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United Airlines travelers flying from the United Kingdom to Newark Liberty International Airport will soon have to test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of their departure time, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced Thursday.
The airline, which maintains a hub at Newark Liberty, is setting a similar requirement for travelers coming from the U.K. to its hubs in Chicago, Washington and San Francisco, adding a recent COVID-19 test to its “Ready-to-Fly” checklist for customers who have scheduled air travel at a time when much of the U.S. is gripped by a deadly second wave of the pandemic.
“As we continue to experience a second wave of COVID-19 cases, it’s critical that we take any and all precautions to mitigate the potential for further transmission,” Murphy said in a statement. “While New Jersey continues to strongly discourage all non-essential travel at this time, if unavoidable, international travelers should adhere to CDC guidance for pre- and post-flight testing and the recommended self-quarantine period.”
Other countries began shutting down travel to and from the U.K. over the last week after health officials identified a new strain of coronavirus that’s up to 70 percent more transmissible than previous iterations. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered residents of London and southeast England to enter lockdown last week.
“We cannot continue with Christmas as planned. In England, those living in Tier 4 areas should not mix with anyone outside their own household at Christmas,” Johnson said in a weekend press conference.
The new travel rule applies to anyone over the age of 5 whose travel originated in the U.K. Those traveling from elsewhere with connecting flights from London’s Heathrow Airport, where rapid testing is available, will not be required to show negative results from a recent test.
“Beginning December 28, United customers traveling from London Heathrow to Chicago, Newark, Washington Dulles and San Francisco will be required to present proof [of] a negative COVID-19 test taken no later than 72 hours prior to departure,” the airline said in a statement. “The health and safety of our employees and customers is our highest priority.“
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