Notice2021-19089
Humanitarian Exemption Approved for All Afghan Evacuees Subject to CDC's Global Testing Order
Primary source
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Published
September 3, 2021
Effective
August 15, 2021
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Abstract
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), located within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announces a blanket humanitarian exemption to the agency's Requirement for Negative Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Result for individuals relocating to the United States from Afghanistan, including U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), third country nationals, and Afghans at risk, including Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 169 (Friday, September 3, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 169 (Friday, September 3, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 49536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19089]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Humanitarian Exemption Approved for All Afghan Evacuees Subject
to CDC's Global Testing Order
AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), located
within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announces a
blanket humanitarian exemption to the agency's Requirement for Negative
Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Result for individuals relocating to the
United States from Afghanistan, including U.S. citizens, lawful
permanent residents (LPRs), third country nationals, and Afghans at
risk, including Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants.
DATES: This exemption went into effect on August 15, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tiffany Brown, Deputy Chief of Staff,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS
H21-10, Atlanta, GA 30329. Phone: 404-639-7000. Email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bad9ded9c8dfddcfd6dbced3d5d4c9fad9ded994ddd5cc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="24474047564143514845504d4b4a57644740470a434b52">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 12, 2021, CDC announced an Order
requiring all air passengers arriving to the U.S. from a foreign
country to get tested no more than 3 days before their flight departs
and to present the negative result or documentation of having recovered
from COVID-19 to the airline before boarding the flight.
In August 2021, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) issued a series
of Security Alerts for Afghanistan due to increased Taliban activity
throughout the country, including the capital of Kabul. In response to
a request from DOS on August 15, 2021, CDC and the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) granted a blanket humanitarian
exemption to CDC's Order to expedite the evacuation of U.S. citizens,
lawful permanent residents (LPRs), third country nationals, and Afghans
at risk, including Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants,
while adhering to COVID-19 mitigation guidance issued by CDC.
The exemption, which is being administered by DOS and cooperating
federal and state agencies, was granted with the following conditions:
(1) The CDC Order requiring mask use for passengers and crew on air
conveyances bound for the United States should be followed to the
extent possible; (2) all efforts should be made to test and provide
test documentation to the traveler at a transit location prior to
arrival in the United States that can be presented upon arrival, and if
this cannot be done, individuals (travelers) arriving are required to
undergo COVID-19 testing immediately upon arrival to the first port of
entry in the United States; (3) individuals who test positive are
required to isolate prior to continuing on commercial transportation to
their final destination; and (4) family members of those testing
positive may require adhering to self-quarantine recommendations as
stipulated by CDC or state and local health authorities at the arrival
location.
In addition, all Afghan evacuees covered by the exemption must also
agree to comply with relevant CDC post-travel public health guidance
including:
<bullet> Watch their health for symptoms of COVID-19. If they
become ill during the flight to the United States or while in a U.S.
airport, they should immediately report their illness.
<bullet> Take all the necessary steps to protect themselves and
others during travel, such as wearing a mask to keep their nose and
mouth covered when in public settings, including on public
transportation and in airports and other transportation hubs until they
arrive at their final destination.
<bullet> Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for
severe illness for 14 days.
<bullet> Follow all federal, state, territorial, and local
requirements and all other public health measures for preventing
community transmission of COVID-19.
Authority: The CDC Director is issuing this Notice pursuant to
Sections 361 of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 264, and
implementing regulations at 42 CFR 71.20 and 71.31(b).
Dated: August 31, 2021.
Sherri Berger,
Chief of Staff, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2021-19089 Filed 9-2-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
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