Visitors will need negative test prior to entering the U.S. as of 26 January

By Sami Zaptia.

London, 14 January 2021:

Effective January 26, 2021, all air passengers departing from a foreign country to the United States will be required to show proof of a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test, or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19, the U.S Embassy to Tripoli reported yesterday.

• The negative pre-departure test must be a viral test (RT-PCR) that was conducted on a specimen collected three calendar days preceding the flight’s departure from a foreign country.

• If a passenger has recovered from COVID-19, the passenger may instead travel with written or electronic documentation of a positive viral test result (RT-PCR) that confirms a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection within the last 90 days AND a letter from a licensed health care provider or public health official stating that the passenger has been cleared for travel.

• All passengers will also be required to complete an attestation to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) of having received a negative qualifying test result or recovery from COVID-19 after previous COVID-19 infection and clearance to travel, and retain a copy of the required documentation to present to the airline and/or upon request by an agent of the U.S. government or public health authority.

The U.S. Embassy recommended that all travellers planning to fly to the United States read the full public health order on the United States Center for Disease Control’s website and plan accordingly.