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Collection of Certain Data Regarding Passengers and Crew Arriving from Foreign Countries by Airlines

On February 18, 2020, CDC issued an Order to airlines requiring them to collect and provide contact information to CDC about any passenger who had departed from, or was otherwise present within, the People’s Republic of China (excluding the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau) within 14 days of the person’s entry or attempted entry into the United States via that airline’s carriage. CDC rescinded the Order effective September 29, 2020.

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Suspending the Right to Introduce Certain Persons from Countries Where a Quarantinable Communicable Disease Exists

During the COVID-19 pandemic, CDC issued a series of orders under 42 U.S.C. §§ 265, 268 and 42 C.F.R. § 71.40 suspending the right to introduce certain noncitizens attempting to enter the U.S. from Canada or Mexico (regardless of country of origin) at or between ports of entry. The initial Order Suspending Introduction of Certain Persons from Countries where a Communicable Disease Exists was issued by CDC on March 20, 2020.

The Order was replaced with the Order Suspending the Right to Introduce Certain Persons from Countries Where a Quarantinable Communicable Disease Exists on October 13, 2020. Unaccompanied noncitizen children (UC) were subsequently excepted from the Order. On August 2, 2021, CDC replaced previous the Order. UC continued to be excepted from application of the Order and CDC permanently terminated the Order with respect to UC in March 2022.

On April 6, 2022, following a public health determination, the CDC Director announced her decision to terminate the August 2021 Order suspending the right to introduce certain persons into the United States. Due to a court injunction, however, the termination could not take effect and the August 2021 Order remained in effect until May 2023.

The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency expired at 11:59 pm EDT on May 11, 2023. By its terms, the Order issued in August 2021 terminated upon the expiration of the public health emergency.

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Requirement for Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test Result or Recovery from COVID-19 for All Airline Passengers Arriving into the United States.

CDC issued an Order on January 12, 2021, requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 for all air passengers arriving from a foreign country to the U.S. On January 25, 2021, CDC posted a revision to this order. The revised Order was effective January 26, 2021.

CDC amended the Order on October 25, 2021. The amendment updated COVID-19 testing requirements for air passengers 2 years or older boarding a flight to the United States, depending on COVID-19 vaccination status. The Amended Order went into effect on November 8, 2021, at 12:01am EST (5:01am GMT).

On December 02, 2021, CDC amended its October 25, 2021 Amended Order. This Amended Order went into effect for flights departing to the U.S. from a foreign country at or after 12:01am EST (5:01am GMT) on December 6, 2021.

On June 10, 2022, CDC rescinded the Order. As of 12:01 AM ET on June 12, 2022, all air passengers, regardless of citizenship or vaccination status, were no longer required to show a negative viral COVID-19 test result, or documentation of recovery from COVID-19, before boarding a flight to the United States.

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Wearing of Face Masks while on Conveyances and at Transportation Hubs

CDC issued an Order on January 29, 2021, requiring the wearing of masks by people on public transportation conveyances traveling into, within, or out of the United States, or on the premises of U.S. transportation hubs, to prevent spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. This Order was effective February 1, 2021.

The terms of the Order, which were no longer enforceable as a result of a court order (effective, April 18, 2022), expired due to the conclusion of the Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023.

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Requirement for Airlines to Collect Designated Information for Passengers Destined for the United States Who Were Departing from, or Were Otherwise Present in, the Republic of Guinea

In February 2021, outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (Ebola) were identified in the Republic of Guinea (Guinea) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). CDC issued an Order on March 2, 2021, requiring airlines to collect and transmit to CDC contact information for passengers who were in DRC or Guinea within the 21 days before their arrival or attempted arrival in the United States. This Order became effective on March 4, 2021.

On April 29, 2021, CDC amended the Order to no longer require the collection and transmission of contact information for passengers who were in DRC within 21 days before their arrival or attempted arrival in the United States.

On May 13, 2021, CDC issued a rescission to no longer require the collection and transmission of contact information for passengers who were in Guinea within 21 days before their arrival or attempted arrival in the United States.

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Implementing Presidential Proclamation on Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic

On October 25, 2021, the President issued a Proclamation for the resumption of global travel and implemented a global suspension and restriction on entry for non-U.S. citizens who were nonimmigrants seeking to enter the United States by air travel and who were not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as defined at the time. The Proclamation directed CDC to implement the Proclamation as it applied to the public’s health in accordance with appropriate public health protocols and consistent with CDC’s independent public health judgment.

Therefore, CDC issued an Order on October 25, 2021 (later amended on October 30, 2022) to implement the President’s direction. The Order implementing the Presidential Proclamation was effective November 8, 2021.

On April 4, 2022, CDC amended its October 30, 2021, Order to align post-arrival public health requirements for self-quarantine and self-isolation for noncitizen nonimmigrants who met an exception to the proof of vaccination requirement with recommendations in place at the time for actions to take after international travel. The Amended Order also formalized guidance described in Technical Instructions, announced in FAQs on CDC’s website, and in the attestation. The Amended Order went into effect for flights departing to the U.S. from a foreign country on April 14, 2022.

Beginning 12:01 a.m. EDT on May 12, 2023, the Amended Order ceased to be in effect. Noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers no longer needed to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States.

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Requirements for Negative Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Result or Documentation of Recovery from COVID-19 for Aircraft Passengers Traveling to the United States from the People’s Republic of China

On December 30, 2022, CDC issued an Order requiring a negative pre-departure test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 for aircraft passengers traveling to the United States from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Designated Airports*. This Order went into effect on January 5, 2023, 12:01am EST.

On March 10, 2023, CDC rescinded the Order.  This rescission took effect for flights departing to the United States from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Designated Airports* at or after 3:00pm ET on March 10, 2023.

*Designated Airports included Incheon International Airport (ICN) in Seoul, Republic of Korea; Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) in Canada; and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in Canada.

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No Sail Order and Other Measures Related to Operations

On March 14, 2020, CDC issued a No Sail Order and Other Measures Related to Operations for cruise ships due to the risk of cruise ship travel introducing, transmitting, or spreading COVID-19. On April 9, 2020, CDC renewed the No Sail Order and Other Measures Related to Operations Order—subject to the modifications and additional stipulated conditions as set forth in the Order. CDC extended the No Sail Order and Other Measures Related to Operations on July 16, 2020, and September 30, 2020, subject to the modifications and additional stipulated conditions set forth in the orders.

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Framework for Conditional Sailing Order for Cruise Ships

On October 30, 2020, CDC issued a Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO). The Order established a framework of actionable items for the cruise line industry to follow so they could resume passenger operations with an emphasis on preventing the further spread of COVID-19 on cruise ships and from cruise ships into communities, and to protect public health and safety. The first phase of the CSO involved establishing laboratory capacity both on board ships and at shoreside facilities for COVID-19 viral testing using nucleic acid amplification tests.

On April 2, 2021, CDC released a new phase of the CSO for cruise ships operating or seeking to operate in U.S. waters. This new phase required cruise lines to establish agreements at ports where they intended to operate, implement routine testing of crew, and develop plans incorporating vaccination strategies to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of COVID-19 by crew and passengers.

On May 5, 2021, CDC released the next two phases of the CSO for cruise ships operating or seeking to operate in U.S. waters. With the issuance of the next two phases, cruise ship operators had all the necessary requirements and recommendations they needed before resuming restricted passenger voyages as defined by the CSO.

On October 25, 2021, CDC extended the CSO with minor modifications.

On January 15, 2022, the CSO expired. At that point, CDC transitioned to a voluntary program, in coordination with the cruise ship operators and other stakeholders, to assist the cruise industry to continue to detect, mitigate, and control the spread of COVID-19 onboard cruise ships. The voluntary program formally ended on July 16, 2022, although CDC continued to issue guidance.

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