SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Just when travelers thought airlines were getting back to normal, new rules went into effect Monday.
All vaccinated travelers were required to test within three days of departure, now travelers have 24 hours to test negative for COVID-19 before entering the United States.
San Diego traveler Deanne Ross says the restrictions won't scare her away from future travels, but she will be prepared.
"I have a friend in Morocco that can't come home right now so that would make me nervous,"said Ross.
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The expected change comes as the country beefs up protocol for the Omicron variant. Foreign travelers must also be fully vaccinated.
President BIden also announced that federal mask mandates have been extended to March 18th.
The Rigby's returned from Liverpool, England Monday said the last minute travel changes are not surprising.
"It would be nice to standardized the travel rules, but then again we knew there could be changes and we accept it," said Mr. Rigby.
The one-day testing requirements for some is also proving to be more costly.
More updates on the country's response to the variant are expected Thursday.
The omicron variant was first identified in South Africa. However, it's since been discovered in the U.S., with cases reported in California, New York, Colorado, Hawaii, and Minnesota.