US to end Covid-19 vaccination requirement for foreign travellers
- The United States introduced the compulsory vaccination requirement in November 2021 to slow the spread of the coronavirus
- Deaths from the virus were at their lowest levels since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the White House
The White House on Monday announced a May 11 end to Covid-19 vaccine requirements for travelers to the United States and for government employees across the world’s biggest economy.
“Today, we are announcing that the administration will end the Covid-19 vaccine requirements for federal employees, federal contractors, and international air travelers at the end of the day on May 11, the same day that the Covid-19 public health emergency ends,” a statement said.
The US introduced the compulsory vaccination requirement in November 2021 to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
More than a million people died from Covid-19 in the United States. However, the White House noted that the pandemic had been all but stopped, leading to the government lifting restrictions dating back from when the disease was ravaging entire communities and forcing crippling economic shutdowns.
“Since January 2021, Covid-19 deaths have declined by 95 per cent and hospitalisations are down nearly 91 per cent. Globally, Covid-19 deaths are at their lowest levels since the start of the pandemic,” the statement said.
According to the White House, “vaccine requirements bolstered vaccination across the nation, and our broader vaccination campaign has saved millions of lives”.