They particularly want a repeal of mask mandates.
The U.S. Travel Association sent a letter to incoming White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Ashish Jha recommending an immediate end to the pre-departure testing requirement for fully-vaccinated inbound international air travelers and lifting the mask mandate by April 18, “or announcing a plan and timeline for appeal of the federal mask mandate with the subsequent 90 days.”
“It makes little sense to keep the pre-departure testing requirement in place for inbound air travelers when the U.S. government does not require negative tests at U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico land border points of entry,” U.S. Travel Chief Executive Roger Dow wrote.
“Many foreign governments with similar infection, vaccination, and hospitalization rates — including the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada — have eliminated pre-departure testing requirements,” Mr. Dow added.
The industry group also wants the CDC to end “avoid travel” advisories for all vaccinated individuals and called on President Biden’s administration to avoid the future “use of travel bans from specific countries.”
A similar letter, sent by the trade group Airlines for America, was signed by the CEOs of ten airline companies. “Much has changed since these measures were imposed and they no longer make sense in the current public health context.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for the president and his COVID advisors as they consider the requests.
- For CDC and HHS officials as they assess the current situation with the coronavirus.
- For discernment for the president and his administration as they determine public health mandates.
Sources: Newsmax, Reuters, USA Today
