If you’re flying into the United States from anywhere abroad, there’s a brand new rule dropping that you gotta know about.
What’s Going On
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in response to the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded, is now requiring all U.S.-bound international travelers to sign a statement, effective 11:59 PM EST on Tuesday, November 3rd, confirming they haven’t been in the DRC in the last 21 days.
No signature, no boarding. It’s that simple.
Why the DRC
The DRC is dealing with the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded, and the numbers are no joke:
- Over 10,200 Ebola cases confirmed in the DRC as of October 27th
- Nearly 5,000 dead
- State Department threw a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” on the country over health, crime, unrest, terrorism, and kidnapping
No cases in the U.S. yet, CDC says risk is low, but they’re not rolling the dice
Why 21 Days
Twenty-one days is the max incubation period for Ebola. That’s the window where someone could be carrying it without showing symptoms. So the CDC drew the line right there.
Who Has to Sign
Pretty much everybody. That list includes:
- Adults and kids, doesn’t matter how old
- Passengers and crew, everybody on board
- Folks flying into the U.S. or just passing through on a connection
- U.S. citizens, green card holders, foreign nationals, the whole lineup
- Commercial flights, private jets, general aviation, cargo planes, all of it
The exceptions are barely worth mentioning, just humanitarian cases and government-approved flights carrying Ebola patients
What About Kids and People With Disabilities
If a traveler is a minor, a parent, guardian, or authorized person has to sign on their behalf. Same deal for adults who can’t sign due to a disability, a family member, travel companion, or authorized individual can handle it.
What Counts as “Being in the DRC”
Here’s the kicker: even just connecting through a DRC airport counts. You don’t have to leave the terminal, you don’t even have to step off the plane. If the flight touches down there, it counts.
What Happens if You Lie
The CDC isn’t playing around. Giving false or misleading info on the attestation can lead to:
- Criminal prosecution
- Fines
- Jail time
Also Read: Air Suvidha 2.0: Step-by-Step Guide for International Passengers Arriving in India
The Airline Industry Pushback
Reuters reported that Airlines for America and the International Air Transport Association both pushed the CDC to reconsider the deadline and the scope of the rule. But as of right now, the order stands and it’s going live November 3rd.
This is a no-exceptions, sign-it-or-stay-grounded kind of deal. The Ebola situation in the DRC is serious, the U.S. government is treating it that way, and every single traveler flying into the country is now part of the screening process.
| Disclaimer: Indian Eagle claims no credit for the images featured on its blog site. All the visual content is copyrighted to its respective owners only. We mention the source name of the image whenever possible and found. However, if we miss acknowledging the owner’s source, please contact us. In case, owners don’t want us to use their images, we will remove them promptly. We believe in providing proper attribution to the original author, artist, and photographer. |
