID-19 adviser, on Tuesday said all options need to be considered to stem the spread of the new UK variant. He urged the Trump administration to come up with a plan.

 

"We really need to develop a national response," he told CNN. "Everything needs to be on the table."

 

(Reporting by David Shepardson and Tracy Rucinski in Chicago; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Lisa Shumaker)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-12-23

 

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Biden's got his hands full from day one but lets be realistic - they already got every strain currently circulating in the world over there so it doesn't matter really.

 

4 minutes ago, ukrules said:

Biden's got his hands full from day one but lets be realistic - they already got every strain currently circulating in the world over there so it doesn't matter really.

 

"White House coronavirus task force members backed requiring negative pre-flight tests after a meeting on Monday, but the Trump administration has decided not to take any action for the time being, the people said."

Off-topic, troll post reported and removed.

 

Another trump screw up imo he needs to get out of the way and let competent people handle it like testing on arrival or something 

Quote

White House coronavirus task force members backed requiring negative pre-flight tests after a meeting on Monday, but the Trump administration has decided not to take any action for the time being, the people said.

These people fighting the medical experts should be tried for endangering the lives of fellow Americans.  Horrible group of people.

 

Dr. Birx just said she's had enough and is going to retire.

Why the hell not?

39 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

These people fighting the medical experts should be tried for endangering the lives of fellow Americans.  Horrible group of people.

 

Dr. Birx just said she's had enough and is going to retire.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/12/22/world/covid-19-coronavirus#birx-says-she-will-retire-after-biden-transition

 

Birx says she will retire after Biden transition

"Dr. Deborah L. Birx, the White House’s coronavirus response coordinator, said in an interview on Tuesday with the media outlet Newsy that she plans to retire after concluding her role helping the federal government transition to the Biden administration.

...

In recent weeks Dr. Birx, 64, indicated publicly and privately that she was open to serving in the Biden administration. It was unclear what prompted her to announce her plan to retire.

 

In the interview with Newsy, she called her time at the White House “overwhelming” and difficult on her family. She suggested that recent coverage of a trip she made over the Thanksgiving holiday had unduly dragged her family into the spotlight."

 

4 minutes ago, onthedarkside said:

She suggested that recent coverage of a trip she made over the Thanksgiving holiday had unduly dragged her family into the spotlight."

Is it "unduly dragged her family into the spotlight" because the reports of her breaking her own corona lockdown guidance on social distancing and how many can meet were fake? or unduly because she thought herself superior to the public who should quietly follow Ms Birx's orders and not notice or question her own behaviour, and had a rude awakening at the outrage and resigned in a fit of pique? 

15 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Is it "unduly dragged her family into the spotlight" because the reports of her breaking her own corona lockdown guidance on social distancing and how many can meet were fake? or unduly because she thought herself superior to the public who should quietly follow Ms Birx's orders and not notice or question her own behaviour, and had a rude awakening at the outrage and resigned in a fit of pique? 

Probably, yes. Not good, and there are many examples of the ones being in charge of this breaking their own rules.

A bit more on this:

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55419954

 

Dr Deborah Birx: White House virus expert quits over holiday travel

A top public health official on the White House coronavirus task force has said she will retire after it emerged she hosted a holiday gathering.

 

Dr Deborah Birx, who is 64, cited the criticism she has faced for a family get-together over Thanksgiving in Delaware in her decision to step aside.

"This experience has been a bit overwhelming," she said. "It's been very difficult on my family."

...

But it emerged on Sunday she had travelled from Washington to one of her other properties, on Fenwick Island in Delaware, where she was joined by three generations of her family from two households.

 

  Another big Trump screwup

Why not. What is wrong with this president. Not just people from uk, but everyone doing international travel should be screened.

God help America

19 hours ago, webfact said:

The U.S. government does not intend to impose COVID-19 screenings for passengers traveling from Britain

And again another stupidity from ... trump... I hold him personally responsible for most Corona deaths, together with his republican 'friends'. Shame on him and usa government!!! NOTHING changes with these idiots on the helm...

Edited December 23, 20205 yr by onthedarkside
name calling reference removed

8 hours ago, onthedarkside said:

 

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/12/22/world/covid-19-coronavirus#birx-says-she-will-retire-after-biden-transition

 

Birx says she will retire after Biden transition

"Dr. Deborah L. Birx, the White House’s coronavirus response coordinator, said in an interview on Tuesday with the media outlet Newsy that she plans to retire after concluding her role helping the federal government transition to the Biden administration.

...

In recent weeks Dr. Birx, 64, indicated publicly and privately that she was open to serving in the Biden administration. It was unclear what prompted her to announce her plan to retire.

 

In the interview with Newsy, she called her time at the White House “overwhelming” and difficult on her family. She suggested that recent coverage of a trip she made over the Thanksgiving holiday had unduly dragged her family into the spotlight."

 

Biden doesn't want her and with good reason. Her reaction at the infamous Mr. trump disinfectant "press conference" was enough to sink 100 careers. 

7 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Biden doesn't want her and with good reason. Her reaction at the infamous Mr. trump disinfectant "press conference" was enough to sink 100 careers. 

I loved Sarah Cooper's version of that.  Absolutely hilarious!

Just who in their right mind would want to fly into the USA right now?  I live next door in Canada and will not cross the border for at least 5 years. This is why the USA will not restrict anyone who want to enter their toxic country.  I have American friends who are scared every day, living in a few places in that country.  They have all told me tostay home and stay safe.

Geezer

On 12/23/2020 at 7:36 AM, Tug said:

Another trump screw up imo he needs to get out of the way and let competent people handle it like testing on arrival or something 

 

It's not a screw up. Trump simply tries to do as much damage as possible, on all levels,  in his last few weeks.

 

Guy should be prosecuted for treason on several counts

Edited December 24, 20205 yr by Susco

Coronavirus: New York City orders international visitors to quarantine https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-55432977

Edited December 24, 20205 yr by Bluespunk

1 hour ago, Bluespunk said:

Coronavirus: New York City orders international visitors to quarantine https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-55432977

Good. At least someone has brains. But at the moment the whole country should quarantine itself.

 

It is so rampant in the US that all countries should ban anyone coming from US.

10 hours ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

Just who in their right mind would want to fly into the USA right now?  I live next door in Canada and will not cross the border for at least 5 years. This is why the USA will not restrict anyone who want to enter their toxic country.  I have American friends who are scared every day, living in a few places in that country.  They have all told me to stay home and stay safe.

Geezer

I have a home in AZ and several of my neighbors are Canadian 'snow birds'.   The three who have homes next to or across from me are not here this winter.   I feel for them having a home in the sunbelt but enduring a winter in the north.   

Travel bans are usually not very effective.   The goal is keep the virus out, not necessarily people.   So, the best method for those who must travel is testing before traveling, then a short quarantine and further testing is probably the best option.   

On 12/23/2020 at 7:21 AM, webfact said:

the Trump administration has decided not to take any action

 

this is news?

Seriously? 

No doubt why America is the epicentre of COVID deaths. 

Test everyone collect contact tracing data, insist on masks and hand sanitizing, the rest of the world is. 

3 hours ago, rosst said:

Seriously? 

No doubt why America is the epicentre of COVID deaths. 

Test everyone collect contact tracing data, insist on masks and hand sanitizing, the rest of the world is. 

 

We have to have the dumbest Covid response anywhere in the world. At the back of my mind, I wonder if their secret plan is to infect the country as thoroughly as possible. Somebody looking at this from the outside could only get that conclusion. Gets rid of old folks on SS and Medicaid. Gets rid of younger ones on disability. Frees up property for estate taxes. Allows trillions to be pumped directly into big business and indirectly into the stock market. Members of Congress and government have already got their vaccine shots, so no need for them to worry. So bring in the flights. Keep it open for the mutation in South Africa as well. 

One way or another, people are getting sick of this.

Looks like there was a change of heart on this original non-policy as reported in the OP.   See the following:

 

U.S. Will Require a Negative Coronavirus Test for All Travelers From U.K.

The new rule, which takes effect on Monday, will apply to Americans as well as foreign nationals.

Dec. 24, 2020

 

"The United States will require all airline passengers arriving from Britain to test negative for the coronavirus within 72 hours of their departure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday.

 

The move comes as a new highly transmissible variant of the virus, which first appeared in Britain, has led more than 50 countries to seal their borders to travelers from there or to impose restrictions on their arrival.

 

The new rule, which takes effect on Monday, will apply to Americans as well as foreign citizens, and will require passengers to show proof of a negative result on a genetic test, known as a P.C.R., or an antigen test."

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/24/us/travel-restriction-uk.html