US President, Joe Biden, has unveiled stricter Covid-19 travel rules as the US confirmed a handful of cases of the Omicron variant from coast to coast.
From next week, international travellers to the US, including Americans, must take a Covid test at least 24 hours before travel, regardless of vaccination status.
Those recently recovered may provide “proof of recovery” documents instead.
Mask requirements on planes, trains and buses will be extended until mid-March.
Millions of free and insurer-funded home tests will also be made available.
Ten cases of the Omicron variant have so far been detected in the US: in California, Colorado, Minnesota, and New York, and in Hawaii, where authorities say that person had no recent travel history.