Notice2021-20987
Rescission of Humanitarian Exemption for All Afghan Evacuees Subject to CDC's Global Testing Order
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 28, 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 rescission of the temporary humanitarian exemption to the agency's Requirement for Negative Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Result, which was previously granted for individuals relocating to the United States from Afghanistan ("Afghan Evacuees"), including U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), third country nationals, and Afghans at risk, including Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 185 (Tuesday, September 28, 2021)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 28, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53659-53660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20987]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Rescission of Humanitarian Exemption 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), located
within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announces
rescission of the temporary humanitarian exemption to the agency's
Requirement for Negative Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Result, which was
previously granted for individuals relocating to the United States from
Afghanistan (``Afghan Evacuees''), including U.S. citizens, lawful
permanent residents (LPRs), third country nationals, and Afghans at
risk, including Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants.
DATES: This temporary humanitarian exemption to the Global Testing
Order was rescinded September 20, 2021.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#9ffcfbfcedfaf8eaf3feebf6f0f1ecdffcfbfcb1f8f0e9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="98fbfcfbeafdffedf4f9ecf1f7f6ebd8fbfcfbb6fff7ee">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 12, 2021, CDC issued 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 or aircraft operator before boarding the
flight. A copy of the Order was published in the Federal Register on
January 21, 2021 (86 FR 6337) and went into effect January 26, 2021.
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 other COVID-19 mitigation guidance issued by CDC.
The exemption, which is being administered with the assistance of
DOS and other 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 for COVID-19 at a transit location prior to arrival in the
United States, and to provide test documentation to the traveler, which
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 be required to
adhere to self-quarantine recommendations as stipulated by CDC or state
and local health authorities at the arrival location.
Beginning September 20, 2021, all Afghan Evacuees arriving in the
United States will have to meet negative pre-departure COVID-19 test
requirements or documentation of recovery. This means evacuees will
need to be tested no more than three days before departure to the
United States and be able to present the negative result or provide
documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 within the last 90
days, to the airline or aircraft operator and upon request of United
States Government authorities on arrival in the United States.
This requirement applies to all Afghan Evacuees arriving in the
United States on any flight including U.S. Government-owned or -
contracted, commercial, private, and general and business aviation
(chartered) flights coming to the United States.
CDC is rescinding the humanitarian exemption because:
<bullet> The Department of State (DOS) has completed the emergency
evacuation and concluded the transport of evacuees out of Afghanistan;
<bullet> With DOS's conclusion of emergency evacuation from
Afghanistan, there is a need to resume appropriate health
interventions, including pre-departure COVID-19
[[Page 53660]]
testing, before travel into the United States;
<bullet> Designated U.S. arrival Ports of Entry with specific
testing operations and other services for Afghan Evacuees, which were
specifically set up for early urgent evacuation arrival support, have
been discontinued in the United States; and
<bullet> Evacuees who are still outside of the United States are in
safe locations where testing can be accessed before traveling.
Authority: The CDC Director has issued this Notice authorizing the
rescission of this temporary humanitarian exemption for individuals
relocating to the United States from Afghanistan and reimposing the
agency's Requirement for Negative Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Result
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).
This Notice is issued to inform the public of this action.
Sherri Berger,
Chief of Staff, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2021-20987 Filed 9-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 28, 2021.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.