New health declaration now required for US-bound flights

WACK 90.1 FM · NEWS | Published 4 November 2026 | News synthesis

Travellers flying to or connecting through the United States must now complete a declaration confirming they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the previous 21 days.

The requirement took effect at 12:59 AM Trinidad and Tobago time on 4 November. Airport transit in the DRC counts as presence there. Airlines must deny boarding without the declaration unless the traveller has a US government exemption. Travellers should check with their airline about its paper or digital process. The CDC says the overall risk to travellers remains low.

Dated source

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; updated 3 November 2026

Prepared from the linked official source; not a WACK interview or eyewitness account.

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