Overview
Title
Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The CDC wants to make sure that anyone flying from the UK to the US has a negative COVID-19 test before they leave. They're asking people and airlines to share their thoughts on whether this process is necessary, how hard it is to do, and if it’s clear enough.
Summary AI
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is asking for public comments on an emergency information collection requirement. This relates to ensuring that airline passengers traveling from the United Kingdom to the United States show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days before departure. The test must be a viral test, and passengers need to keep documentation of their negative results. Airlines will also be required to keep records of passengers' negative test attestations. The CDC wants feedback on the necessity, accuracy, and potential burden of this information collection.
Abstract
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of government information, invites the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a proposed and/or continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a request for emergency clearance of the information collection titled Requirement for Proof of Negative Covid-19 Test Result for All Airline Passengers Arriving into The United States from The United Kingdom. This collection accompanies a CDC Order of the same name, and is designed to ensure public health authorities in the United States can confirm that individuals have received a negative test result for COVID-19 prior to departing the United Kingdom and arriving in the United States.
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AnalysisAI
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a notice inviting public comments on a new information collection requirement. This notice concerns passengers traveling by air from the United Kingdom to the United States. Specifically, it involves a mandate for these passengers to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days prior to departure. This requirement aims to help the United States' public health authorities ensure that travelers entering the country are not COVID-19 carriers, potentially reducing the spread of the virus.
General Summary
The CDC's proposal requires passengers from the UK to undergo a viral COVID-19 test and retain either written or electronic documentation of their negative results. Airlines must verify these results before allowing passengers onboard and are further mandated to maintain records of passengers' attestations regarding their test results. This measure applies to all passengers aged two and older. The CDC is addressing these requirements as part of its emergency clearance process.
Significant Issues and Concerns
Several issues arise from this document. The complexity of the language used, such as terms like "controlled free pratique" and regulatory citations like "42 CFR 71.20," can be difficult for the general public to understand. These terms are not well defined for readers without a legal or regulatory background, potentially causing confusion.
Additionally, the document presents challenges for airlines, which now face the burden of verifying and storing passenger test results. Notably, the document lacks a detailed explanation of the operational or financial impact of these measures on the airlines. This oversight raises transparency concerns regarding any additional resources required.
The CDC's notice also provides an estimated figure for the annual burden hours but does not offer a clear breakdown of how these numbers were calculated. This omission could leave airlines and passengers unclear about the logistics involved in compliance.
Public Impact
Broadly, this requirement could enhance public safety by minimizing the entry of COVID-19-positive individuals into the country. For the general public, this might offer a sense of security and reduce the chances of local outbreaks due to imported cases. However, it may also lead to potential inconveniences for travelers, who need to account for the additional time and expense of testing.
Stakeholder Impact
For passengers, particularly those traveling from the UK, this requirement imposes an added layer of tasks, including arranging for timely testing and ensuring that documentation is correctly maintained. While these measures might increase safety, they also add complexity to travel plans.
Airlines are likely to face logistical and operational challenges. Compliance involves verifying test results and retaining documentation, which could require new processes or systems, potentially increasing costs. Despite these challenges, implementing these measures is crucial for maintaining the safety of both passengers and crew, which is ultimately beneficial for the airlines' operations.
In conclusion, while the goal of this policy is public health protection amidst the pandemic, the CDC's notice warrants careful consideration of the potential implications and operational hurdles for both passengers and airlines. Public feedback could help refine these measures to balance safety with practical implementation.
Issues
• The document language could be perceived as unclear to the general public, especially technical terms like 'controlled free pratique' and regulatory references such as '42 CFR 71.20' without further explanation.
• Potential concerns about the burden on airlines to verify and retain copies of test results and attestations, which may require additional resources or processes not explicitly detailed in terms of cost or operational impact.
• The estimated annual burden hours (266,667) for individuals and airlines are mentioned without a detailed breakdown, potentially leading to ambiguity about how these figures were calculated.
• No detailed cost analysis for the implementation of these measures by airlines or passengers is provided, which could be viewed as lacking transparency regarding the financial implications.
• The requirement for both electronic and hard copy documentation handling may imply additional logistical challenges not addressed in the document.