[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 12, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61488-61489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22264]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

19 CFR Chapter I


Arrival Restrictions Applicable to Flights Carrying Persons Who 
Have Recently Traveled From or Were Otherwise Present Within Uganda

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security.

ACTION: Announcement of arrival restrictions.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the decision of the Secretary of the 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to direct all flights to the 
United States carrying persons who have recently traveled from, or were 
otherwise present within, Uganda to arrive at one of the United States 
airports where the United States government is focusing public health 
resources to implement enhanced public health measures. For purposes of 
this document, a person has recently traveled from Uganda if that 
person departed from, or was otherwise present within, Uganda within 21 
days of the date of the person's entry or attempted entry into the 
United States. Also, for purposes of this document, crew and flights 
carrying only cargo (i.e., no passengers or non-crew), are excluded 
from the measures herein.

DATES: The arrival restrictions apply to flights departing after 11:59 
p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on October 10, 2022. Arrival restrictions 
continue until cancelled or modified by the Secretary of DHS and notice 
of such cancellation or modification is published in the Federal 
Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Watson, Office of Field 
Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection at 202-255-7018.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Ebola disease, caused by the virus genus Ebolavirus, is a severe 
and often fatal disease that can affect humans and non-human primates. 
Disease transmission occurs via direct contact with bodily fluids 
(e.g., blood, mucus, vomit, urine). The first known Ebola disease 
outbreak occurred in 1976. From 2013-2016, the largest recorded Ebola 
disease outbreak occurred in West Africa, primarily affecting Guinea, 
Liberia, and Sierra Leone, with cases exported to seven additional 
countries across three continents, including the United States. The 
epidemic demonstrated the potential for Ebola disease to become an 
international crisis in the absence of early intervention. Further, 
Ebola disease can have substantial medical, public health, and economic 
consequences if it spreads to densely populated areas. As such, Ebola 
disease may present a threat to United States health security given the 
unpredictable nature of outbreaks and the interconnectedness of 
countries through global travel.
    On September 19, 2022, Uganda reported a single, fatal case of 
Ebola disease due to the Sudan virus (species Sudan ebolavirus). 
Earlier in September 2022, community reports had described occurrences 
of strange illness and sudden deaths in the affected area. Some of 
these unexplained deaths were in persons who had known contact with the 
index patient. As of October 4, 2022, a total of 43 confirmed cases 
with 10 confirmed deaths have been reported from five districts within 
Uganda Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an 
Alert--Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions advising against non-
essential travel to several regions in Uganda where the Ministry of 
Health in Uganda has declared an Ebola virus outbreak.\1\ The Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring an 
outbreak of Ebola virus in five districts within Uganda. In order to 
assist in preventing or limiting the introduction and spread of this 
communicable disease into the United States, the Departments of 
Homeland Security and Health and Human Services, including CDC, and 
other agencies charged with protecting the homeland and the American 
public, are currently implementing enhanced public health measures at 
five United States. airports that receive the largest number of 
travelers originating from Uganda. To ensure that all travelers with 
recent presence in Uganda arrive at one of these airports, DHS is 
directing all flights to the United States carrying such persons to 
arrive at airports where enhanced public health measures are being 
implemented. While DHS, in coordination with other applicable federal 
agencies, anticipates working with the operators of aircraft in an 
endeavor to identify potential travelers who have recently traveled 
from, or were otherwise present within, Uganda prior to boarding, 
operators of aircraft will remain obligated to comply with the 
requirements of this notice. Department of Defense (DoD) flights, via 
either military aircraft or contract flights, will be managed by DoD in 
accordance with HHS guidelines.
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    \1\ CDC, Ebola in Uganda Alert--Level 2, Practice Enhanced 
Precautions, CDC (Oct. 4, 2022), https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/ebola-in-uganda.
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Notice of Arrival Restrictions Applicable to All Flights Carrying 
Persons Who Have Recently Traveled From or Were Otherwise Present 
Within Uganda

    Pursuant to 6 U.S.C. 112(a), 19 U.S.C. 1433(c), and 19 CFR 122.32, 
DHS has the authority to limit the locations where all flights entering 
the United States from abroad may land. Under this authority and 
effective for flights departing after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time 
on October 10, 2022, I hereby direct all operators of aircraft to 
ensure that all flights (with the exception of those operated or 
contracted by DoD) carrying persons who have recently traveled from, or 
were otherwise present within, Uganda only land at one of the following 
airports:
     Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), 
Georgia;
     Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Illinois;
     Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), New Jersey;
     John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York;
     Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD), Virginia;
    This direction considers a person to have recently traveled from 
Uganda if that person departed from, or was otherwise present within, 
Uganda within 21 days before the date of the person's entry or 
attempted entry into the United States. Also, for purposes of this 
document, crew and flights carrying only cargo (i.e., no passengers or 
non-crew), are excluded from the applicable measures set forth in this 
notification. This direction is subject to any changes to the airport 
landing destination that may be required for aircraft and/or airspace 
safety, as directed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
    This list of designated airports may be modified by the Secretary 
of Homeland Security in consultation with the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services and the Secretary of Transportation. This list of 
designated airports may be modified by an updated publication in

[[Page 61489]]

the Federal Register or by posting an advisory to follow at 
www.cbp.gov. The restrictions will remain in effect until superseded, 
modified, or revoked by publication in the Federal Register.
    For purposes of this Federal Register document, ``United States'' 
means the territory of the several States, the District of Columbia, 
and Puerto Rico.

Alejandro N. Mayorkas,
Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2022-22264 Filed 10-7-22; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P