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

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.
 

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”.
 

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.”