WASHINGTON: The US government will continue to require all foreign travellers, regardless of their vaccination status, to have a negative coronavirus test result before being allowed to enter the country.

“We’re constantly evaluating our policy, the pre-departure testing requirement remains in place as we have it today,” White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said on Wednesday. Changes to theregulations would be made based solely on the assessment of healthand medical experts, she added.

The US travel industry is calling for an end to mandatory testing forfully vaccinated air travellers.

A letter from airlines, airports, hotel chains and other industryassociations to the White House Coronavirus Coordinator last monthwarned that the economic losses from the measure would besignificant. They also pointed out that there is no mandatory testingat the US land borders with Canada and Mexico.

Travellers to the US must be tested the day before their flight. Thetesting requirement applies to both foreigners and US citizensregardless of vaccination status.

Those who have recently recovered from Covid-19 and can show a letterfrom a doctor or health authority are exempt from the requirement.

Travellers flying within the US, on the other hand, are not subjectto compulsory testing and, following a ruling by a federal court, areno longer even required to wear masks on board.