President Joe Biden: US will require all international visitors to go into quarantine

Source: News Corp Australia Network:

January 22, 2021 at 13:43

Newly inaugurated US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order mandating not just face masks on aeroplanes and in airports but also a 10-day self-quarantine for international arrivals. Picture: Mandel Ngan/AFPSource:AFP

US President Joe Biden has signed an order that will have a big change on how the world will travel to the country amid the pandemic.

US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order mandating not only face masks to be worn on aeroplanes and within airports, but also a 10-day self-quarantine for international arrivals.

The newly inaugurated President hit the ground running on his first day in the Oval Office by making moves to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which has decimated the US.

The new quarantine policy’s official start date has not been announced, but it is expected to go into effect within the coming days.

Visitors in to the US will soon be required to test negative and enter 10 days of mandatory quarantine. Picture: Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP — Visitors in to the US will soon be required to test negative and enter 10 days of mandatory quarantine.
Picture: Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFPSource:AFP

In a press conference on Thursday afternoon local time in Washington D.C, President Biden promised to “take steps necessary to slow the spread of the disease now” and that wearing a mask is a “patriotic duty” that would be required on all trains, planes and buses.

Similar to what is in place for international arrivals into Australia, anyone heading to the US “will need to test before they get onto that plane before they depart and quarantine when they arrive in America”.

Newly inaugurated US President Joe Biden signs executive orders as part of the COVID-19 response, including big changes for international arrivals. Picture: Mandel Ngan/AFP — Newly inaugurated US President Joe Biden signs executive orders as part of the
COVID-19 response, including big changes for international arrivals.
Picture: Mandel Ngan/AFPSource:AFP

President Biden said the hotel quarantine length for visitors would be slightly less than the 14 days in Australia, with international arrivals instead required to stay 10 days in quarantine.

In addition to travel changes, Mr Biden outlined plans to increase vaccinations and testing across the country, reopen schools and businesses and increase the use of masks.

“We didn’t get into this mess overnight, and it will take months to turn this around,” he warned during the Thursday evening address.

“Despite the best intentions we’re going to face setbacks …[but] to a nation waiting for action, let me be clear on this point: Help is on the way.”