The daily business briefing: December 2, 2021

The Biden administration tightens COVID testing for international travelers, MLB owners vote to lock out players, and more

COVID test site
COVID test site
(Image credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

1. U.S. tightens COVID testing for international travelers

The United States is tightening travel rules to slow the potential spread of the new Omicron coronavirus variant, Biden administration officials said Thursday. Travelers, including fully vaccinated citizens, will have to show a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours of departure on a flight to the U.S. Previously, vaccinated people had to show a negative test within 72 hours of travel, while unvaccinated passengers had to show proof of a negative test in the last 24 hours. The government also is extending the requirement for passengers to wear masks on domestic flights and public transportation through March 18. The requirements are part of a broad effort to fight a potential new wave of infections as the coronavirus pandemic enters its third year.

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Harold Maass, The Week US

Harold Maass is a contributing editor at The Week. He has been writing for The Week since the 2001 debut of the U.S. print edition and served as editor of TheWeek.com when it launched in 2008. Harold started his career as a newspaper reporter in South Florida and Haiti. He has previously worked for a variety of news outlets, including The Miami Herald, ABC News and Fox News, and for several years wrote a daily roundup of financial news for The Week and Yahoo Finance.