What COVID Test Do I Need to Travel to the USA?

Studies suggest that, for vaccinated travellers departing from the United Kingdom, all but 6 countries are open without any travelling restrictions in place. However, for those that are unvaccinated, more than 23 countries have restrictions in place to attempt to prevent the resurge of Covid-19. Because of this, many are left wondering what restrictions they will face - for example, what Covid tests they need to travel internationally, or more specifically, asking themselves ‘what Covid test do I need to travel to the USA?’.

Research has found that in the United States, Covid has resulted in 95,658,236 confirmed cases with 1,053,419 all time fatalities, the most in any country, and the nineteenth-highest per capita worldwide. This has led Covid-19 to rank first on the list of disasters in the United States by death toll, making it the worst pandemic to date for the modern country. That’s why so many countries, including the USA, created strong travel restrictions to try and prevent the spread and limit the impact of the virus.

In this article, we will address whether or not a Covid test is necessary to travel to Spain, and what you can do to make your entrance to the USA easier. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about Covid’s impact on America, the USA’s entry requirements and why testing is still necessary in the first-world powerhouse of a country.

Why Was The USA Impacted So Badly By Covid?

For many, it can seem laughable that a virus a thousand times smaller than a dust mote has brought a country as rich and powerful as the United States to its knees in less than a year. However, with people left in poverty and dying in ICU units across the nation, it had become a sad reality for millions of families across the peak of the pandemic, with people only now beginning to recover from its effects. To fully understand why the USA has the restrictions it has, it’s important to take a look at what Covid actually did to the country.

The United States suffered far greater than other countries, even though it has more resources, far more advanced medical systems and an abundance of qualified doctors, nurses, chemists, scientists and biologists all equipped to fight the virus. America, a country with just 4% of the world’s population, was able to harbour 25% of all Covid-19 cases and fatalities worldwide. But how did this happen?

Essentially, it comes down to the failure of leadership. Despite ample warning both from China and their own scientists, the American leaders failed to follow the actions of nations like South Korea, Thailand, Iceland, Slovakia and Australia and allowed the virus to run rampant and unrestricted. By the time their immense resources, biomedical might and scientific expertise were finally prepared, the damage had been done, and Covid had sunk its roots deep into the country with infections from coast to coast.

The USA has an extensive history of failing to take possible pandemics seriously enough to prevent; at any given moment in time, America’s wild animals harbour an estimated 40,000 unknown viruses, a quarter of which could potentially jump into humans from bites or contact. With Covid-19 widely regarded as being a ‘starter pandemic’ by scientists warning of more to come, it draws dire conclusions for the future of the United States’ medical protection if something worse was to come along.

One of the biggest effects of the pandemic was the economic instability that it incited. When the Federal government and the Federal Reserve injected a massive amount of stimulus into the economy through the C.A.R.E Act, there was a question of efficiency - for many, it seemed like America’s money was being needlessly wasted in short-term solutions to a long-term problem, which was correct.

Besides creating mild inflation it also set the precedent that America’s government could just throw money at civilians whenever times got hard, which resulted in multiple different stimulus checks that further weakened America’s economic standing. Research suggests that inflation in the US is currently at a 40-year high, with an astounding 9.1% increase year-on-year, according to a government report. As prices climb and tipping culture booms following the pandemic, the USA is struggling to cope with the economic aftermath.

In short, the United States cannot afford to have another pandemic. This is why strong travel restrictions and border control was put in place during the peak of the pandemic, and why some entry requirements reflecting those difficult times remain in place today.

What Travel Restrictions Does The USA Have?

Relevant authorities in the USA are responsible for setting and enforcing the rules and regulations of domestic travel, which means that they may be different to that of your country or other nations around the globe.

Currently, all visitors are required to get a visa or an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waiver to enter or transit the USA as a visitor. This allows you to legally enter the country as a visitor and will prevent you from having to get a visa at the border, which could result in you being sent back home if denied.

You should also be aware that you may be rejected from getting an ESTA visa waiver if you have visited some countries including but not limited to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen since the 1st March 2011. Instead of this, you must apply for a US visa.

Regarding Covid restrictions, you will not have to quarantine, take any tests or isolate for any period of time once arriving as long as you are vaccinated. Officials have stated that the US authorities will accept any Covid-19 vaccine approved for emergency use by the World Health Organisation or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These are the AstraZeneca, BIBP/Sinopharm, Covishield, Janssen, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinovac vaccines.

Although it is not required, it is highly recommended that visitors to the USA take either a rapid antigen test or a PCR test before departure as proof of a negative Covid status.

A rapid antigen test, sometimes abbreviated to RAT, is a rapid diagnostic test that is suitable for detecting the presence of antigens in a human’s body. It uses the lateral flow method to distinguish Covid-19 antigens from that of the body’s natural antigens, using this information to determine whether or not the individual has been infected. This is typically taken 48 hours before departure.

Alternatively, some may opt to take a PCR test. A PCR test, or a Polymerase Chain Reaction test, is a test that detects genetic material from a specific organism, such as a virus, and uses the data it collects to determine whether or not an individual has been infected. Often seen as more reliable and accurate, these can be taken up to 72 hours before departure and are lab-tested for the best accuracy.

Testing is still necessary to prevent another resurgence of Covid-19 or one of its newer variants. Without testing, the virus can run rampant once again, which can inflict equal or worse damage than the first pandemic.

Do You Need An Emergency Covid Test?

If you believe that you may be suffering from Covid-19 and would like clarity so that you can seek treatment, it’s always best to take a test as soon as possible. Our specialist team is on hand around the clock to provide quality care and services to help get Covid-19 tests to you so that you can start the road to recovery earlier. With our innovative new services and products, we are able to provide you with a unique and speedy service that will help redefine the meaning of ‘customer service’ forever.

Our mission is always to reinvent the modern way of taking and receiving Covid-19 tests and provide a service which is reflective of modern-day issues and solutions. We have always been proud to be able to say that our service has catered to 15,000 travellers to date, with many more expected to come in the following years.

For more information on how to reach us and order your tests today, you can contact Official Rapid Tests using our online form for the quickest responses and swift support from members of our team. Alternatively, you may choose to book an appointment for consultation either in person or over the phone to discuss your options and what may suit you best. Whatever you choose to do, we have no doubt that you’ll find what you’re looking for with us.