US to ban entry for unvaccinated foreigners

President Joe Biden will require essential, nonresident travelers crossing US land borders, such as truck drivers, government and emergency response officials, to be fully vaccinated beginning on January 22, 2022, Report informs referring to Associated Press.

The rules pertain to non-US nationals. American citizens and permanent residents may still enter the US regardless of their vaccination status, but face additional testing hurdles because officials believe they more easily contract and spread COVID-19 and in order to encourage them to get a shot.

Essential travelers entering by ferry will also be required to be fully vaccinated by the same date.

The Biden administration pushed back the requirement for essential travelers by more than two months from when it went into effect on November 8 for non-essential visitors to prevent disruptions, particularly among truck drivers who are vital to North American trade. While most cross-border traffic was shut down in the earliest days of the pandemic, essential travelers have been able to transit unimpeded.

About 47 million adults in the US remain unvaccinated, according to figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.