By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters). The U.S. wants all passengers entering the country to have a positive COVID-19 test done within one-day of their departure to address concerns over a new coronavirus type.

Current regulations allow international travelers to present negative results within 3 days after their initial departure. Nearly every foreign national must get vaccinated before they can enter the United States. Non-vaccinated travelers must obtain a negative COVID-19 testing within 1 day of arriving.

This new requirement for one-day testing would be applicable to both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals.

Reuters reports that a draft proposal for stricter testing was being circulated by government agencies earlier.

A spokeswoman for the CDC confirmed that the agency is currently working on global travel testing guidelines. “As we learn more information about Omicron variant, a revised order could reduce the timeframe for testing all international travelers one day prior to departure to the United States.”

Officials said that the administration was also looking into whether it would require travelers flying to America to undergo another COVID-19 testing within 3 to 5 days of their arrival.

Although the CDC didn’t confirm this, it noted that all travelers should be given a COVID-19 virus test within 3-5 days of arrival and that they must also receive a post-travel quarantine to protect any nonvaccinated travellers.

Although the stricter rules might be announced on Thursday, it wasn’t clear when they would take effect.

Rochelle Walensky, Director of CDC said that the agency is “evaluating ways to make international travel safe.” This includes pre-departure testing close to departure time and considering additional post-arrival testing.

Over concerns about Omicron, nearly every foreign national who has been to South Africa or seven other Southern African countries was barred by the White House on Monday.

On Tuesday, a White House official stated that the administration was evaluating COVID-19 and “considering more stringent testing requirements to international travel.”

The CDC advised Americans not to travel to Niger or Papua New Guinea. They also warned against traveling from Poland and Trinidad and Tobago.

The CDC lists 80 destinations that have “Level Four,” the highest level of COVID-19 transmission. It discourages Americans to travel there.