UPDATED: US drops COVID tests for all passengers, but for how long?

The US has lifted COVID-19 testing requirements for international travellers arriving by plane.  

Arrivals no longer have to show a negative COVID-19 test result or proof of recovery to enter the country, after the rule was scrapped at midnight on Sunday night (12 June).

A spokesperson for the Centre For Disease Control said the decision was made on the basis of high vaccine uptake and widespread population immunity.

"Each of these measures has contributed to lower risk of severe disease and death across the United States. As a result, this requirement which was needed at an earlier stage in the pandemic may be withdrawn," they said.

However, the organisation hinted that testing requirements could return at some point.

"CDC continues to evaluate the latest science and state of the pandemic and will reassess the need for a testing requirement if the situation changes," the spokesperson said.

Vaccine rules - banning non-vaccinated travellers from visiting the country - will remain in place. People under the age of 18, US citizens, US nationals, lawful permanent residents and green card holders are exempt from the vaccination requirements.

On Friday, White House assistant press secretary Kevin Munoz tweeted that the need for testing will be "based on the science and in context of circulating variants."

He added that President Joe Biden's work on vaccines and treatments was critical to the decision. 

US will end Covid-19 testing requirement for air travelers entering the country⁦@CDCgov⁩ will evaluate its need based on the science and in context of circulating variants ⁦@POTUS⁩ work on effective vaccines and treatments critical to this https://t.co/cpdlNfRHbt

The travel industry has spent months lobbying the Biden administration to