The International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Wednesday asked countries to follow the World Health Organization’s new travel guidelines. The guide recommends a “risk-based approach” to implementing measures related to COVID-19 and international travel.
Specifically, the World Health Organization has recommended governments to:
- Do not require proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a mandatory entry or exit requirement
- Relax measures such as testing and/or quarantine requirements for travelers who have been fully vaccinated or who have previously had a confirmed COVID-19 infection in the past six months and are no longer contagious.
- Ensure alternate routes for non-vaccinated people through testing so that they can travel internationally. The World Health Organization recommends rRT-PCR tests, or rapid antigen detection diagnostic tests (Ag-RDT) followed by confirmatory rRT-PCR tests for positive samples, for this purpose.
- Implement ‘risk-based’ testing and/or quarantine measures for international travelers with regular review of testing and quarantine policies to ensure they are lifted when they are no longer needed.
The WHO’s risk-based and rationale recommendations, if followed by countries, would allow the resumption of international air travel while reducing the possibility of COVID-19 import. As the World Health Organization notes, and as the latest UK testing data shows, international travelers are not a high-risk group in relation to COVID-19. Of the 1.65 million tests done on international passengers who have arrived in the UK since February, only 1.4% have tested positive for COVID-19. “It is time for governments to integrate data into risk-based decision-making to reopen borders,” said Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association.
Press release from the International Air Transport Association
Camelia Bacchus is a British author and journalist known for her engaging storytelling and insightful exploration of contemporary social issues. Drawing on her extensive experience in journalism, she crafts narratives that blend authenticity, cultural awareness, and compelling character development. Her work reflects a keen understanding of modern life and the diverse experiences that shape today’s society.