Listen to the news

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved ending a requirement that most foreign travelers arriving in the country be vaccinated against COVID-19, one of the few pandemic-related travel restrictions still in place, Reuters reported.

All about the topic:

Omicron - the new 1085 coronavirus variant

The bill passed by a vote of 227 to 201, with seven Democrats joining the Republican vote.

Not a single member of the Republican Party voted against the law.

In June, President Joe Biden's administration lifted the requirement that people arriving in the U.S. by air present a negative test for COVID-19, but did not lift the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccination requirements for most foreign travelers.

The White House announced Tuesday that it opposes the bill, saying the vaccine requirement has "allowed people around the world to reunite with their loved ones while reducing the spread of COVID-19 and the burden of the virus on the health care system." US system".

It is not yet clear whether the US Senate will reconsider the bill.

The White House plans to declare the end of the public health emergency related to COVID-19 on May 11.

"As the public health emergency nears its end, the administration will review all relevant policies, including this one," Washington said in a statement regarding the vaccine requirement for travelers arriving in the country. 

Chinese virologists have developed technology to store mRNA vaccines at room temperature

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says vaccines remain the most important tool in the fight against COVID-19 and recommends that all travelers get vaccinated.

"The need for this requirement is long overdue, and we appreciate the bipartisan action by the U.S. House of Representatives to end this outdated policy ... The U.S. remains the only country that still maintains this policy," the US Travel Association said.

Currently, visitors of legal age to the United States who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country must show proof of vaccination before boarding the plane.

Omicron - the new coronavirus variant

coronavirus