U.S. President Joe Biden. Photo: Google

By THE PULSE NEWS MEXICO STAFF

As expected, U.S. President Joe Biden announced Thursday, Dec. 2, that all travelers entering the United States from abroad will be required to have a covid-19 antigen test within 24 hours before boarding their plane, starting Monday, Dec. 6.

Previously, international travelers were required to have the test within 72 hours of their flight.

The announcement excluded more draconian proposals that had reportedly been considered, such as forcing foreign visitors to be quarantined for up to a week after arrival or having to undergo additional testing once they are in the country.

All foreigners entering the United States will still be required to show proof of full vaccination against covid by a World Health Organization- (WHO) vaccines.

The new ruling, which comes on the heels of the first cases of the ominous omicron variant of the virus in that country, will apply to all international travelers, regardless of their nationality or vaccination status.

The president also extended the requirement for all air and public transportation travelers to be masked at all times through at least March 18.

The United States is facing a surge in covid infections, with an average of more than 80,000 new cases a day over the last few weeks, compared to an average of about 12,000 new cases a day six months ago.