[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 28, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53659-53660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20987]


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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.

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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Order was rescinded September 20, 2021.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: 
[email protected].

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:
     The Department of State (DOS) has completed the emergency 
evacuation and concluded the transport of evacuees out of Afghanistan;
     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;
     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
     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