South Florida residents should be aware of more restrictive measures announced Thursday by President Biden as the Omicron variant of COVID-19, has been detected in the United States. New regulations are just continuations of what people who have been traveling internationally.

Starting next week, all travelers entering the U.S., regardless of their vaccination status or nationality, must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within one calendar day of their departing flight. Previously, a negative test administered up to three days before boarding a flight was considered valid. Biden has also extended the current rule mandating mask-wearing on airplanes, trains, buses, and at airports which were scheduled to expire in January to mid-March. 

Importantly, passengers may test at any time up to a day before they are scheduled to board a flight within 24 hours. If a flight departs Saturday evening, a test that's taken Friday morning will allow you to board.

Tests must meet criteria set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They may be either a PCR or an antigen test, better known as a rapid test. But not all rapid tests pass muster. For example, at-home testing kits that can be administered without the supervision of a proctor will NOT be accepted. 

The airline representative is required to check for a negative test result. They will look at tests rather than the border official.

There is a possibility that your test will deliver a positive result and you won't be able to return to the U.S. as scheduled.