The decision, which also accompanied a new mandatory requirement of mask-wearing and social distancing on all public transportation, is aimed at improving the dire COVID-19 situation being faced in the US.

The US presently has more than nine million active positive COVID-19 cases and as at Wednesday, January 20, recorded 193,758 new cases and 4,363 deaths.

Speaking the day after being sworn into office as the 46th President of the US, President Biden said: “Yesterday, I signed an Executive Action that requires masks and social distancing on federal property. Today, we’ll be signing additional Executive Action to extend masking requirements on inner-state travel – like on trains, planes and buses.”

He added: “And in light of the new COVID variants that you’re learning about, we are instituting a new measure for individuals flying in the United States from other countries. In addition to wearing masks, everyone flying to the United States from another country will need to test before they get on that plane, before they depart, and quarantine when they arrive in America.”

CDC recommends 7-day quarantine

While the President did not specify the number of days that will be required for the now-mandatory quarantine, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended a seven-day quarantine period for people arriving in the United States from nearly all countries.

In the meantime, the Biden administration has taken steps even further; also now requiring all persons above the age of two who are travelling into the US to enter with a negative COVID result. This comes into effect from Tuesday, January 26.