The US is one of the few major holiday destinations to still require even vaccinated travellers to provide evidence of a recent negative Covid test, taken within just 24 hours of departure. And with current UK Covid rates remaining stubbornly high, holidaymakers continue to be faced with huge anxiety about whether their trips will go ahead, just one day before they jet off.

Some industry experts believe that demand for US holidays remains relatively low due to its insistence of persevering with strict testing rules. Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said: “I’m seeing destinations which continue to keep Covid testing measures in place lose traveller market share to other destinations.

“The US is not benefiting from the rebound in travel as much as other countries because of the continuing testing rules for entry. It’s now time to remove these excessive and costly rules and live with Covid as most other countries are. It would do wonders for bookings for the US.”

There is hope that the measure could soon finally be dropped, or at least loosened. Jason Liberty, CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group, recently revealed in a press conference that sources within the Biden administration have suggested to large US travel companies that plans are being drawn up to drop testing rules. However, just last week the White House coronavirus response coordinator, Jeff Zients, said in a press briefing that “there are no plans to change the international travel requirements at this point.”

Still, pressure is continuing to grow from airlines. Last month, industry lobbying group Airlines for America (A4A) – which counts all major US carriers amongst its members – wrote a letter to the government urging pre-departure testing and mask rules to be scrapped. The group said the measures were “no longer aligned with the realities of the current epidemiological environment” and highlighted that the UK, Canada and the EU have all relaxed their testing rules.

Separately, Delta CEO Ed Bastian has stressed the need to adjust the rules to fit the reduced threat level from Covid. “Current data and science show it’s time to move from mandates to guidance and personal health choices,” he said. 

A key date in the calendar is April 18, when the federal mask mandate for transport is set to expire. Some, such as Paul Charles, suggest that we could also see a change to international testing rules announced on this day. It’s worth noting that while the measure might not be scrapped in its entirety, there could well be a loosening of requirements, such as a longer timeframe in which to take the test. When the US first reopened to international travellers, PCR tests could be taken 72 hours prior to departure – this was tightened to just one day with the emergence of the omicron variant. 

Covid cases in the US remain low after a significant surge at the end of last year, but rates have recently started to increase and are up three per cent on two weeks ago. Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to the President, yesterday called the rise “concerning” and said that officials were monitoring the situation “very, very carefully.” This may well dampen hopes that testing will be removed imminently, but if it continues with the policy the US may well find itself increasingly abandoned by holidaymakers. 

What are the current Covid rules? 

Travellers to the US must be fully vaccinated. In addition, they must show evidence of a negative Covid test result taken no more than one day before travel. The test can either be a rapid antigen or PCR test. Children aged 17 years and under are exempt from the vaccination requirement. Children under two do not need to take a pre-departure test. Full requirements for pre-travel testing can be found on the CDC website.

Wearing a face mask is required on public transport travelling into, within, or out of the United States and inside airports.

When will the rules on face masks change?

The nationwide face mask rule for transport is set to expire on April 18 and there is an expectation from the travel industry that this will not be renewed. 

After the last extension in March, a Delta Airlines spokesperson said: “Delta and our industry partners are urging the administration to lift the federal mask mandate for transportation on April 18, making this latest extension, the final extension.”

For its part, the White House has said it is “working across government on a revised policy framework for when to mask based on its Covid-19 community levels.”

What does a holiday to the US look like right now?

Once over the testing hurdle, holidays to the US now feel relatively normal – though this still varies from state to state. In New York, restaurants no longer require proof of vaccination to enter, however all those over five years old attending a Broadway show must be inoculated. 

Meanwhile Disney has lifted its mask requirements for its US theme parks and visitors to Florida will find a distinctly 2019 feel.