The United States will ease travel restrictions for vaccinated travellers in November, the White House announced today.

The changes would not directly impact travel between Bermuda and the US, but would open the door for those who have recently been in the UK or Europe.

Under the revised policy, foreigners would be able to enter the country as long as they can provide proof of vaccination and a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of travel.

The move is intended to replace a patchwork of travel bans implemented by the US since the pandemic began, which blocked non-Americans from entering the country if they had been in the UK, EU, China, India, Iran, Ireland, Brazil or South Africa in the previous two weeks.

Jeff Zients, White House Covid-19 coordinator, said: “This is based on individuals rather than a country-based approach, so it’s a stronger system.”

Mr Zients added the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will require airlines to collect contact information from international travellers to facilitate tracing, but fully vaccinated travellers will not be required to quarantine.

The White House said the policy will also introduce stricter measures for unvaccinated Americans, who will be required to be tested within a day of their flight to the US and when they arrive home.

The loosening of restrictions for vaccinated travellers was applauded by the airline industry, which has been hard-hit by the pandemic.

Morgan Durrant, a spokesman for Delta Air Line, said: “Science tells us that vaccinations coupled with testing is the safest way to re-open travel and we are optimistic this important decision will allow for the continued economic recovery both in the US and abroad and the reunification of families who have been separated for more than 18 months.”

The International Air Transport Association recently announced that international travel was still at just 26 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

England announced that it would ease travel restrictions for green-listed countries such as Bermuda next month, with vaccinated travellers not requiring a preflight test from October 4.

Travelers will still need a test after landing, and unvaccinated travellers will still have to quarantine for 10 days as well as take Covid-19 tests before and after their trips.