US intends to keep travel restrictions in place against UK, European countries, others
about 83% of cases nationwide and has led to a spike in U.S. COVID-19 cases. In the last two weeks, cases have increased 171% nationally, and the death rate is up 19% over the week before.
The decision comes just one week after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Americans should avoid travel to the United Kingdom because of a spike in coronavirus cases. “They will evaluate and make recommendations based on health data,” Psaki said of the CDC.
Which countries are included in the travel ban?
The U.S. first imposed travel restrictions in March 2020 to slow the spread of COVID-19, and were reinstated by President Joe Biden in January after then-President Donald Trump rescinded the restrictions days before the end of his term. The country still prohibits entry for most travelers from:
- China
- Iran
- European Schengen area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City)
- United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)
- Republic of Ireland
- Brazil
- South Africa
- India
should gradually be lifted.
The U.S. also recently extended land border restrictions on nonessential travel through Aug. 21, despite Canada’s plans to reopen its borders to vaccinated American travelers on Aug. 9.
The Biden administration has faced increasing pressure to lift travel restrictions from other nations and tourism industry leaders. Biden was pressed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel on July 15 about lifting U.S. travel restrictions, and various airlines have urged the government to lift travel bans.
When will the U.S. lift its travel ban?
When asked if Biden would drop travel restrictions in the event airlines adopted vaccine passports or vaccine mandates, Psaki said Friday there are “ongoing working groups” focused on how to reopen international travel into the U.S.
“There are a range of topics in those discussions that are ongoing,” Psaki said. “The president receives regular briefings on them, but we rely on public health and medical advice on when we’re going to determine changes to be made.”
US travel restrictions:Amid mounting frustration, Biden suggests decision on EU travel coming within days
Contributing: Michael Collins, Joey Garrison, Julia Thompson
Follow USA TODAY reporter Bailey Schulz on Twitter: @bailey_schulz.