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(Adds Canadian decision on enhanced screening measures)
By David Shepardson and Tracy Rucinski
WASHINGTON/CHICAGO, Dec 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. government
does not intend to impose COVID-19 screenings for passengers
traveling from Britain after the emergence of a highly
infectious new coronavirus variant there, people briefed on the
decision said.
White House coronavirus task force members backed requiring
negative pre-flight tests after a meeting on Monday, but the
Trump administration has decided not to take any action for the
time being, the people said.
Much of the world shut their borders to Britain after the
discovery of a mutated variant of the novel coronavirus, though
the European Union recommended on Tuesday that members roll back
sweeping closures to allow some travel.
Canada is implementing enhanced measures to screen travelers
from Britain, including those arriving from other nations, its
public safety minister said on Tuesday.
The three airlines that operate flights from London to John
F. Kennedy International Airport - British Airways,
Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic - voluntarily agreed
to a request from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo that they only
allow passengers who test negative to fly.
The Trump administration has repeatedly refused to issue
mandates for many federal COVID-19 safety policies for air
travel, making only strong recommendations on issues such as
mask wearing. President-elect Joe Biden has vowed to mandate
masks in interstate air, bus and train travel after taking
office on Jan. 20.
The White House in August scuttled an effort to require
airlines to collect contact tracing information from U.S.-bound
international passengers, Reuters reported.
The White House in July rejected a proposal to require
facial coverings at U.S. airports, train and transit stations
and onboard airplanes, trains and transit services and earlier
dismissed proposals to require temperature checks of airline
passengers.
Speaking on ABC's "Good Morning America," Dr. Anthony Fauci,
director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases, said it is possible the new COVID-19 variant is
already in the United States.
"You really need to assume it’s here already," Fauci said.
Michael Osterholm, a Biden COVID-19 adviser, on Tuesday said
all options need to be considered to stem the spread of the new
UK variant. He urged the Trump administration to come up with a
plan.
"We really need to develop a national response," he told
CNN. "Everything needs to be on the table."
(Reporting by David Shepardson and Tracy Rucinski in Chicago;
Additional reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington; Editing by
Chizu Nomiyama and Lisa Shumaker)
