The White House said that in the event of a surge in highly contagious Delta variants, it will maintain existing COVID-related travel restrictions.
“For several reasons, we will maintain the current travel restrictions at this time. The more transmissible Delta variants are spreading here and around the world. Driven by the Delta variants, the number of domestic cases is increasing, especially those who have not been vaccinated. Vaccines and cases that may continue to occur in the next few weeks,” press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at a White House briefing on Monday.
This decision means that non-U.S. citizens from the European Schengen Area, the United Kingdom and other areas Will be barred from entering the U.S.
Other major countries subject to this long-term travel ban include China, India, South Africa, Iran and Brazil.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said last week that the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico will also remain closed for non-essential travel until at least August 21.Although Canada said it has announced these measures Will allow U.S. citizens who have been vaccinated will begin traveling on August 9.
The Biden administration is under increasing pressure from the tourism industry and American allies to lift restrictions on who can travel to the United States during the pandemic. CNN report.
A White House official told Reuters: “The government understands the importance of international travel and unanimously wants to reopen international travel in a safe and sustainable manner.”
according to Tourism EconomicsU.S. travel spending in 2020 has fallen by an unprecedented 42% from the previous year. At the same time, international travel spending fell by 76%.
However, the restrictions of the pandemic not only affected the economy, but also separated families and prevented people from meeting due to numerous travel bans.
Psaki said on Friday that international travel is “what we all want to see-not only for travel, but also for family reunion.”
