Rescission of the Requirement for Airlines To Collect Designated Information for Passengers Destined for the United States Who Are Departing From, or Were Otherwise Present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 23727-23728 [2021-09470]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 4, 2021 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Rescission of the Requirement for Airlines To Collect Designated Information for Passengers Destined for the United States Who Are Departing From, or Were Otherwise Present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a component of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announces the rescission of the requirement for airlines and aircraft operators to collect designated information for passengers who are departing from, or were otherwise present in, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) within 21 days prior to their entry or attempted entry into the United States. This rescission is based on the CDC Director’s determination that such passengers are no longer at risk of exposure to Ebola virus disease (EVD) and that their accurate and complete contact information is no longer needed to protect the health of fellow travelers and United States communities. All requirements pertaining to Guinea remain in effect. DATES: This rescission went into effect beginning 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on April 29, 2021. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Buigut, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS H16–4, Atlanta, GA 30329. Email: dgmqpolicyoffice@ cdc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: Background On March 2, 2021, CDC issued an Order requiring all airlines and aircraft operators conducting passenger-carrying operations destined for the United States to collect and transmit, and passengers to provide, designated passenger manifest information to the United States Government for passengers departing from or who were otherwise present in the DRC or the Republic of Guinea (Guinea) within 21 days of the passenger’s entry or attempted entry into the United States. Since March 1, 2021, there have been no new confirmed EVD cases reported VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:13 May 03, 2021 Jkt 253001 in DRC and all contacts of cases that were being monitored for EVD have passed the 21-day incubation period. With no new cases reported in the past 42 days (2 incubation periods) no remaining hospitalized patients with EVD, and no contacts of confirmed EVD cases still requiring monitoring, the potential risk for Ebola virus exposure in DRC has greatly diminished. CDC has determined that this information is no longer required to be collected and provided to CDC by airlines and aircraft operators as stipulated in the Order. A copy of the Order is provided below and a copy of the signed Order can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/ quarantine/order-contact-informationebola.html. Order of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services Rescission of the Requirement for Airlines To Collect Designated Information for Passengers Destined for the United States Who Are Departing From, or Were Otherwise Present in, the Democratic Republic of the Congo Under 42 CFR 71.4, 71.20, 71.31, and 71.32 as Authorized by 42 U.S.C. 264 and 268 Attention: • All airlines and aircraft operators conducting any passenger-carrying operation destined for the United States transporting passengers who are departing from or were otherwise present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) within the previous 21 days of the date of the person’s entry or attempted entry into the United States; and • All air passengers destined for the United States who are departing from or were otherwise present in the DRC within the previous 21 days of the date of the person’s entry or attempted entry into the United States. On March 2, 2021, I, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (Director) issued an Order (Order) under 42 CFR 71.4, 71.20, 71.31, and 71.32 to: (1) All airlines and aircraft operators conducting passengercarrying operations destined for the United States and transporting passengers departing from or who were otherwise present in the DRC or the Republic of Guinea (Guinea) within 21 days of the passenger’s entry or attempted entry into the United States; and (2) all passengers destined for the United States departing from, or who were otherwise present in, the DRC or Guinea within the previous 21 days. The Order required these airlines and PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 23727 aircraft operators to collect and transmit, and passengers to provide, designated passenger manifest information to the United States Government. The Order was issued in response to outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (EVD) that were identified in Guinea and the DRC in February 2021. Experience with previous EVD outbreaks (including the 2014–2016 EVD outbreak in West Africa) show that EVD can spread quickly between close contacts and within healthcare settings, often with high case fatality rates, and with substantial disruption and strain on healthcare services. Air travel has the potential to transport people, some of whom may have been exposed to a communicable disease, anywhere across the globe in less than 24 hours. The purpose of the Order was to ensure that health officials would have immediate access to accurate and complete contact information for passengers as they arrive in the United States to conduct timely public health follow up for anyone who may have been exposed to EVD. For the reasons described below, I am hereby rescinding all requirements of the Order pertaining to the DRC. All requirements of the Order pertaining to Guinea remain in effect. Determination: EVD is a rare and deadly disease in people and nonhuman primates. People can get EVD through direct contact with an infected animal (bat or nonhuman primate) or a sick or dead person infected with Ebola virus. Signs and symptoms of Ebola include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and unexplained bleeding. The incubation period for Ebola, from exposure to when signs or symptoms appear, can be anywhere from 2 to 21 days. The average incubation period is 8 to 10 days. On February 7, 2021, the Ministry of Health (MOH) in the DRC announced that an EVD case had been confirmed in Biena Health Zone, North Kivu Province. Subsequent cases were confirmed. North Kivu was previously affected by EVD during the 2018–2020 Ebola outbreak, the largest in the DRC’s history; this outbreak was declared over on June 25, 2020. Sequencing of samples suggested that cases were linked to cases in the area during the 2018–2020 outbreak and likely caused by a persistent infection in a survivor that led to either a relapse or sexual transmission of the virus.1 1 https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/drc/ 2021-february.html. E:\FR\FM\04MYN1.SGM 04MYN1 23728 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 4, 2021 / Notices Since March 1, 2021, there have been no new confirmed EVD cases reported in the DRC and all contacts of cases that were being monitored for EVD have passed the 21-day incubation period. With no new cases reported in the past 42 days (2 incubation periods) no remaining hospitalized patients with EVD, and no contacts of confirmed EVD cases still requiring monitoring, the potential risk for Ebola virus exposure in the DRC has greatly diminished. Therefore, CDC no longer requires contact information from passengers who were departing from or were otherwise present in the DRC. For these reasons, I hereby determine that airline travelers destined for the United States who are departing from, or were otherwise present in, the DRC in the past 21 days are no longer at risk of exposure to Ebola virus. Therefore, all requirements of the Order pertaining to airlines, aircraft operators, and passengers destined for the United States and departing from or who were otherwise present in the DRC are hereby rescinded. All requirements of the March 2, 2021 Order pertaining to Guinea remain in effect due to a recently confirmed case. The most recent case of EVD in Guinea was confirmed on April 3, 2021. CDC may modify this Order by an updated publication in the Federal Register or by posting an advisory to follow at www.cdc.gov. In testimony whereof, the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Department for Health and Human Services, has hereunto set her hand at Atlanta, Georgia, this 29 day of April 2021. Authority The CDC Director is issuing this Order pursuant to Sections 361 and 365 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, 42 U.S.C. 264 and 268, and implementing regulations at 42 CFR 71.4, 71.20, 71.31, and 71.32. Dated: April 30, 2021. Sherri Berger, Acting Chief of Staff, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [FR Doc. 2021–09470 Filed 4–30–21; 4:15 pm] khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES BILLING CODE 4163–18–P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight AGENCY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:13 May 03, 2021 Jkt 253001 (CCIIO), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Notice of a new matching program. In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is providing notice of the re-establishment of a computer matching program between CMS and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), ‘‘Verification of Eligibility of Minimum Essential Coverage Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act through an Office of Personnel Management Health Benefit Plan.’’ DATES: The deadline for comments on this notice is June 3, 2021. The reestablished matching program will commence not sooner than 30 days after publication of this notice, provided no comments are received that warrant a change to this notice. The matching program will be conducted for an initial term of 18 months (from approximately June 8, 2021 to December 7, 2022) and within three months of expiration may be renewed for one additional year if the parties make no change to the matching program and certify that the program has been conducted in compliance with the matching agreement. ADDRESSES: Interested parties may submit comments: 1. Electronically. You may send your comments electronically to https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for ‘‘Comment or Submission’’ or ‘‘More Search Options’’ to find the information collection document(s) that are accepting comments. 2. By Regular Mail. You may mail written comments to the following address: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Division of Security, Privacy Policy & Governance, Information Security & Privacy Group, Office of Information Technology, Location: N1–14–56, 7500 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21244–1850. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about the matching program, you may contact Anne Pesto, Senior Advisor, Marketplace Eligibility and Enrollment Group, Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, at 410–786–3492, by email at anne.pesto@cms.hhs.gov, or by mail at 7500 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21244. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 U.S.C. 552a) provides certain protections for individuals applying for and receiving federal benefits. The law governs the use of computer matching by federal agencies when records in a system of records (meaning, federal agency records about individuals retrieved by name or other personal identifier) are matched with records of other federal or non-federal agencies. The Privacy Act requires agencies involved in a matching program to: 1. Enter into a written agreement, which must be prepared in accordance with the Privacy Act, approved by the Data Integrity Board of each source and recipient federal agency, provided to Congress and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and made available to the public, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(o), (u)(3)(A), and (u)(4). 2. Notify the individuals whose information will be used in the matching program that the information they provide is subject to verification through matching, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(o)(1)(D). 3. Verify match findings before suspending, terminating, reducing, or making a final denial of an individual’s benefits or payments or taking other adverse action against the individual, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(p). 4. Report the matching program to Congress and the OMB, in advance and annually, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(o)(2)(A)(i), (r), and (u)(3)(D). 5. Publish advance notice of the matching program in the Federal Register as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(12). This matching program meets these requirements. Barbara Demopulos, Privacy Officer, Division of Security, Privacy Policy and Governance, Office of Information Technology, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Participating Agencies The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the recipient agency, and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is the source agency. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program The principal authority for conducting the matching program is 42 U.S.C. 18001 et seq. Purpose(s) The purpose of the matching program is to provide CMS with OPM data which CMS and state Administering Entities (AEs) need to determine individuals’ eligibility for financial assistance in E:\FR\FM\04MYN1.SGM 04MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 4, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23727-23728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09470]



[[Page 23727]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Rescission of the Requirement for Airlines To Collect Designated 
Information for Passengers Destined for the United States Who Are 
Departing From, or Were Otherwise Present in the Democratic Republic of 
the Congo

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a 
component of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 
announces the rescission of the requirement for airlines and aircraft 
operators to collect designated information for passengers who are 
departing from, or were otherwise present in, the Democratic Republic 
of the Congo (DRC) within 21 days prior to their entry or attempted 
entry into the United States. This rescission is based on the CDC 
Director's determination that such passengers are no longer at risk of 
exposure to Ebola virus disease (EVD) and that their accurate and 
complete contact information is no longer needed to protect the health 
of fellow travelers and United States communities. All requirements 
pertaining to Guinea remain in effect.

DATES: This rescission went into effect beginning 11:59 p.m. Eastern 
Daylight Time on April 29, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Buigut, Division of Global 
Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
1600 Clifton Road NE, MS H16-4, Atlanta, GA 30329. Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On March 2, 2021, CDC issued an Order requiring all airlines and 
aircraft operators conducting passenger-carrying operations destined 
for the United States to collect and transmit, and passengers to 
provide, designated passenger manifest information to the United States 
Government for passengers departing from or who were otherwise present 
in the DRC or the Republic of Guinea (Guinea) within 21 days of the 
passenger's entry or attempted entry into the United States.
    Since March 1, 2021, there have been no new confirmed EVD cases 
reported in DRC and all contacts of cases that were being monitored for 
EVD have passed the 21-day incubation period. With no new cases 
reported in the past 42 days (2 incubation periods) no remaining 
hospitalized patients with EVD, and no contacts of confirmed EVD cases 
still requiring monitoring, the potential risk for Ebola virus exposure 
in DRC has greatly diminished.
    CDC has determined that this information is no longer required to 
be collected and provided to CDC by airlines and aircraft operators as 
stipulated in the Order.
    A copy of the Order is provided below and a copy of the signed 
Order can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/order-contact-information-ebola.html.

Order of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of 
Health and Human Services

Rescission of the Requirement for Airlines To Collect Designated 
Information for Passengers Destined for the United States Who Are 
Departing From, or Were Otherwise Present in, the Democratic Republic 
of the Congo

Under 42 CFR 71.4, 71.20, 71.31, and 71.32 as Authorized by 42 U.S.C. 
264 and 268

    Attention:
     All airlines and aircraft operators conducting any 
passenger-carrying operation destined for the United States 
transporting passengers who are departing from or were otherwise 
present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) within the 
previous 21 days of the date of the person's entry or attempted entry 
into the United States; and
     All air passengers destined for the United States who are 
departing from or were otherwise present in the DRC within the previous 
21 days of the date of the person's entry or attempted entry into the 
United States.
    On March 2, 2021, I, the Director of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC) (Director) issued an Order (Order) under 
42 CFR 71.4, 71.20, 71.31, and 71.32 to: (1) All airlines and aircraft 
operators conducting passenger-carrying operations destined for the 
United States and transporting passengers departing from or who were 
otherwise present in the DRC or the Republic of Guinea (Guinea) within 
21 days of the passenger's entry or attempted entry into the United 
States; and (2) all passengers destined for the United States departing 
from, or who were otherwise present in, the DRC or Guinea within the 
previous 21 days. The Order required these airlines and aircraft 
operators to collect and transmit, and passengers to provide, 
designated passenger manifest information to the United States 
Government.
    The Order was issued in response to outbreaks of Ebola virus 
disease (EVD) that were identified in Guinea and the DRC in February 
2021. Experience with previous EVD outbreaks (including the 2014-2016 
EVD outbreak in West Africa) show that EVD can spread quickly between 
close contacts and within healthcare settings, often with high case 
fatality rates, and with substantial disruption and strain on 
healthcare services. Air travel has the potential to transport people, 
some of whom may have been exposed to a communicable disease, anywhere 
across the globe in less than 24 hours. The purpose of the Order was to 
ensure that health officials would have immediate access to accurate 
and complete contact information for passengers as they arrive in the 
United States to conduct timely public health follow up for anyone who 
may have been exposed to EVD.
    For the reasons described below, I am hereby rescinding all 
requirements of the Order pertaining to the DRC. All requirements of 
the Order pertaining to Guinea remain in effect.
    Determination:
    EVD is a rare and deadly disease in people and nonhuman primates. 
People can get EVD through direct contact with an infected animal (bat 
or nonhuman primate) or a sick or dead person infected with Ebola 
virus. Signs and symptoms of Ebola include fever, severe headache, 
muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and 
unexplained bleeding. The incubation period for Ebola, from exposure to 
when signs or symptoms appear, can be anywhere from 2 to 21 days. The 
average incubation period is 8 to 10 days.
    On February 7, 2021, the Ministry of Health (MOH) in the DRC 
announced that an EVD case had been confirmed in Biena Health Zone, 
North Kivu Province. Subsequent cases were confirmed. North Kivu was 
previously affected by EVD during the 2018-2020 Ebola outbreak, the 
largest in the DRC's history; this outbreak was declared over on June 
25, 2020. Sequencing of samples suggested that cases were linked to 
cases in the area during the 2018-2020 outbreak and likely caused by a 
persistent infection in a survivor that led to either a relapse or 
sexual transmission of the virus.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/drc/2021-february.html.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 23728]]

    Since March 1, 2021, there have been no new confirmed EVD cases 
reported in the DRC and all contacts of cases that were being monitored 
for EVD have passed the 21-day incubation period. With no new cases 
reported in the past 42 days (2 incubation periods) no remaining 
hospitalized patients with EVD, and no contacts of confirmed EVD cases 
still requiring monitoring, the potential risk for Ebola virus exposure 
in the DRC has greatly diminished. Therefore, CDC no longer requires 
contact information from passengers who were departing from or were 
otherwise present in the DRC.
    For these reasons, I hereby determine that airline travelers 
destined for the United States who are departing from, or were 
otherwise present in, the DRC in the past 21 days are no longer at risk 
of exposure to Ebola virus. Therefore, all requirements of the Order 
pertaining to airlines, aircraft operators, and passengers destined for 
the United States and departing from or who were otherwise present in 
the DRC are hereby rescinded.
    All requirements of the March 2, 2021 Order pertaining to Guinea 
remain in effect due to a recently confirmed case. The most recent case 
of EVD in Guinea was confirmed on April 3, 2021.
    CDC may modify this Order by an updated publication in the Federal 
Register or by posting an advisory to follow at www.cdc.gov.
    In testimony whereof, the Director, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, United States Department for Health and Human Services, has 
hereunto set her hand at Atlanta, Georgia, this 29 day of April 2021.

Authority

    The CDC Director is issuing this Order pursuant to Sections 361 and 
365 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, 42 U.S.C. 264 and 268, and 
implementing regulations at 42 CFR 71.4, 71.20, 71.31, and 71.32.

    Dated: April 30, 2021.
Sherri Berger,
Acting Chief of Staff, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2021-09470 Filed 4-30-21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P


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