疫情又升温 多所大学恢复口罩令
世界新闻网
4/23/2022
2022年大学学年还剩最后几周就要结束，却因新冠疫情升温再次被打乱阵脚。为防堵疫情扩散，部分大学恢复口罩令，有的改为在线课程并缩减大型聚会规模。包括华府、纽约、宾州、麻州、康乃狄克州和德州的大学都重新实施一系列防疫措施，华府的霍华德大学(Howard University)则因病例激增，转为远距上课。
从入学就遇到疫情…今年升大四学生 还未享受过「正常」校园
这是全美大学连续第三个学年被COVID-19颠覆；也代表即将升上大四的学生，一直没有机会经历「正常」的大学生活。
因为Omicron变体BA.2子变体继续迅速传播，最近几周，几个东北城市的感染病例和住院人数增加。纽约州北部的罗切斯特大学、康乃狄克大学、缅因州鲍登学院和纽约市哥伦比亚大学，都宣布在教室内戴口罩等等的类似防疫措施。
麻州私立威廉姆斯文理学院(Williams College)上周才刚允许教授决定是否在课堂要求戴口罩，几天后，随着病例增加，又恢复了室内戴口罩规定，比以前还要严格。
除了美国大学(American University)，乔治城大学和乔治华盛顿大学也恢复室内口罩要求；霍华德大学是唯一改采在线授课的学校；春季学期22日结束，大多数学生期末考试将自下周开始。5月7日的毕业典礼究竟会如何举行，仍待校方宣布。
乔治华盛顿大学大四生德格鲁特(Lia DeGroot)在学校解除口罩禁令那一周内没敢脱下口罩，她说：「我不认为人们对戴口罩非常不满，在疫情破坏的所有事情中，戴口罩是相对较小的事；我想这是很多学生都有的心态。」
但在许多学生急着戴回口罩的同时，抱怨声也随之而来；「我们厌倦了口罩。」哥伦比亚大学金融工程研究生苏达哈卡(Neeraj Sudhakar)说： 「我们的疫苗接种率可能有99%，我认为我们只需继续面对疫情、把它视为地方性传染病，而不是重回过去两年的做法。」
费城住院率下降 口罩令恢复4天又解除
另外，费城的新冠感染率4月增加了一倍多，18日恢复强制戴口罩规定，导致宾州大学和天普大学再次要求戴口罩；不过费城公卫当局21日晚间宣布解除室内戴口罩，但这些大学并没有跟着做出变更。
费城卫生局指出，有鉴于「住院率下降和确诊数的平均」，费城卫生委员会(Board of Health)表决同意废除室内口罩强制令，仅仅实施四天。
染疫激增3倍 威州学区恢复口罩令
世界新闻网
4/22/2022
疫情反复，导致各地口罩令也时松时紧，威斯康辛州密尔瓦基公立学校(Milwaukee Public Schools，MPS)本周一(18日)开始实施松绑校园口罩令，没想到第二天又因新冠病毒在密尔瓦基市「严重传播」，而紧急宣布从20日起恢复强制戴口罩。
MPS表示，假使在未来几周该市与学区的病毒传播风险降低，将会重新考虑让幼稚园到12年级的学生自由选择是否戴口罩。
密尔瓦基郡卫生局首席健康政策顾问韦斯顿(Ben Weston)说，「大家都累了，我也累了，每个人都厌倦了疫情」，他表示，相信没有人不对戴口罩、保持安全距离等防疫措施感到疲惫，「公众都不愿意再去思考有关COVID的任何事情」，然而现实摆在面前的是「染疫又重新出现增加」，这使得公卫单位不得不考虑防疫的必要性。
该学区3月下旬才开会讨论并投票决定，从18日起让学生们可弹性选择是否戴口罩上学，但放宽口罩令才运行一天，却因当地染疫人数激增而让学区又紧急宣布恢复口罩令。
根据密尔瓦基卫生局统计，当地每十万人的感染人数为58.1，属「高风险传播」(substantial transmission)，韦斯顿说，主要因为过去三周，当地染疫人数从每天添加34个激增到104名，保险起见，才收回了弹性口罩规定。韦斯顿也呼吁民众，鉴于感染风险提高，如果要到室内场所，建议务必戴上口罩。
国际旅客经陆路或港口入境美国 仍须出示疫苗接种证明
文 / 陈慧璋
4/21/2022
（早报讯）美国决定延长对国际旅客在其陆路及港口边境口岸出示冠病疫苗接种证明的规定。
《纽约时报》报道，在美墨和美加陆路边境及渡轮码头实施的这项入境措施于去年11月开始实施。
美国国土安全部在与疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）等联邦机构进行讨论后，决定延长这项措施。
不过国土安全部周四（4月21日）说，与国际航空旅客不同的是，由陆路或渡轮码头进入美国的国际旅客将无须提供冠病检测阴性证明。
依照美国CDC的规定，接种第二剂辉瑞-BioNTech疫苗或莫德纳疫苗两周之后，或接种单剂的强生疫苗两周之后，即可视为完成冠病疫苗接种。
CDC说，完成接种获世界卫生组织（WHO）紧急使用授权的任何一种冠病疫苗，也可被视为完成冠病疫苗接种。
Healthcare Certification and ESL Programs
取道陆路海路入境美国 明年1月必须完全接种
文章来源: 星岛日报
11/24/2021
为了加强防控新冠疫情，拜登政府继月初收紧非必要旅客的入境规定后，再次宣布从明年1月22日起，所有取道陆路和海路来美的非本国居民，即使行程属于必要性质，也必须完成疫苗注射，从政府官员、紧急救援人员以至货车司机，都不能享有豁免。
Nov 8, 2021
Recreational travelers can now enter the U.S. by land and passenger ferry — as long as those aged 18 and older are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The United States had kept its shared land border with Canada closed to non-essential travel since March 2020.
美联社报道，政府23日公布最新消息后， 1名高官表示，白宫从10月开始已经筹划有关规定，届时一方面向全面接种疫苗的个人旅客开放边境，另一方面也对必要旅客和非必要旅客一视同仁。另1名不愿透露身份的官员补充说，乘搭渡轮入境的必要旅客，从1月22日起也要遵守同样标准。
本身是美国公民和永久居民的人士，入境时不受上述措施限制，但需要接受额外检测。官员相信，往来边境的旅客感染、传播新冠病毒的风险较高，因此希望措施能鼓励他们接种。
分析形容，拜登政府先在11月8日对非必要旅客颁布入境疫苗令，相隔2个月后才把范围扩大到必要旅客，目的是避免操之过急干扰民生，毕竟现在供应链混乱，货车司机人手不足，一旦入境受到影响，可能冲击整个北美地区的贸易。
根据疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）统计，目前全国仍有约4700万名成年人未接种疫苗。拜登政府早前宣布企业疫苗令后，职业安全与健康管理局（OSHA）已经制定指引，规定雇员数目超过100人的企业，必须敦促员工在明年初接种，否则相关员工要每星期接受病毒检测，上班时亦必须配戴口罩，企业违规的话每宗个案将被罚款1.4万元。虽然规定正因诉讼而暂缓执行，但白宫仍鼓励企业自行推动措施提升接种率。
Travel.State.Gov
护照申请变快了 一般缩至8~11周 加$60 5~7周搞定
世界新闻网
10/31/2021
国务院(The State Department)29日宣布护照申请处理时间将缩短至8到11周，若要加速处理过程需额外花费60元，约五至七周可拿到新护照。
另外，民众须注意申请日期改为从护照机构或中心收到护照申请当日开始计算，而非从邮局或地方政府办公室邮寄或申请开始算起；过往的时间计算方式包含邮寄、处理手续以及寄送护照的过程。
国务院仍然建议民众在出国前至少四到六个月申请护照，若紧急情况或紧急国际旅游需求，申请者必须打电话预约，但名额有限。
国务院本月稍早表示，提交护照申请到拿到新护照大约需等待14周，急件则需等待约10周；今年7月由于累积大量护照申请案，导致整体等待时间增加至约12周到18周。
国务院最新声明中表示：「国务院致力于尽最快速度处理护照申请，减少待办的护照申请数量，缩短处理时间，而增加机构柜台服务仍然是首要优先事项。」
国务院提醒：「我们不再用送件到府(door-to-door)运输方式来计算我们估计的手续时间或急件服务时间，各地的邮寄时间不同，请提前计划及尽早申请。」
Travel.State.Gov
Passport Operations in Response to COVID-19
Passport Services Available Now
What to Expect:
- As of October 29, routine processing is 8 to 11 weeks and expedite processing (for an additional $60) is 5 to 7 weeks.
- Our processing times begin the day we receive your application at a passport agency or center, not the day you mail your application or apply for a passport at a local acceptance facility.
- We are no longer using door-to-door timeframes to describe routine and expedited service.
- Mail times vary across the country. Plan ahead and apply early.
Select Trackable Mail:
- Send your application to us via USPS Priority Mail Express and pay an extra $17.56 for 1-2 day delivery of your completed passport. These services provide the fastest turnaround and protect your important documents
Use Self-Service Tools Online: Get your questions answered immediately by using one of the self-service tools available on our site. Check online for your passport status. Customer service representatives will not give status updates over the phone.
Planning to Travel? Apply Early! Apply at least 4-6 months before planned travel. Due to limited availability for urgent travel appointments, we cannot guarantee you can receive in-person service at a passport agency or center. We are prioritizing customers with life-or-death emergencies. We do not charge a fee to make an appointment. Visit our Passport Agency and Center page to learn more.
Appointments are Limited, Must Be Scheduled by Phone: Call 1-877-487-2778 or 1-888-874-7793 TDD/TTY from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, Mondays through Fridays. Learn more to see if you qualify for an appointment.
Renew By Mail: Adults with 10-year passports can renew them by mail instead of appearing in person.
*If you applied over 11 weeks ago for routine service or 7 weeks for expedited service and have not received your passport, we may have sent you a letter requesting more information. We cannot continue processing your application until you respond to this letter. Learn more on our Respond to a Letter or Email page.
拜登签署命令 11月8日中国旅客可入境 来看细则
来源：美国中文网
10/25/2021
白宫表示，拜登总统周一签署一项命令，对大多数外国航空旅客实施新的疫苗要求，并取消对中国、印度和欧洲大部分国家的严格旅行限制，自11月8日起生效。
美国2020年初首次实施特殊的旅行限制，以解决新冠病毒传播问题。该规则禁止大多数在过去14天内去过英国、欧洲申根国家、爱尔兰、中国、印度、南非、伊朗和巴西的非美国公民入境。
一名政府官员周一表示，从11月8日开始，未接种疫苗的美国公民和长期居民必须提交在重新入境前一天进行的呈阴性的新冠病毒检测结果，而完全接种疫苗的美国人必须提交在旅行前三天内进行的新冠检测结果。
白宫称，2岁以下儿童不需要进行检测，如果2至18岁未成年人与完全接种疫苗的成年人一起旅行，他们可以提供出发前72小时内新冠检测呈阴性的结果。
拜登政府于9月份宣布，将解除入境限制，要求所有外国公民在来美之前全面接种疫苗。周一公布的指南概述了这一要求的豁免对象，包括18岁以下游客；患有某些疾病的人；临床试验参与者以及那些因紧急情况或人道主义原因需要旅行的人。
一名高级政府官员补充道，那些来自疫苗接种率低于10%的国家的旅客在提供了令人信服的来美理由后也将被允许入境。第二名高级官员指出，世卫组织会定期更新疫苗供应紧缺国家的名单，该名单大约包含50个国家，将每季度评估一次。
高级官员称，获得豁免的人只占“前往美国城市的实际游客数量的非常、非常少的一部分。”
此前，包括美国公民在内的所有旅客——无论其是否接种疫苗，都被要求提供在航班出发之前72小时内新冠检测呈阴性的证明。来自33个国家的旅客被禁止进入美国，即使他们已经完全接种了疫苗。
新规下，旅客在登机前需要提供疫苗接种证明和阴性的检测结果，航空公司将负责执行这些措施，包括确认旅客提供的记录是否是由官方发布，他们的接种状态是否符合疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）对“完全接种疫苗”的定义。
官员称，美国将接受世界卫生组织（WHO）批准的任何疫苗，旅客可提供官方发布的电子版疫苗卡。目前，已被列入世卫组织紧急使用清单的疫苗包括辉瑞疫苗、印度血清研究所疫苗、阿斯利康疫苗、强生疫苗、Moderna疫苗，以及中国的科兴和国药疫苗。
另一名高级官员表示，美国政府“非常清楚”还有其他新冠疫苗不在清单上，其中一些疫苗正在接受世卫组织的审查，他们将随时更新疫苗清单。
航空公司还被要求保留旅客的联系信息，以便CDC在出现潜在感染的情况下进行接触者追踪。
陆路边境旅行指南预计也将很快出台，可能会与航空旅行规则相呼应。
U.S. to ease Covid travel entry rules, require vaccinations for foreign visitors on Nov. 8
Foreign nationals from 33 countries will be allowed to enter the U.S. if they are vaccinated.
By Rebecca Shabad
10/15/2021
WASHINGTON — Travel restrictions that the U.S. imposed because of the Covid-19 pandemic will be partially lifted for nearly three dozen countries on Nov. 8, the Biden administration announced Friday.
White House assistant press secretary Kevin Munoz said in a tweet that the new policy will begin Nov. 8 and will require foreign national travelers from 33 countries to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
“This announcement and date applies to both international air travel and land travel. This policy is guided by public health, stringent, and consistent,” he said.
Foreign nationals from these countries were previously barred from entering the U.S. because of the virus.
The new policy will apply to a number of European nations — including the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain — as well as China and Iran, among others.
The administration announced the new policy in September and said that it would take effect in early November. Foreign nationals will be allowed to fly into the U.S. if they are fully vaccinated and able to show proof of vaccination prior to boarding a U.S.-bound flight, officials said at the time.
Officials said that the new system will put stricter requirements in place for travelers coming from outside those 33 countries.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will also require airlines to collect personal information for each U.S.-bound traveler, including their phone number and email address, to help public health officials with contact tracing.
New U.S. travel rule excludes those vaccinated with Russia’s Sputnik V
By Ivana Saric
9/28/2021
New rules allowing fully vaccinated international travelers to enter the U.S. beginning in November will exclude those vaccinated by Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, the Washington Post reports.
Why it matters: Sputnik V’s exclusion will mean millions of fully vaccinated individuals won’t be eligible to travel to the U.S., per the Post.
- It will also have a wider international impact, as Russia has plans to distribute its vaccine to around 70 countries.
State of play: According to the new rules, non-citizens entering the country must be inoculated with vaccines approved for emergency use by either the Food and Drug Administration or the World Health Organization, per the Post.
- These include the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines used widely in the U.S., as well as the AstraZeneca vaccine. It also includes the Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines developed by China.
- The WHO has paused its review process of the Sputnik V vaccine over concerns about its manufacturing process, the Post notes.
The big picture: While addressing the UN General Assembly on Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for the mutual recognition of vaccines by national oversight bodies.
- The Post notes that 300,000 Russians visited the U.S. in 2019, citing data from the U.S. Travel Association.
美国拟11月初开始放宽国际航班旅客入境限制
文 / 陈慧璋
9/20/2021
（早报讯）美国政府计划从11月初开始对“完全接种冠病疫苗”的外国旅客放宽入境限制。
新华社报道，白宫冠病疫情应对协调员津茨周一（20日）说，新规定适用于所有抵美国际航班，所有外国旅客入境美国时须出示“完全接种冠病疫苗”证明，以及出发前72小时内冠病检测阴性证明。
已完全接种冠病疫苗的国际旅客入境美国后不需要隔离。该规定将于11月初生效，以便相关机构和各航空公司做好准备。
津茨说，白宫将遵从美国疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）对“完全接种冠病疫苗”的具体解释，包括哪些疫苗符合规定要求。此外，美国疾控中心计划发布一项“追踪令”，要求航空公司收集并保留30天内抵美旅客的电话、电子邮箱等联系信息，以提醒旅客可能发生的接触感染风险。
津茨说，对未接种冠病疫苗的返美美国公民，美国政府将施行“更严格的检测要求”，包括须提供出发前一天内冠病检测阴性证明和已交纳返美后检测费用的证明。
美国政府周一继续把与加拿大、墨西哥的陆水两路跨境旅行限制令延长一个月至10月21日。这一陆水跨境限制令自2020年3月起实施，每月延长一次。今年8月9日起，加拿大允许接种过冠病疫苗的美国公民进入加拿大。
美国政府在去年冠病大流行初期开始实施国际旅行限制令，并不断扩大到新的国家和地区。此间媒体援引美国航空协会的数据说，截至今年8月底，国际旅行规模较疫情前缩水43%。美国旅游协会此前估计，如果美国的国际旅行限制令持续到今年年底，将使美国损失110万个就业岗位，并给美国经济造成约3250亿美元（约4394亿新元）的损失。
U.S. to lift international air travel restrictions on vaccinated adults in November
BY FRANCESCA CHAMBERS
9/20/2021
The United States will require all adult non-U.S. citizens to provide proof of vaccination and negative COVID-19 test results to enter the country, as part of a new set of rules for international air travel the White House announced on Monday.
White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients said Monday that the new rules, which will allow individuals from nations that are currently banned from entering the U.S., would go into effect starting in early November.
“In implementing additional strict safety protocols, we will protect Americans here at home, and enhance the safety of international travel,” Zients said.
Zients said the new rules would also authorize the collection of passenger data for the purposes of contact tracing.
The Biden administration had for months pushed off updating its international travel restrictions, citing a rise in coronavirus case counts over the summer, despite mounting opposition from travel industry groups, foreign government officials and legal residents of the U.S. who have not left the country for the last 18 months out of fear they would not be let back in.
Non-U.S. citizens who have been in the UK, Ireland, India and European nations in the Schengen area, including Italy, Spain, France, Denmark and Sweden, within the last 14 days are currently prohibited from traveling to the U.S., with some exceptions.
The travel restrictions that have been in place since last year have effectively kept most family members, tourists and business travelers from those nations from visiting the U.S., even as affected nations have opened their borders to Americans traveling abroad.
Pete Sibner, a Swedish national who lives in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., said two members of his extended family had died in the last several weeks, and neither he nor his wife, who is also from Sweden, were able to travel to their funerals.
“It’s been a rough couple of weeks,” he said, recounting how his wife had to say goodbye to her dying grandfather in a video call.
“She couldn’t be there when he passed away, and there was no way she could travel for the funeral, so she had to watch the funeral on FaceTime,” he added.
Sibner said a cousin he was close to also died recently, and the funeral is this week, but he will not be able to attend. “So that hurts.”
Individuals from other countries, including those with far lower vaccination rates than nations on the prohibition list, are currently able travel to the U.S., if they present proof of a negative coronavirus test prior to departure. Americans who travel abroad must also show negative COVID-19 test results to airlines in the 3-day period before their flight back to the U.S.
The human toll of the travel restrictions is one reason that a growing number of people inside and outside the U.S. have been pushing the Biden administration to introduce uniform standards. Travel and tourism groups have pushed hard for individuals from banned nations to travel to and from the country again to help boost the economy.
Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of the nonprofit marketing organization Visit California, said that pre-COVID, international visitors spent $28 billion in the state. Beteta said that international travel is California’s number one export and is a bigger boon for the state than agriculture.
“California experienced a 55% decline overall in travel, and we’re not expecting to reach that point again until 2024. And it’s largely because of the international market, as well as group meetings,” said Beteta, a member of the U.S. Department of Commerce Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, who wants the U.S. reopen to international travel.
The new rules for international travel will be similar to the systems other advanced nations now have in place.
Americans may travel to Italy if they show they are fully vaccinated, produce a negative COVID test taken 72 hours prior and submit a passenger locator form. France is currently open to fully vaccinated Americans, as well as minors accompanied by a vaccinated adult, who attest they have not been in contact with someone with COVID-19 and are not experiencing COVID-like symptoms.
Elliott Ferguson, president and CEO of the nonprofit marketing corporation Destination DC, said in an interview prior to Monday’s announcement that it is time for the U.S. to think along the same lines.
“If the concern is, you could still have COVID and have been vaccinated, then let’s by all means, consider some other alternatives such as testing before a person is able to get on a flight and testing negatively before they are able to physically fly to the United States,” Ferguson said.
For foreign nationals in the U.S. desperate to see their families, any new requirements that might accompany the lifting of travel restrictions are welcome.
“We’d undergo any kind of, whatever ordeal, it would take,” Sibner said. “My father, he hasn’t seen his grandchildren in two years now. My mother hasn’t seen her grandchildren in three years now, and they’re all back there, you know they would do anything, they would quarantine for two weeks if they had to.”
Sibner concluded, “We’d be willing to go through a lot.”
U.S. will limit some Chinese passenger air carriers to 40% capacity -order
By David Shepardson
8/18/2021
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Transportation Department on Wednesday said it will limit some flights from Chinese carriers to 40% passenger capacity for four weeks after the Chinese government imposed similar limits on four United Airlines flights.
China told United on Aug. 6 it was imposing sanctions after it alleged five passengers who traveled from San Francisco to Shanghai tested positive for COVID-19 on July 21.
The U.S. order said the department will limit over a four-week period each of four Chinese carriers to 40% capacity on a single China-U.S. flight.
United Airlines said it was “pleased to see this action by the (Transportation Department) in pursuit of fairness in this important market.”
The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately comment.
The U.S. government says China’s “circuit breaker” policy violates the nations’ air services agreement and “places undue culpability on carriers with respect to travelers that test positive for COVID-19 after their arrival in China.”
The department added carriers “have no means to independently verify positive test results alleged by Chinese authorities. Furthermore, there is no way to establish where or when a traveler may have contracted” the virus.
Chinese authorities gave United three options: cancel two San Francisco to Shanghai flights; operate two without passengers; or operate four flights with up to 40% of passenger capacity.
The limits were imposed on four Wednesday United San Francisco-Shanghai flights, beginning with an Aug. 11 flight.
The Biden administration said it will impose identical limits on four flights over four weeks – one each from Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines Co and Xiamen Airlines.
The limits come as many Chinese students are headed to the United States for the start of fall classes.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, China and the United States have sparred over air services.
In June 2020, the United States threatened to bar Chinese passenger flights after Beijing did not immediately agree to restore flights by U.S. airlines.
U.S. carriers voluntary halted flights to China after the coronavirus outbreak. Then-President Donald Trump on Jan. 31, 2020 barred nearly all non-U.S. citizens from traveling to the United States who had been in China within the last 14 days.
Those restrictions on Chinese travelers remain in place. The Biden administration in April eased restrictions on Chinese students traveling to U.S. schools effective Aug. 1.
A long-standing air agreement between China and the United States allows both countries to operate more than 100 weekly flights between the two nations but only a fraction of those are currently operating.
美国将从8月1日允许中国留学生赴美上课
4/28/2021
美国政府周二宣布，将在今年秋季放宽针对中国和其他国家的国际学生进入美国的旅行限制，这一调整可能会为一些在大流行期间招生人数下降的大学带来经济帮助。
据路透社报道，美国国务院声明，将从8月1日起将国家利益豁免扩大到来自世界各地的留学生和学者，此前美国国务院在3月为来自欧洲的留学生作出了上述调整。
在美学习的国际学生中中国学生人数最多。根据国际教育交流(IEE)的数据，2019-20学年约有35%的国际学生来自中国，几乎是排在第二位的印度留学生人数的两倍。
受疫情影响，美国禁止大多数在两周内去过中国、巴西、南非、伊朗和欧洲大部分地区的非美国公民入境美国。现在，所有来自这些国家的留学生都可以在今年秋季前往美国。
IEE在2020年11月发布的一份报告中写道，2019-20学年，37.2万名中国公民在美国的大学和学院就读。
根据美国国家学生信息交换所的数据，2020年秋季，美国大专院校入学总人数下降了2.5%，几乎是2019年秋季入学人数降幅的两倍。
2020年1月，时任美国总统特朗普首次宣布实施限制，禁止几乎所有去过中国的非美国公民入境美国。美国大专院校一直在敦促国务院在国际学生不得不做出入学决定前采取行动。
一位政府官员说，尽管宣布了这一消息，但官员们正在“密切关注疫情状况和演变轨迹”。
目前尚不清楚美国的大专院校或政府是否会承认中国学生接种的、没有获得美国食品药物管理局(FDA)批准的疫苗。部分美国学校要求学生在复课前完成疫苗接种。
另一个大问题是，首次申请学生签证的人员需要在美国大使馆和领事馆进行面签。美国国务院周二说，“正继续在遵循卫生部门科学指引的情况下，寻求处理更多签证申请的方法。”
美国教育理事会(ACE)援引一项研究称，2019-20学年，国际学生带来的总体经济影响从上一年的405亿美元（537.20亿新元）下降了18亿美元。
IEE报告称，2019学年，中国学生带给美国的经济影响约为159亿美元。
Travel.State.Gov
U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE — BUREAU of CONSULAR AFFAIRS
National Interest Exceptions for Certain Travelers from China, Iran, Brazil, South Africa, Schengen Area, United Kingdom, and Ireland
Last Updated: April 26, 2021
On April 26, 2021, the Secretary of State made a national interest determination regarding categories of travelers eligible for exceptions under Presidential Proclamations (PPs) 9984, 9992, and 10143 related to the spread of COVID-19. As a result of this determination, together with national interest determinations already in place, travelers subject to these proclamations, due to their presence in China, Iran, Brazil, South Africa, the Schengen area, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, who are seeking to provide vital support for critical infrastructure; journalists; students and certain academics covered by exchange visitor programs, may now qualify for a National Interest Exception (NIE). Students and academics subject to these proclamations due to their presence in China, Iran, Brazil, or South Africa, may qualify for an NIE only if their academic program begins August 1, 2021 or later. Qualified travelers who are applying for or have valid visas or ESTA authorization may travel to the United States following the procedures below, even as PPs 9984, 9992, and 10143 remain in effect.
Students with valid F-1 and M-1 visas intending to begin or continue an academic program commencing August 1, 2021 or later do not need to contact an embassy or consulate to seek an individual NIE to travel. They may enter the United States no earlier than 30 days before the start of their academic studies. Students seeking to apply for new F-1 or M-1 visas should check the status of visa services at the nearest embassy or consulate; those applicants who are found to be otherwise qualified for an F-1 or M-1 visa will automatically be considered for an NIE to travel.
Travelers in categories described above who have a valid visa in the appropriate class or who have a valid ESTA authorization for travel under the Visa Waiver Program and seek to travel for purposes consistent with ESTA authorization, should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate before traveling, if they believe they may qualify for a National Interest Exception. If a National Interest Exception is approved, they may travel on either a valid visa or ESTA authorization, as appropriate.
The Department of State also continues to grant NIEs for qualified travelers seeking to enter the United States for purposes related to humanitarian travel, public health response, and national security. These travelers and any others who believe their travel to be in the United States’ national interest should also review the website of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for instruction on how to contact them.
As with all NIEs for qualified travelers seeking to enter the United States under a Presidential Proclamation, if circumstances warrant, the Secretary of State may revise the national interest determination.
CDC Expands Negative COVID-19 Test Requirement to All Air Passengers Entering the United States
Media Statement
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Contact: Media Relations
(404) 639-3286
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expanding the requirement for a negative COVID-19 test to all air passengers entering the United States. Testing before and after travel is a critical layer to slow the introduction and spread of COVID-19. This strategy is consistent with the current phase of the pandemic and more efficiently protects the health of Americans.
Variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus continue to emerge in countries around the world, and there is evidence of increased transmissibility of some of these variants. With the US already in surge status, the testing requirement for air passengers will help slow the spread of the virus as we work to vaccinate the American public.
Before departure to the United States, a required test, combined with the CDC recommendations to get tested again 3-5 days after arrival and stay home for 7 days post-travel, will help slow the spread of COVID-19 within US communities from travel-related infections. Pre-departure testing with results known and acted upon before travel begins will help identify infected travelers before they board airplanes.
Air passengers are required to get a viral test (a test for current infection) within the 3 days before their flight to the U.S. departs, and provide written documentation of their laboratory test result (paper or electronic copy) to the airline or provide documentation of having recovered from COVID-19. Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers or documentation of recovery before they board. If a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger.
“Testing does not eliminate all risk,” says CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, MD, “but when combined with a period of staying at home and everyday precautions like wearing masks and social distancing, it can make travel safer, healthier, and more responsible by reducing spread on planes, in airports, and at destinations.”
This order was signed by the CDC Director on January 12, 2021 and will become effective on January 26, 2021.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0112-negative-covid-19-air-passengers.html
Millions of Americans expected to travel for the holidays
The CDC is advising against it
2020/12/23
Despite a recent spike in COVID-19 cases, millions of people are expected to travel for the holidays.
AAA projects as many as 84.5 million Americans may travel from Wednesday, Dec. 23 through Jan. 3, a decline of at least 29% from 2019.
Hannah Buchner is in the Army and flew into the San Luis Obispo airport Wednesday from North Carolina. She noticed extra safety precautions in place.
“Everyone was wearing masks. Just a little more distancing, and there’s a lot more cleaning procedures on the plane,” she said.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging Americans not to go anywhere for the holidays this year, for those who do, they recommend taking a COVID-19 test one to three days before travel and another three to five days after travel, in addition to reducing nonessential activities for seven days after.
Maureeni Stanislaus, who flew into San Luis Obispo Wednesday after visiting her mother, says she did get tested.
“I did a COVID test right before I left and I was lucky enough to get the first dose of the vaccine on Friday,” she said.
As for methods of travel, AAA says most Americans who do go somewhere in the next few weeks will do so by car, with road trips accounting for 96% of holiday travel.
