Everyone boarding an international flight to the United States must now sign a statement that they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the previous 21 days, under an order from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vietnam Airlines announced on Wednesday, 4 November, that it was applying the rule from noon Vietnam time that day, Tuoi Tre News reported.
The CDC says the requirement covers flights leaving a foreign country for the US at or after 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time on 3 November, which is 11:59 am on 4 November in Vietnam. It applies to crew as well as passengers. Time spent in transit at a DRC airport counts, even without leaving the plane.
Each traveller completes a separate declaration, and a parent or guardian signs for a child, according to Vietnam Airlines. Airlines must keep the statements for at least 42 days.
For most travellers the attestation is a formality. The restrictions bite for people who have recently been in certain African countries:
- DRC within 21 days: not allowed to board a US-bound flight, including US citizens and nationals.
- South Sudan or Uganda (and not the DRC): foreign nationals, including Green Card holders, are not allowed to enter. US citizens and nationals may travel but must enter through designated airports for health screening.
Vietnam Airlines said those airports are Washington Dulles, Atlanta and New York JFK, and that because it does not fly to them it will not carry such passengers to San Francisco.
The CDC says the entry suspension for the three countries runs in 30-day periods, with the latest order issued on 11 October, so check the CDC pages before travelling. Vietnam Airlines' passenger hotline is 1900 1100.
Sources
- Vietnam Airlines announces new rules for passengers flying to US from November 4
- Order: Requirement for Attestation by All Persons Traveling by Air to the United States
- Information for Travelers Returning from Ebola-Affected Areas
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